LINCOLNVILLE — On Monday night, Nov. 14, it had been just one week shy of three months since Lincolnville Town Administrator David Kinney suffered an aneurysm at home and had to be rushed by LifeFlight to Maine Medical Center for life-saving surgery. And on the night of Nov. 14, Kinney stood before the Lincolnville Board of Selectmen, acknowledged those watching the meeting on television and gave them an update on his progress.

"I just want to come here tonight and tell everyone, and say to those in TV land, that I am progressing in my recovery, and I very much appreciate the support I have received, and that my family has received during my time out," said Kinney, standing at the podium. "It has been wide ranging, and really exemplifies what community means. I am making very good progress and I look forward to at some point regaining my seat at the table."

He added, "Hopefully Jodi will allow me to have it back."

On Aug. 29, the Board of Selectmen appointed Jodi Hanson as interim town administrator. Hanson is the town's deputy tax collector and general assistance administrator, and works side-by-side with Kinney.

Other members of the town office has also stepped in to fill various roles, duties and responsibilities usually tended by Kinney, with the Select Board also pitching in and giving more of their time in Kinney's absence.

Kinney did not make any mention of exactly when he might return, but rather used the time to let everyone know how he was doing, to thank everyone and to say he wanted to come back.

"Evenings are still quite challenging, and the better part of the day has already passed for me, so I'm probably going to just going to wave goodbye to everybody and head for home," said Kinney. "But I want to say I appreciate the board support, certainly staff support and those in the community, some people I don't even know. Want to give a big shout out to the folks who helped with elections because I wasn't able to be there. That is obviously one of the most important things we do, is to hold fair, open and honest elections. Thanks again. I look forward to, like I said, regaining the seat."

Lincolnville Fire Department Inc. $245,000 donation

Also Monday night, Peter Rollins, representing Lincolnville Fire Department Inc., announced that the organization wanted to make three financial donations, totaling $245,000, to the town to be placed in the town's fire department budget

"We have a long history of saving for the future, with the town and fire department working together, and there are a couple of donations we would like to propose to the town for the future," said Rollins.

Accelerate the truck fund account with a donation of $75,000.

Donate seed money for a future beach station with a donation of $150,000. "There is no timetable, but we would like to put the money away now so that when the time comes, the money is there," said Rollins.

Currently, there is no line item in the fire department budget for recruitment and retention, so the organization would like to donate $20,000 into an account to get it started. "We did a little bit of work in this area last year by sponsoring a Little League team, but we are putting a committee together to work on a budget, not necessarily to spend [all $20,000], just to make a plan," said Rollins.

Selectman Arthur Durity asked how many firefighters were on the department, and how many they needed, to which Rollins answered 20 for both.

"We have 20 current, active members. We are pretty good where we are in terms of numbers, it's the retention part that is hard," said Rollins. "When new people walk through the door, they have a lot of training to do and some will do it and some won't."

As for the criteria for membership, Rollins said the ultimate decision is the fire chief's.

"But when I talk to someone, it's about being a hard worker, having a sense of responsibility to citizenship and knowing that someone has to do [this job]," said Rollins. "But it's also fun to hang out with each other, so it's about personality and being hard working."

Chairman Ladleah Dunn said that with such a large donation, it needs to go before the legislative body of the town for a vote to be accepted. And when asked if there was anything timely about the donation, Rollins said no, that the money was sitting in the LFD Inc. investment account and had no time constraints.

"It goes without saying, that we are spoiled silly with the gifts and generosity of the fire department, for the protection of the town," said Dunn.

Draft Harbor Study Report Discussion

The Selectmen were given draft copies of the Collins Engineering Harbor Study, but due to the fact it had only just been received, they were unable to discuss it in detail. Dunn said she previously sent a letter to Collins, expressing "dismay over the lack of communication thus far," and told the board that the draft report "brief as it may be, is a good effort to show what they have been doing so far."

Dunn added that it was important for the board to look through the report and make sure that assumptions thus far were accurate, and note any corrections for the next meeting. The board also discussed Islesboro's representation in the report, which indicated island officials "declined to hold a public forum to allow for public comment" to assist in Collins' study and data collection. Dunn said she and the others felt they had had good, productive meetings with Islesboro, and wondered if "something had been lost in translation between then and what has been done thus far."

"One of our assumptions is that there is a symbiotic relationship between the Islesboro and Lincolnville harbors. But reading in their report, how Islesboro has chosen not to be involved either financially or just participation, makes me want to reexamine that assumption," said Durity.

Selectman Keryn Laite Jr. said he was "taken aback" by the seeming lack of interest on the part of Islesboro.

"I was too. We were really excited. But things sometimes change. And maybe with a new budget cycle and new board, it's time to revisit and talk with them to see where they are" said Dunn.

Selectman Rosey Gerry said he had not had much time to go over the document either, but said he was disappointed that Collins Engineering had not responded better to the board until now.

"It's something that concerns me a little bit," said Gerry. "I personally feel they need to. We hired them, they need to respond to us, this board, and this board only. I"m not looking for any committees to go in between them. We represent the town, the town hired them, they should work with us, respond to us."

Dunn thanked Gerry for that comment, adding that she was aware of a suggestion to establish a steering committee to work with the engineer.

"My opinion is similar to yours, Rosey. The Board of Selectmen hired them and established the ground rules and we need to make sure we hold the responsibility for how it goes now. I just beseech you all to read up, so on the Nov. 28 we can have a productive conversation when they are here."

In other Select Board business:

— Town Administrator's report (Jodi Hanson, Interim Town Administrator)
• All the roads scheduled for repaving are done; the contractor is just dealing with driveways on the list.
• There will be a rabies clinic Saturday, Dec. 10, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Lincolnville Fire Station.
• Election turnout on Nov. 8 was a little more than 80 percent, which breaks the record, according to Jodi Hanson. "Huge thanks to all who helped out. I got home at 2:09 a.m. and I learned a lot. We had issues with the ballot machine, but with the help of the Secretary of State, we were able to get that resolved," she said.

— The Select Board accepted Arthur Durity's resignation from the Mid-Coast Solid Waste Corporation Board of Directors, effective immediately. That leaves two Lincolnville representative seats open on the MCSWC Board. Dunn suggested to the Board of Selectmen that they table any nominations to the MCSWC Board, and revisit the issue at their next meeting. "I would like to make it an agenda item, and ask you all to review the bylaws and heed those and make the strongest recommendations to the MCSWC Board as you can," said Dunn.

Reach Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655.