Castine Selectboard approves $6,700 PFAS testing at Battle Avenue lot; routine warrants and contracts also passed

The Castine Selectboard on Sept. 2 approved a revised proposal from consulting firm SME to perform additional PFAS testing and a historical source study at the Battle Avenue lot at a cost of $6,700, voting 3-0 to proceed.

The action followed a presentation by Town Manager Derik Goodine explaining SME would investigate possible sources and may retest Well #3 to confirm earlier results. Selectboard member Dan Leader asked during discussion, "What would be next if we did find the PFAS cause? Should we do nothing?" Amy Gutow said the Town Meeting vote that authorized testing required the board to pursue appropriate due diligence before concluding the effort.

The vote to fund the testing was one of several routine actions the board took at the meeting. The Selectboard approved the General Fund warrant for $36,127.61 (Roberta Boczkiewicz moved, Amy Gutow seconded; 3-0), the Water warrant for $751.35 (Roberta moved, Amy seconded; 3-0), and minutes from Aug. 18, 2025 (approved 3-0) and Aug. 25 & 28, 2025 (approved 2-0; Amy was not present at those meetings).

The board also approved a contract with Revise Website Services to redesign the municipal website (initial cost $4,370; annual maintenance $1,620 thereafter), and accepted a Volunteer Board/Committee form for use by applicants. Roberta Boczkiewicz moved the website contract approval; Dan Leader seconded and the motion passed 3-0.

Finance Officer Karen Motycka told the board a question about using any remaining balance from the SME appropriation depends on the warrant language; if the article specified Battle Ave Lot testing, funds cannot be reallocated to other sites without voter authorization. Resident Brooke Tenney raised that concern during public comment and the town confirmed the warrant refers to "Battle Ave Lot PFAS Testing."

The board tabled Agenda Item #2, the Lighthouse lease, after Roberta explained the lessee received the lease late and requested more time to review. The Selectboard did approve participation in Maine Lighthouse Days (Sept. 13) and authorized opening the tower from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers were named to staff the event.

Votes at a glance: - General Fund warrant $36,127.61 — Approved 3-0 (motion: Roberta Boczkiewicz; second: Amy Gutow). - Water warrant $751.35 — Approved 3-0 (motion: Roberta Boczkiewicz; second: Amy Gutow). - SME revised PFAS testing proposal, Battle Ave Lot — Approved 3-0 (motion: Roberta Boczkiewicz; second: Amy Gutow). Cost: $6,700. - Volunteer Board/Committee Form — Approved 3-0 (motion: Amy Gutow; second: Dan Leader). - Revise Website Services contract (initial $4,370; annual $1,620) — Approved 3-0 (motion: Dan Leader; second: Amy Gutow). - Authorize Town of Surry to act as fiscal agent for Peninsula Climate Resilience Coordinator — Approved 3-0 (motion: Roberta Boczkiewicz; second: Amy Gutow). - Participate in Maine Lighthouse Days (open tower 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Sept. 13) — Approved 3-0 (motion: Roberta Boczkiewicz; second: Amy Gutow). - Enter executive session under Title 1 MRSA Ch.13 §405(6)(C) (real estate matter) and adjourn — Approved 3-0; meeting adjourned at 5:27 p.m.

Why it matters: The additional PFAS testing responds to voter-backed action and a prior positive result on town-owned property. The SME study could identify a source or narrow the area of concern; any substantive remediation, further testing beyond the Battle Avenue lot, or reallocation of funds would be subject to the warrant language and future board or town meeting action.

The Selectboard’s approvals of contracts and warrants cover routine municipal operations, while the Town Manager’s progress report (presented during the meeting) listed multiple ongoing infrastructure and grant efforts that could affect future budgets and project timelines.