Select Board approves $500 match for outdoor film night, permits Outdoor Center wedding with conditions

Town Manager Garrett Corbin told the Select Board on June 22 that the Recreation Committee is planning a slate of July events and is proposing to host a Maine Outdoor Film Festival night at Sugarloaf on Saturday, Sept. 5. The festival’s one-night tour fee is $1,000; the Recreation Committee has roughly $1,500 in its events fund and asked whether the Select Board would match $500 from contingency to cover the cost.

Annie Tuell moved to approve $500 from the Select Board’s contingency fund toward the $1,000 recreation expense; Jay Reynolds seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Corbin noted the Rec Committee may charge a small admission ($5–$10) to help make the event revenue-neutral.

Corbin also presented a request to reserve the Outdoor Center for a local couple’s October wedding. The board discussed the extra staffing, security and catering details that weddings typically require and noted the wedding party told the board they would address those needs. Jay Reynolds moved to accept the request as long as the date did not fall on Homecoming weekend and the party agreed to the Town’s use agreement and restrictions; Lloyd Cuttler seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The board also heard other Recreation Committee updates: the committee has hired two seasonal weekend staff (Brittany and Patrick) who will perform light interior sprucing and act as ambassadors for trail users; a range of summer programming ideas were discussed including yoga, fly-fishing clinics, a community barbecue, trail-run clinics, paint night and barn quilting. Corbin and Recreation Committee Chair Alison Thayer will prepare a proposal for the Select Board on future programming.

Next meeting: The Select Board set July 20 as the only meeting in July.