LUBEC — The Board of Selectmen confirmed committee appointments Wednesday for the interim management of the Lost Fishermen’s Memorial, beginning the process of transferring control of the monument to the town of Lubec.
The new committee, with nominations presented by Annie Sokoloski, includes a Lubec fisherman and community members from Milbridge, Steuben, the Passamaquoddy tribe and Campobello Island.
It also includes Sokoloski, who was raised on Campobello and now lives in Lubec, and Carol Dennison, chair of the Board of Selectmen.
The Lost Fishermen’s Memorial was installed on the Lubec waterfront in 2016 as a monument to fishers lost while working in the waters off Washington County and Charlotte County, New Brunswick, which includes Campobello, Grand Manan and Deer Island.
Until this year, the memorial was maintained by a volunteer committee that included Sokoloski. After controversy last year over whether to include Chester and Aaron Barrett, a father and son lost off Trescott, the committee voted to transfer management of the memorial to the town of Lubec.
The interim committee will oversee the monument until the Lubec town meeting this fall, when residents will vote on whether to accept the arrangement.
Sokoloski told the board the interim committee may continue to grow and emphasized that local fishers will have a voice in how the memorial is managed. She also said that Thomas West, the lobsterman lost last week in Steuben, will be added to the memorial as soon as weather allows. The Barretts will also be added.
Reached by phone, Sokoloski said that she hopes to change the way the memorial is administered. Under its previous management, families were asked to contribute $500, or half of the cost of having the engraving done.
Going forward, Sokoloski, who is retired from the seafood processing industry, said she plans to cover the cost of engravings by fundraising from the broader fishing community, including business owners. Sokoloski also said that the interim memorial management committee will have their first meeting on May 15 at 6 p.m. in the town office.
Dennison noted that the first meeting of the Green and White Hope Committee is scheduled for May 14 at 6 p.m. She said those interested in helping with the “rescue committee” are welcome to join.
Confrontation over wharf rental
During public comment, residents Birgitte and John Delaney urged board members to address what they described as an overly generous lease granted to board chair Carol Dennison for the wharf and office at 31 Johnson St.
Reading from the 2024 lease, Birgitte Delaney noted that the $1,800 annual rent comes to about $150 a month — well below market rate. She also pointed out that the lease does not require a security deposit.
Dennison and her husband, Ralph Dennison, Lubec’s harbormaster, use the building and dock to operate their business, Downeast Charter Boat Tours. The lease is held by the Lighthouse Inn and Chowder House, an S corporation — a business structure that passes income through to its shareholders — that the Dennisons have owned since 2004. Five business names, including Downeast Charter Boat Tours, are registered under the corporation.
Dennison argued that the $1,800 annual rent covers only four months of use because the building is uninhabitable in winter. The 2024 lease allows year‑round occupancy but warns that water is shut off each year from about Oct. 31 to May 1. Audience members countered that the Dennisons occupy the building year‑round.
Dennison said she began leasing the building before joining the board, “in 2010 or so,” after being invited to submit a bid. She said the town voted to approve the Dennisons’ offer, which outbid the Passamaquoddy Yacht Club.
Birgitte Delaney said she would ask the board to review the lease terms and trusted members to determine whether the agreement was fair.
The current lease is set to expire Oct. 31, 2028, but either party may terminate it with 90 days’ notice.
Board members discussed the agreement. Selectman Mark Kelley said he agreed the rent was low. Selectman Dan Wagner suggested asking the town’s tax assessor to conduct a market analysis of the property. Selectwoman Joanne Case also said the rent was low but praised Dennison’s business as a strong draw for tourists.
Case noted Dennison’s extensive volunteer work, including grant writing for the Safe Harbor project and other fundraising efforts, and suggested the generous lease may have originally been intended as recognition for that service.
The board adjourned without taking action.
Truck bid and certificate of appreciation
The board reviewed two bids for a new truck for Public Works: $63,482 from Quirk Ford and $59,807 from Darling’s Ford, both for a 2026 Ford F‑350 4×4 single cab.
Selectman Dan Daley asked Public Works Director Richard Huntley to explain why the department needs the new vehicle and how the town would pay for it. Huntley said the purchase would be funded through the department’s vehicle reserve account.
Board Chair Carol Dennison also presented Peter Boyce with a certificate of appreciation recognizing his 40 years of service on numerous town committees, including the Harbor Board.
