HARPSWELL

The day after a snowstorm dumped nearly a foot of snow on the Midcoast, the Harpswell selectmen gathered briefly to discuss the town’s response to the storm and biting cold.

Last Thursday’s snowstorm comes a little more than two months after a wind storm ripped through Maine, leaving hundreds of thousands of Mainers without power for days on end. Most of Harpswell remained without power for about a week, relying on generators for the duration. On Thursday, the town retained power in spite of the storm, but selectmen were wary about the threat of losing power, especially during a week of temperatures dipping below zero degrees.

“I don’t know if we’ve learned anything more about catastrophes (since October), but luckily the power stayed on this time,” said Selectman David Chipman.

Selectman Rick Daniel added that it seemed that most people had heeded warnings about the storm, and the roads looked quiet for the most part.

“I do think from the last storm that we had a lot of things were implemented rather quickly, like the warming and charging station,” said Daniel. “I feel as though we really started to see there the things we need, like the communications as well.”

Chipman noted that he would like to work with Harpswell Community Radio to help get word out to the community in emergency situations, like the last two major storms.

“I was thinking we need better communication. That’s probably what we’re lacking the most — getting messages out to people,” he said. “And nothing would work better than community radio for that.

“I’ll work with the radio project to see if we can’t develop that a little further,” he added, noting that they are still in need of a physical studio location.

Selectmen discussed ways to adjust the town’s heating assistance program to make sure more people have easy access to the program.

“Harpswell has a very robust heating assistance, and anyone in need should get in touch with the town,” said Daniel.

“I think we can make it a little more streamlined for Harpswell people, and maybe make it so it isn’t quite as public,” said Selectman Kevin Johnson. “I don’t think people are going to take advantage of it, and we have money rolled over every year.”

“I think it’s a really good suggestion, because I looked at our application and it’s multiple pages. I contacted Topsham, (it) has a one page application,” said Town Administrator Kristi Eiane.

The selectboard also raised the possibility of putting the application online and increasing the amount from 100 gallons to 200 gallons.

“I think we ought to go to 200,” said Eiane, noting how difficult it is to get residents to come to the town office to ask for heating assistance. “Come in once, we’ll try to help you with that amount and you may not need to come back.”

The board of selectmen will consider more detailed proposals to adjust the heating assistance program at their regular meeting this Thursday.