Cundy’s Harbor lobsterman Matthew “Matt” Gilley has become a regular presence at the Harpswell Town Office, and he hopes to become even more of a fixture by winning a three-year term on the Select Board.
Gilley, who already serves on multiple boards and committees, is the only candidate running to replace Jane Covey, who chose not to seek a third term. The 40-year-old said he’d like to inject some new blood into the board and serve the broad interests of all residents, including lobstermen.
“I think we can do a better job as a town, be more inclusive and more transparent with townspeople,” Gilley said in an interview. “With the technology nowadays, it should be pretty easy (to gauge public opinion).”
A lifelong Harpswell resident, Gilley serves on the local Harbor and Waterfront Committee, Aquaculture Working Group, and Comprehensive Plan Task Force, and is an associate member of the Planning Board. He also serves on the state’s Lobster Advisory Council and represents Cundy’s Harbor on the regional Lobster Zone Council.
Gilley said he “leans more to the right” on politically charged issues. However, he said the primary role of a Select Board member is to listen to residents and carry out their wishes.
Gilley would like the town to do more to get residents civically engaged. He wants to ensure they can participate remotely in all board and committee meetings and suggested Harpswell conduct public opinion surveys on various issues.
Gilley has strong opinions on some of Harpswell’s hotly debated issues, while on others, he wants to learn more before taking a stance.
He supports the construction of a central emergency services building on Mountain Road to house municipal firefighters and paramedics. Gilley said it would reduce response times, and the local fire chiefs support it.
“That was all I needed to hear,” he said.
Gilley recently joined two fellow members of Harpswell’s 11-member Comprehensive Plan Task Force in speaking out against the draft plan. Gilley, Amy Haible, and George Prince all wrote letters that were published in the Harpswell Anchor.
Gilley said he has less of an issue with the plan’s contents than with what he sees as a lack of transparency in how it was developed. He said all meetings should have been accessible to residents via streaming.
On the issue of affordable housing, Gilley said, “I desperately want to see young people move to this town.” However, he opposes any town actions that would limit the rights of property owners. Gilley said he would like to see the town create an affordable housing trust, and possibly another development similar to Hamilton Place.
He supports Harpswell’s climate resiliency projects and would like to do even more to help protect the town’s working waterfront.
Gilley said he supports the continued use of Mitchell Field as a public amenity, including a planned boat launch approved by voters in November. He hasn’t yet formed an opinion on a proposal to repurpose the property’s aging administration building as a community center.
Likewise, Gilley said he has yet to take a stance on a proposal to facilitate public access to Clark Cove by adding an access trail and parking lot. He wants to talk to more people about it first.
“It’s not as much up to me as it is the public, the people of Harpswell,” Gilley said. “If I don’t like it but 98% of the town does, then it should happen.”
