ROCKPORT — Camden and Rockport leaders meet this evening for a workshop, to talk about projects and possible collaborations. The select boards of both towns rarely meet, despite their intertwined roots, public safety mutual aid agreements, and common schools. Tonight, the agenda includes discussions about legislative issues, joint purchasing opportunities, and a general conversation about about how to work more closely to provide more efficient and cost effective services.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Rockport Town Office.

At one time, Camden and Rockport were one town. Then, in the late 1800s, issues of public infrastructure funding arose, including that of the electric railroad, which would make for heated public conversations. A warrant article had been placed on the 1890 Camden Town Meeting asking whether the two villages should split, a proposal that that did not go quietly away.

"Meetings were held in both villages to arouse the people for and against the division, sectional feeling ran high and sectional virulance became so acute that for a time it was hardly safe for a Rockport man to favor the proposition to 'divide' or a Camden man to oppose it," wrote Reuel Robinson, in his History of Camden and Rockport, Maine.

The fight went to the Legislature, which enacted the town's division in 1891.

Since then, there have been more genial meetings of the two towns, several held over the past decade by select boards and public safety departments, which have sought to air mutually beneficial fiscal and policy issues.

Possible discussion items at the joint workshop have been tossed around since last summer. They include:

1. Sharing information about projects, as well as infrastructure/transportation needs.

2. Sharing information about Legislative issues (the most recent includes Gov. Paul LePage's proposal to discontinue municipal revenue sharing, a consistent funding source for communities around the state).

3. Coordination of both towns' capital improvement plans regarding fire apparatus. Could each town focus on a need (forestry truck, fire boat, foam truck) that would serve the interests of both towns and eliminate duplicate or redundant purchases?  There is not talk of merging departments, the chairmen emphasize.

4. Collaboration among police departments. Are there some shifts that are commonly very quiet and during which one town's department could cover both towns (maybe overnights during the winter, possibly other times), thereby allowing both departments to shift resources to busier times? Again, the chairmen emphasize there is no talk of merging departments.

5. Possible coordination of recreation issues.

6. Discussion of the joint pathways committee and what purpose it serves the two communities.

7. Explore a combined economic development advisory panel.

8. Getting together quarterly, or at least regularly, to keep discussion topics of general interest.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@PenBayPilot.com; 706-6657.