A plan to make Nequasset Park more Americans with Disabilitie Act-friendly will be going out to bid next month. Rob Prue from Pine Tree Engineering of Bath reviewed the design with Woolwich selectmen at the park Monday afternoon.

Nequasset Park Improvement Committee co-chairs  Sue Ellen Whittaker and Joan Jordan looked forward to the project’s start after years of planning.

Before the work goes out to bid, the town needs to renew its permit with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Whittaker told the Wiscasset Newspaper, Woolwich received a $15,000 grant for the work that will include a paved ADA path, a ramp leading into the swimming area and improvements to the parking lot.

Prue will assist the town in drafting a request for proposals for the project which Pine Tree Engineering designed. The select board plans to advertise for bids by mid-June in hopes the work can begin this summer. The board wants to do the ADA improvements incrementally as funding become available. Floats planned for the lake will need to wait until additional funding can be sought.

“Hopefully, after we get more grant money, we’ll be able to do the other improvements. The only thing we’re spending tax dollars on will be for the matching fees,” Selectman Dale Chadbourne said.

The board won’t appoint a committee to discuss the town’s ambulance services, at least not for now. EMS Director Brian Carlton suggested forming the committee after it was learned Northeast Mobile Health Services’ contract will expire in June 2019.

Carlton said the town’s volunteer-based ambulance service wasn’t presently capable of providing 24/7 coverage. He felt a discussion should begin to consider future ambulance needs. He also suggested surveying residents for their input.

The board recently met with Northeast officials. Neither Carlton nor Fire Chief Mike Demers were able to attend the meeting.

Select Board Chair David King Sr. said one advantage of having Northeast provide ambulance services was that Northeast assumes responsibility for collecting monies owed for services along with “uncollectables.”

King said, “If the town were to decide to go it alone, we’d be responsible.”

Selectman Jason Shaw said he was willing to listen to all options. “We’ve got months and months before we need to make a decision.”

The board has a second meeting with Northeast on July 16 and invited Carlton  and Demers to attend. 

Woolwich’s annual Memorial Day services will be observed at 7 p.m. Monday, May 28 and hosted by Rev.  Tom Tuck and the First Baptist Church on Middle Road. As is tradition, clergy from other Woolwich churches will take part, including Pastor David Ouellette, North Woolwich Methodist and Rev. Alan Baughcum, Day’s Ferry Congregational.  The program is in the church’s Fellowship Hall at the north end of the building.

Looking ahead, Selectman Allen Greene said Woolwich Day will be held Aug. 4 from 10 to 2 p.m. on the lawn next to the town office. This year’s event will feature a canoe/kayak race on Nequasset Lake. Interested vendors can contact Special Events Committee Chair Collette Coombs at 443-3570.