Holbrook Excavating is no longer Alna’s plowing contractor, First Selectman Ed Pentaleri and the Woolwich firm’s owner Evan Holbrook each confirmed Nov. 10: Pentaleri, responding to questions via text; and Holbrook, when reached by phone.

“Holbrook quit,” Pentaleri said. “We’re working now to find others to supply the plowing services that we had previously contracted with Holbrook to provide.”

The firm and town were in the third year of a three-year plow deal. In a Nov. 2 selectmen’s meeting, Pentaleri recalled issues with service last winter and voiced concern service might be no better this winter, and might be worse.

In a Nov. 6 phone interview, Holbrook expressed surprise at Pentaleri’s Nov. 2 statements. He said those did not foster a good relationship and made him less desire to move forward with the town.

Other than confirming he had “resigned” from plowing for Alna, Holbrook had no new comment Nov. 10.

Nov. 12, the town announced its request for bids to plow. The email seeks proposals “from contractors qualified to provide all or any part of the desired scope of winter plowing services for the 2022-2023 plowing season.” According to the email and an announcement at wiscassetnewspaper.com, sealed bids are due in to the town office by noon Monday, Nov. 21 and will be opened at a special select board meeting at 5 p.m. that day.

“We ask that residents help us to succeed in finding a plow contractor for the current season by forwarding this information to people they know who may be qualified. We want to emphasize that our highest priority is to ensure that Alna's roads remain safe and passable throughout the winter season. We will provide additional updates as we make progress in addressing this important need,” the email states. The web announcement attributes the need to “unforeseen circumstances.”