A vote at Alna’s town meeting last month was so close, selectmen have settled on a new, two-pronged approach to exploring the future of the town office. Instead of a major focus on the costs and other aspects of a move into the fire station, the board will also explore fixing and updating the existing town office.

Staying put could cost $50,000 or more, officials said at the board’s April 6 meeting. The roof, furnace, foundation, and windows all have issues, plus the building needs more meeting space, Third Selectman Doug Baston said. But members said they want to keep that option open as they hash out the possible move they’ve been eying, across the road and into the station.

Selectmen have expressed surprise at the five-vote margin by which residents agreed to put $10,000 toward exploring the move. It was the closest vote at town meeting.

“That tells me we need to pay attention to people,” Baston said April 6. The board should compare moving and staying, in case townspeople would rather not move, he said.

Town Clerk Lisa Arsenault told selectmen, “I love this little house.”

If the office moves into the station, a vault would have to be installed there, Arsenault said.

Whatever the outcome for the two scenarios, a new era for the town office is likely two years away, due to the town votes that would have to happen and then the renovations either at the current office or the station, selectmen said.

Ambulance service switch

Alna will move on with its new ambulance service, Central Lincoln County (CLC) Ambulance of Damariscotta, whenever CLC and Wiscasset Ambulance Service work out a date for the change, according to selectmen. Alna officials said that Wiscasset expected to still be the first service to respond until July 1, when its new fiscal year starts. But CLC will likely be ready to start serving Alna at the end of April, selectmen said.

Voters agreed to switch services at town meeting last month. Selectmen said they will tell CLC to work with Wiscasset on finalizing a date. Once it is set, the Alna board plans to do a newspaper notice announcing the date.

Office hours changing

Selectmen and Arsenault have worked out new hours for the town office. Effective April 26, it will be open Tuesdays, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.