Aug. 18 via Zoom, Dresden selectmen voted to open their meetings back up to the public starting Sept. 15. At the next meeting Sept. 1, still via Zoom, they will check in about the status of COVID-19 cases in the area and discuss the layout for seating in Pownalborough Hall for the Sept. 15 meeting. They also approved the special town meeting warrant to correct two clerical errors from the annual town meeting. The special town meeting is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Pownalborough Hall, most likely in part of the firehouse like at the regular town meeting.

The board continued discussions on an electronic sign for outside the town office. Town Administrator Michael Henderson reported he had determined state statute does prohibit moving signs and Dresden does not have an ordinance that would allow it. The state statute only allows the message to change every 20 minutes unless the town has a separate ordinance. Selectman Gerald Lilly noted the idea of a sign came up when residents said they did not know about the changed town meeting date and there were discussions about more ways to distribute information. No final decision was made on the sign; Henderson was asked to find out if installation is included with the bids they received.

Lilly also noted he spoke to the transfer station staff about wearing their masks and has not received any more complaints. This past week was also the first Sunday the station was open since the pandemic and Lilly said eight people came by.

Selectmen voted to ask Fire Chief Steve Lilly to come to their next meeting to give them an update from the department as they felt like they have been out of the loop recently.

The board approved the Wiscasset ambulance contract. The signing had been delayed several weeks due to the changeover in leadership in Wiscasset with former EMS director Dennis Simmons becoming town manager.

Henderson had met with an auditor and presented a current budget overview with proposed journal entry changes to adjust expenditures to even out various accounts before the audit. Overall, Henderson said they were in good shape. The board decided to take some time to look over the numbers before approving the changes.