Dresden voters will decide March 11 a long debated issue of whether the town will continue to vote in personnel or appoint/hire and consolidate positions.

Since state statute now permits having one position for property tax and excise tax collectors and one for treasurer and town clerk, the Dresden Board of Selectmen decided Monday to put it a vote at a special town meeting Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. at Pownalborough Hall.

The selectmen also scheduled a public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m., also at Pownalborough Hall, to inform the public about the special meeting article.

If the town votes in the affirmative on the matter, the town office will have only three officials in the office, making it more efficient, Board Chairman Phil Johnston said at the selectmen’s regular meeting Monday night.

“We want to have protocol in the office,” Johnston said. “It is a way of modernizing it.”

The board discussed the issue at its last meeting on January 27 about the four current positions with the town’s administrative assistant position, the fifth office position, to remain the same.

Up until now, the two tax collectors, town clerk and town treasurer have been elected annually. The change would mean the positions would become appointed/hired positions with job descriptions.

Presently Kim Rzasa holds three of the elected positions: town clerk, treasurer and excise tax collector with Ann Pierce holding the position of property tax collector.

By law the town will have to have its town meeting in June at least 90 days after a March 11 vote in the affirmative in order for the town to have the new way of filling the positions in place.

Animal control proposal

Among other business matter handled Monday night, the board discussed Lincoln County’s proposal for contracting a paid-per-hour animal control officer for each town in the county, under the country management. The county would be able then to provide fill-in coverage throughout the county for participating communities.

Currently the town appoints an animal control officer. The town pays Terry MacGregor, the current animal control officer, $3,000 per year plus mileage.

The board decided to consult with MacGregor to see if she would be interested in the proposal and take the matter under advisement before making any decision on it.

Ambulance service report

Paramedic Lori Rice, division commander for North East Mobile Health Services, which the town contracts for its ambulance service, announced the company will house its ambulance at Jewett Station all day now.

“We are going to see if it will impact our response times, especially this winter,” Rice said. “I’m hoping it will.”

Rice said the company decided to make a trial run on a shift change to make it possible instead of having the ambulance at the headquarters in Topsham for certain hours.

Her report this time showed an average response time of six minutes. She said the ambulance made a total of 33 calls in three months and included 24 transports.

BRC appointee

After the nomination of Carol Fackler as a member of the budget review committee, the board decided to appoint her to the committee. Fackler filled in for the committee last year, Johnston said.

Land bids

The board accepted the high bid of $350 from Robert Blagden of Wiscasset for a one-eighth acre of non-conforming land that the town has as tax acquired property. Its acceptance hinges on a proviso the board voted on, calling for any additional fees that may occur, in addition to the $350 for the land-locked parcel.

The board agreed to the amendment because the county will be charging a transfer fee starting March 1.

Danny Grover and Gail Andretta bid $326, the amount owed on the property in taxes. There is still another land-locked parcel available, amounting to .5 acre.

Tax acquired properties

As of January 9, the balance owed in taxes for tax-acquired properties amounted to $107,927, which is down from the $143,443, the total the town recorded on October 21 when it began its project to deal with the unpaid taxes.

Rapid renewal

During the Monday session, the board announced Rapid Renewal, which is an online payment method of renewing auto and boat registrations, began recently through the town.

Workshop, office schedule

In other business, the board voted to hold its next worship this Tuesday, Feb. 11. The office will be closed next Monday, Presidents Day.