Although Damariscotta doesn't typically partner up with nonprofits to sponsor events, the town decided to make an exception for an event close to home.

During its Wednesday, Jan. 7 meeting, the Damariscotta board of selectmen agreed to help sponsor the Friends of Midcoast Maine's upcoming workshop in Damariscotta.

“We don't usually co-sponsor events with nonprofits,” Town Manager Matt Lutkus said. “But this would be some good publicity for the town. (Selectman) Robin (Mayer) has done a lot of work for (Friends of Midcoast Maine) on their board.

“I'm thrilled they've selected Damariscotta.”

The theme for the workshop is aging in place, and includes presentations from groups such as Coastal Enterprises Inc., AARP, Spectrum Generations and Lincoln County Health, among others. The event will partner-up with the town for the Feb. 27 and 28 workshops.

The Friends of Midcoast Maine is hosting three Community Institute Workshops throughout the state with the second being hosted in Damariscotta.

Mayer would abstain from the 4-0 vote to take $500 from the contingency fund to help fund the event.

Sign returning to fire house

More than 100 years ago, the Massasoit Engine Company placed a sign outside its Damariscotta fire house.

Recently, the sign made its way back home.

Damariscotta Fire Chief John Roberts spoke with the selectmen about the sign's journey back to the Damariscotta Fire Department.

“I got pretty excited when I got the call a few weeks ago,” he said.

The sign, which arrived on Friday, Jan. 2, was donated to the fire department from Randy Phelps, and Ron Ranes helped facilitate the donation.

Roberts said the sign will be available for viewing at the fire department's museum.

Letter of intent sent for grant

The selectmen approved sending a letter, contingent on the results of a survey, for the Community Development Block Grant.

Lutkus said that the grant, which would be a joint effort between the town and the Great Salt Bay Sanitary District, would replace and upgrade the sidewalks and some of the infrastructure on Elm and Theater Streets.

Lutkus said the grant would need to serve mid- to low-income housing in the area where applicable and as of Wednesday, Jan. 8 only 34 of the 53 houses had been surveyed.

“It's looking positive at this point, but nothing's final, yet,” Lutkus said.

Selectmen react to price increase

When the Nobleboro-Jefferson Transfer Station voted to raise the rate, it meant Damariscotta will need to take $1,752 from its contingency fund to cover the 4.86 percent increase. That increase brought forth questions of the future of transfer stations in town.

“Have we looked into the possibility of having our own (transfer station) as a contingency?” Selectmen Jim Cosgrove said during the Wednesday, Jan. 7 meeting. “At the least, we would have the knowledge of how much it would cost.”

Damariscotta's share will increase from approximately $124,000 this year to $130,000.

Lutkus said when the town looked into the possibility of sharing Bristol's transfer station the rate was north of $140,000.

“When we said we were paying $124,000 they said there was no way they could touch that,” he said. “And the cost of handling solid waste will go up.”