Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Director Duane Goud told selectmen over Zoom Tuesday, Jan. 19, due to COVID-19 crowd limits, neither Winterfest nor the annual father-daughter dance can run on their usual dates. He was not sure Winterfest will happen this year. 

Only 50 people can be indoors, and the dance draws 125-175 people, Goud said. As for Winterfest, which Selectman Sarah Whitfield asked about, Goud said: “I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to have it ... If we do, we’re going to push it off. It might be toward the end of February.” He is waiting for any updates to the guidelines, he said. Winterfest’s trivia night gets 75-80 people, Goud noted.

He does not want to try to create an event he cannot sustain, he said.

“Makes sense,” Chair Pam Dunning said. Selectman Katharine Martin-Savage praised Goud’s efforts at Wiscasset Community Center in the pandemic. “The COVID makes life worse,” she said.

Selectman Kim Andersson then noted Wiscasset Ambulance Service’s struggles to fill shifts due to COVID–19 issues. Interim Director Erin Bean’s monthly report said workers exposed to patients or patents’ families with the virus have had to quarantine. Crews have been wearing gloves, goggles and face masks. She said she and Deputy Director Aurel Marks will now have them wear N95 masks instead of surgical masks.

“The crews are not thrilled, but understand the need for universal precautions,” Bean wrote. Her report added, Boothbay, Central Lincoln County (CLC) and Waldoboro ambulance services are working closely with Wiscasset to keep crews safe and get people vaccinated. Many of Wiscasset’s workers also serve at least one of the others, Bean said.

Andersson commented, “To all of the emergency personnel, EMS, fire, police, I thank you so much for the continued service, especially under these circumstances. It’s tough out there.”

“It sure is,” Dunning agreed.

And Fire Chief Robert Bickford’s report said the Maine Yankee drill was “a little different” this year because it was held remotely, on Zoom. “The same objectives were required and accomplished, however, it was more difficult to realize the actions that each agency would actually be taking, as it was all simulated.”

Responding to an email request for comment Wednesday, Jan. 20 on the drill, Maine Yankee spokesman Eric Howes wrote, “Maine Yankee’s December 2020 annual emergency planning exercise was conducted virtually as a Zoom session due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. All of the exercise objectives were achieved successfully with participation from on-site Maine Yankee staff, and excellent support from local and state emergency responders. The only difference between this virtual exercise and a normal exercise was responders did not actually come to the site. Maine Yankee greatly appreciates the support of local and state responders.”

Selectmen unanimously approved a business license for Patricia Beane of Gibbs Road, doing business as Grounded Seed Flower Farm. The application states Beane will grow and cut flowers for delivery, and would have customers by appointment only.

Town Manager Dennis Simmons said the town is working to enforce codes on trash, is not getting a lot of cooperation from property owners, and any court action will take time, because the courts are backed up and crime takes precedence. 

The board agreed not to join Maine Service Centers Coalition. Simmons said it is geared more to larger service center towns and cities, and he can think of better ways for Wiscasset to spend $500.