Fire department needs and concerns and ongoing construction on the municipal building dominated discussion at the Tuesday, Jan. 21 Woolwich Board of Selectmen meeting.

Board Chairman David King suggested the town purchase a generator for the North Station because during power outages the fire station doors cannot be opened. In addition to ensuring access, the station could also provide shelter to residents during outages. Fire Chief Geoff McCarren and Assistant Fire Chief Dominic Maccio agreed that a dedicated generator for the North Station would ensure continuous access to the station and also keep equipment and water from freezing. The board agreed to investigate options.

King said he would like to place a bid notice in local newspapers for the department’s 1991 fire truck as soon as possible. The old truck has been replaced by a 2006 truck purchased from the Town of Gray fire department. McCarren said he hoped to place the 1991 truck on eBay. “I’d like to get the biggest bang for the buck,” McCarren said.

King and the other selectmen agreed with the eBay proposal, but King said he also wanted a notice in local newspapers and the truck conspicuously parked with a for sale sign. “I’d like to sell it as soon as we can,” King said.

The board agreed to put the truck up for bid through multiple outlets until February 28.

Chief McCarren raised concerns about the state of the municipal building during the construction project. “I’ve worked as a contractor,” McCarren said, “We cleaned up every day.”

Selectman Jason Shaw said the board shared McCarren’s concerns and had spoken with the contractor. A long discussion ensued about particular aspects of the construction project and also the mess left behind.

McCarren said he was also concerned that emergency pull stations required at exits had not been installed in the municipal building, and asked if they would be. No one was certain. McCarren and Town Manager Lynette Eastman will check plans at the town office.

”I understand it costs more money,” McCarren said, “but we’re talking about safety.”

Selectmen Lloyd Coombs moved that a special town meeting be held to ask voters to approve the transfer of $15,000 from the undesignated fund to the litigation expense account to cover unanticipated costs related to the RSU1 lawsuit.

West Bath filed a lawsuit against RSU 1 in October 2012 in an attempt to recover $1.9 million the town says it overpaid in local education costs from 2008 to 2012.

“Very simply, we are embroiled in the RSU 1 lawsuit,” Chairman King said, “We are not in the driver’s seat. Every time West Bath takes an action our attorney has to respond. I think it will drag on for the rest of the year.”

To date, Woolwich’s litigation costs have totaled just over $13,000, roughly $7,000 more than had been allocated.

The special town meeting to approve the fund transfer will be held on February 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Woolwich Central School.

In other business, the board signed a landfill monitoring contract for $4,600. King said the state had reduced the number of test sites, resulting in a less expensive monitoring plan.