Steve Christiansen told Wiscasset selectmen Tuesday, the Sortwell conveyance of the Sunken Gardens to the town stipulated no building be erected in the garden.

Since 1990 or 1991, there has been a potting shed in the garden. The Beautification Committee and the Garden Club of Wiscasset have stored tools in it. Because the terms of the will and deed stipulated that the erection of a building would lead to the garden being returned to the Sortwells’ heirs, Christiansen said the shed must be removed. The selectmen agreed to remove it by Memorial Day and directed Interim Town Manager John O’Connell to inform Norma Gordon that the Beautification Committee would have to find another place to store tools. Officers of the Garden Club were were informed that the membership would have to remove its tools. It was suggested it might be possible to store them at the Nickels-Sortwell property across the street, perhaps in the barn.

O’Connell said as part of the renewal of the town clock maintenance agreement with Balzer Family Clock Works, he went on an inspection tour of the clock tower. He said there was a great deal of moisture and seepage, and he put the agreement on hold until he can have someone look at the  structure. The selectmen suggested Jason Putnam, who has previously worked on the clock tower.

Grace Greene of Wiscasset, a seventh grader at Damariscotta Montessori School, won Maine Municipal Association’s essay contest. She won a certificate and a $250 gift card.

Selectmen approved a business license for Water Street Kitchen and Bar, informed Peter Wells a proposed kayak/canoe rental storage system proposed for the recreational pier required a certificate of appropriateness  from the Wiscasset Historic Preservation Commission, and approved the tax lien/sewer lien acquired property policy and the  tax-acquired property occupancy and repurchase agreement form.

Selectmen directed O’Connell to contact Central Maine Power to correct a letter from 2017 which appears on the New England Clean Energy Connect website. Selectmen said the letter was inaccurate.

The final day to turn in petitions to run for the select board and school and other committees is April 11. Petitions are available at the town office.

Donald James was reappointed to the Shellfish Committee, 5-0, and Susan Robson was reappointed to the Waterfront Committee, 3-2, with Ben Rines Jr. and Bob Blagden opposed.