Woolwich contractor Jack A. Shaw & Sons will carry out Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements at the Nequasset Park boat launch and swimming area.

The select board voted 4-0 Monday evening, Selectman Jason Shaw abstaining, to hire Shaw & Sons after no bids were received on the project, advertised last month.

“We’ll be starting and hopefully completing phase one of the project this summer,” Shaw told the Wiscasset Newspaper. He said the firm, based on Walker Road, will charge the standard state rates for time and materials.

The work addresses ADA needs in the parking lot and path leading to the swimming area. Pine Tree Engineering of Bath was hired to design a plan for the improvements being funded in part through a grant from the state Bureau of Parks and Recreation. The town initially had $20,000 for the project, $15,000 of which came from the grant.

The board plans to apply for more funds for other improvements recommended for the swimming area including adding a float. “We need to apply for the float funding now to be eligible for consideration for next year,” continued Shaw.

Work will begin at the park next month following the Woolwich Day celebration on Saturday, Aug. 4.

Reached by telephone Tuesday, Nequasset Park Improvement Committee co-chair Sue Ellen Whittaker said she is excited for the work to begin. “Hopefully we’ll be successful in getting a float and finding additional monies for the other improvements we’re planning at the swimming area,” she said.

Selectmen's Chairman David King Sr. said Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) will write a letter on the town’s behalf seeking grant monies to address the bridge and culvert on George Wright Road.

King explained an effort is underway to improve the tidal flow into a wetland area off Route 1 opposite the dike. He said the state wants to address the problem of the road flooding during storm surges and extreme high tides.

Options discussed have included replacing the small bridge and culvert with a bigger bridge, or raising the highway. This past year, the town retained Richmond-based Calderwood Engineering as a consultant. King and the select board hope the state will consider helping the town with the costs of replacing the small bridge.

The board accepted a bid from Northern Signs of Waterville to buy and install an LED informational sign. Northern Signs, the only bidder, is the same company that installed Wiscasset’s electronic sign.

The sign will be placed off Route 1 near the town office behind the Woolwich Historical Society’s farmhouse museum. Shelter Institute is donating the frame and Jack A. Shaw and Sons is donating the excavation work needed for providing electricity to the sign.

At the annual town meeting, voters authorized the board to use $14,000 from Comcast franchise fees to buy the sign.

The town office will be sending out a survey with this year’s property tax bills in hope of getting feedback from the community’s senior citizens.

Selectman Allison Hepler is working on the survey's wording that addresses needs and concerns of elderly residents.

A scheduled meeting with Northeast Ambulance Services was cancelled because the fire chief and EMS director were both responding to emergency calls.

Reappointments included: Katharine Johnston as town administrator, treasurer, and general assistance administrator; Chelsea Lane, town clerk and registrar of voters, and Kimberly Dalton, tax collector.