Wiscasset selectmen Nov. 19 set a 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 special town meeting at Wiscasset Community Center, to take $353,750 from surplus as the town's match on a $4 million grant toward moving the sewer plant.  

Chair Sarah Whitfield said she knows no one loves a special town meeting. "But this one's really important (for) the next phase for the wastewater treatment plant. So I hope folks turn out." Whitfield called the match a good deal. 

Moving the plant to public works, and public works to the transfer station, has been estimated at $50 million. What outside funding does not cover, the town can, via capital reserves, surplus, loans and/or bonds, Town Manager Dennis Simmons wrote in his report released ahead of the meeting.

"As we continue to secure funds, we will gain a clearer understanding of our financial obligations and the best way to structure the overall financing. In the meantime, we need to make some appropriations to secure the required funds," thus the proposed match on the $4 million from the Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund, Simmons explained.

The MIAF funds will go to the project's $7,075,000 first phase, which is design, initiating construction, and construction oversight, Simmons continued. He said the MIAF money would combine with the $5 million the town won in congressionally directed spending.

Simmons said the MIAF grant requires the town to chip in 5% of the $7,075,000, which comes out to the $353,750 being sought Dec. 3.

"Since these funds have not been previously appropriated, voter approval will be necessary. Due to the timing of this grant, we were unable to place it on the November ballot, and waiting until the June town meeting for approval is not feasible," Simmons wrote.

Also Nov. 19, officials asked to hear from anyone who knows of someone who might be the town's eldest person. In public comment, Steve Christiansen noted Ruth Applin was Wiscasset's last Boston Post Cane honoree. According to Wiscasset Newspaper files, that was at her 100th birthday celebration at Wiscasset Community Center in April 2017; she died that August.

Christiansen encouraged the board to resume the tradition. Whitfield then called up online one of Phil Di Vece's columns in Wiscasset Newspaper that have noted the challenge of finding a person to receive the honor, and who is willing to receive it. So Whitfield said the town could ask on Facebook, and she asked if the newspaper could also let it be known the town is looking.

Christiansen also had other ideas to spotlight local heritage. He suggested displaying a box he said the town has, that came from the Hesper and Luther Little ships that were long part of Wiscasset harbor. And he suggested photos of Wiscasset's past — perhaps ones made from glass slides he said Wiscasset Public Library has — be placed in the town office's meeting room and sprinkled into future annual town reports. "Wiscasset's very rich in history."

Selectmen nodded a liquor license for Renn Restaurant Group, LLC, DBA Back River Bistro, 65 Gardiner Road; a business license for Mainely Scoops, 277 Bath Road; and Simmons' vacation request for Jan. 13-24; and OK'd giving Lincoln County Toys for Tots $2,000 from the Christmas gift special revenue account; the rest will go to holiday help for families who qualify for general assistance, Simmons said.

The board agreed to close Lincoln Street, plus Middle Street from Scout Hall to Shinbone Alley, the evening of Friday, Dec. 6 for Wiscasset Holiday Marketfest activities including a Santa visit, a lighted parade and more.