The potting shed in the Sunken Garden may have gotten a new lease on life when Dan Sortwell, one of the heirs of the Sortwell properties, said the shed could stay put.

This contradicts deed transfer language that no building could be erected in the garden, and if one were, the property would revert to the heirs.

Steve Christiansen argued that the town was obligated to follow the terms of the deed transfer, and that, no matter what the feeling of the current generation, keeping the 28-year-old shed there could put the town’s ownership of the garden at risk.

The issue came up when the Appearance of the Town Committee asked for reconsideration, prompting Town Manager John O’Connell to reach out to Sortwell for his opinion. The committee said its maintenance of the garden depended on having a place to store supplies. Since the barn to the main house was converted to an educational center, the committee and the Garden Club have relied on the shed at the corner of the garden for storage.

Some selectmen were adamant that the deed reflected the final wishes of the donors, and should be honored. In April, selectmen gave Public Works until the end of May to remove the shed. A small triangle of land the town got after the transfer of the Sunken Garden may be large enough for a storage building; the selectmen said they would review the deeds and the site and decide by the next board meeting.

Just before the meeting went into executive session for a legal opinion, Selectman Bob Blagden said he wanted to bring up the Parks and Recreation budget again. He said he had looked at the expenses versus the revenues, and it was clear the department would not be able to make its goal for the last fiscal year and would unlikely meet its next year’s goals either. Selectman Kim Andersson objected to bringing up the issue, which was not on the agenda, without notice and without the director being present; however, Chair Judy Colby said Blagden was within his rights as a member, and furthermore, she had the same concerns and also had concerns about the EMS budget projections. The board voted to deny overtime to employees of Parks and Rec, and to limit employees to 32 hours per week or less.

During public comment, Cordelia Oehmig asked for permission to put up sandwich signs directing people to parking lots off Main Street. The board agreed to buy the signs for $364.

Selectmen voted to change the required hours of operation for the town clerk before Election Day to the normal hours of operation, reappointed Leslie Roberts to the Historic Preservation Commission, and considered kayak racks at the waterfront and decided to ask the public if it would use them. To respond, email O’Connell at manager@wiscasset.org

The board considered a possible summer biergarten, Pier Beer, which would have a fenced-in area for people 21 years of age and older. There would be tables and chairs and people could bring in food bought from vendors. The business has more steps to approval.

The board approve all the other pier permits, including one for Coastal Cones, which the Waterfront Committee had not recommended because the owner did not meet requirements including having hours at the pier at least five days a week. People had complained to the committee that the business was often shuttered. However, it  had submitted its application with its fee, and the board did not believe it could turn it down at this late date.

Selectmen began considering fee increases for wastewater treatment. They approved raising fees for RV dumps to $25 from $5; raised the price for septage from $50 for up to 1,000 gallons to a flat 13 cents per gallon, and left the portapotty dump charge at 13 cents per gallon. At the next meeting, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., there will be a public hearing about rate increases for sewer.