The Wiscasset Community Center will be getting a new roof this summer. On the recommendation of Wright-Pierce Engineering of Topsham, selectmen awarded the roofing bid Tuesday night to Tecta America of Portland and Bangor.

Tecta America submitted the lowest of nine bids, $187,900, opened by selectmen Feb. 16. The town has enough money to replace the lower portion of the building; voters will be asked to raise the remaining, estimated $63,000 needed to complete the roof when they consider the 2016-17 town budget. 

Tecta America’s bid is less than the estimate developed for the project, wrote Daniel I. Pratt, project engineer for Wright-Pierce. In his recommendation dated Mar. 7, Pratt noted the second lowest bid was five percent higher than Tecta’s. After reviewing the bid package, Wright-Pierce recommended the town award the contract to Tecta America. Pratt further recommended the town include a seven-percent contingency for the project to address any unforeseen problem that might come up.

Selectmen directed Town Manager Marian Anderson and Todd Souza, director of parks and recreation, to inform Tecta America about the board's decision.

On another matter, selectmen granted Souza permission to create a “special revenue” account for the parks and recreation department. “This operational and financial change would provide budget relief, aid in capital project funding as well as provide the ability to create new revenue opportunities for our department,” Souza wrote in a Mar. 1 memo to Anderson.

Souza told selectmen the account would help him both maintain and expand programs as well as offset operational and maintenance costs. He said the account would allow him more control over revenues generated by parks and recreation and less on on estimates made through gross budgeting. He added it will mean he should be able to ask for less money from the town this year. Selectmen fully supported Souza’s request.

Police resignations accepted

Selectmen accepted with “deep regret” the resignation of Police Chief Troy Cline. Anderson said the town began advertising for a new police chief this week. Applications for the position close April 1. The goal is to have a new police chief hired by the first week of June.

Selectman Judy Flanagan thanked Cline for his service to the community. “I think you’ve done a fine job,” she told him.

Cline thanked selectmen and the community for their support during his tenure. He gave a special thank you to members of the town's fire and ambulance departments.

The board also accepted the resignation of Thomas Hoepner as school resource officer.

Anderson noted that Dianne Hammond of Wiscasset was recently hired as the new administrative assistant at the police department.

Toby Martin, new director of the Wiscasset Ambulance Service, attended Tuesday night’s meeting. Anderson introduced him to the selectmen. Martin will begin his new duties on April 4.

 Support staff contract approved

Selectmen voted 4-0-1, Selectman Ben Rines Jr. abstaining, to finalize a new collective bargaining contract with its support staff. This includes workers at the town office and community center. The support staff recently met and approved the contract. Additional details of the contract were not made available to the newspaper as of press time.

MDOT meeting planned

A second meeting with Maine Dept. of Transportation officials for consideration of traffic lights, sidewalk reconstruction and construction of parking lots has been tentatively set for April 9 at the Wiscasset Community Center.

Selectmen Rines said he was very pleased with the turnout for the first meeting. Over 150 residents gathered to hear two MDOT options for easing summer traffic flow through town.

Historic plaque rediscovered

Steve Christiansen of Wiscasset presented selectmen with a bronze plaque found in storage at the former landfill. The plaque dated May 6, 1938 reads: “Dedicated to the Birth of the Constitution of the United States.” It was given to the town by the Pemaquid Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on the occasion of the planting of an elm tree. The tree where the plaque was located may have once stood on the town common near the courthouse.

Liquor license renewed

Following a public hearing, selectmen voted to unanimously renew a liquor license for Sarah’s Café and Twin Schooners Pub on Water Street. Sarah Heald of Georgetown made the application.

The board voted 4-1, Selectmen Judith Colby dissenting; to rescind a liquor license renewal policy granting the town office limited authority to grant liquor license renewals. The board replaced it with a policy requiring all liquor license applications including renewals to come before the board of selectmen.

Appointments made

 Stephen Graffam of Federal Street was reappointed to the Wiscasset Conservation Commission. At the request of the town clerk Linda Perry, selectmen also appointed 34 residents to serves as 2016 ballot clerks. They consisted of 16 registered Democrats, 15 Republican and three un-enrolled voters.

Main Street Pier permits granted

On the recommendation of the waterfront committee, selectmen renewed two seasonable vender permits for the Memorial Pier. One was for Nancy T. Jones, dba, Ridgeback Pottery of Warren. The other was to Two Bridges Regional Jail, dba, Two Bridges Industries for the sale of inmate made goods including furniture and novelty items.

Assessments granted

Selectmen spent over an hour on assessing business before granting two property abatements totaling $1,241.

The First Congregational Church of Wiscasset was granted permission to hold its annual Summerfest event on the town common July 23.

The board entered into executive session at 8:45 p.m. to meet with heir real estate agent. The board’s next regular meeting will be April 5 at 6 p.m.