Westport Island selectmen voted Monday to close the town office to all foot traffic for two weeks, effective immediately. With the decision, they join other area towns adapting their operations due to COVID-19. Westport Island office staff will still be available by phone at 882-8477 or by email during regular business hours (Tuesdays 11a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Deputy EMA Director Gaye Wagner said many services, such as renewal registrations, can be done online and other services such as voter registration and dog licenses can be processed by phone, email, or mail. More detailed information is available at westportisland.us. In preparation for the discussion of whether or not the office should close, Wagner had reached out to other Lincoln County towns to gather information on their adapted operations. She reported Lincoln County EMA opened an operations center dedicated to the county’s response to COVID-19. That center will be staffed remotely and be available via phone and email.

Wagner presented the second town clerk book of records that has now been preserved. The book has records from 1861 through 1884. The first book covered 1828 through 1860. Wagner said they have had two valuation books preserved as well.

The sale of 64 Moose Walk was completed with the selectmen signing the closing papers; it will earn the town $15,980. The board also voted to accept a contract with Evan Goodkowsky of Wiscasset for certified Maine assessment for the 2020-2021 assessing year. Goodkowsky will be paid $40 an hour.

Selectmen denied a request to rent the town hall later this summer citing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation. Several staff who were planning to attend trainings and conferences will no longer be able to. Maine Municipal Association has cancelled all trainings and will be issuing refunds. Several requests for seasonal ramps and floats were received and were passed off to the planning board to decide later this spring.