Wiscasset Police Department will have to wait to buy a new cruiser after bids exceeded funds voters approved. Police Chief Larry Hesseltine told the select board Tuesday, Nov. 3, the lowest bidder was $13,314 more than expected.

At the annual referendum election in September, voters agreed to use $31,000 from capital reserve to buy a new cruiser. Hesseltine received quotes from three Maine dealerships including one for a hybrid Ford Explorer that was $16,814 more than what voters approved.

Town Manager Dennis Simmons said he was reluctant to take monies from the police budget or contingency account to make up the difference. Simmons was also against raising more money at a special town meeting. Wiscasset has two SUV police cruisers, one six years old; the other, five.

Selectman Kim Andersson withdrew her motion that would have authorized the purchase of the hybrid model and covered the balance from the police budget. The board instead decided to wait. Following comments by Selectman Jeff Slack, attending remotely, and Chairman Pam Dunning, the board suggested Hesseltine seek more bids later in the budget year.

Dunning did not believe the board could authorize spending more than what voters had agreed to. The warrant article approved Sept. 8 was to appropriate an amount “not to exceed $31,000.”

“We don’t need to act on this tonight. We can wait until later in the year to see where (the police chief) is at in his budget,” said Slack over the telephone. He was at home in quarantine having recently returned from a trip to Florida.

Also Nov. 3, Simmons noted he was successful in obtaining lower interest rates from The First by refinancing three outstanding bonds: the Rynel infrastructure bond was at 3.75% and is now at 1.84% on $356,554. The Pier Improvement Bond’s rate went from 2.91% to 1.48% on $68,916. And the regional school unit withdrawal bond’s rate of 2.56% is now 1.84% on $1,107,103.

Simmons added the town’s four equipment loans were also refinanced into one loan. The average interest of 2.69% is now 1.56% on a total of $103,777.

“The bond maturity dates, payment due dates whether monthly, annually, semi-annually, etc. and principal amounts did not change, just the interest rates savings which is about $94,100 over the life of all the outstanding loans,” Simmons told board. “I would like to acknowledge the assistance of The First. They did not hesitate to work with us to save the taxpayers some money.”

Due to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, Simmons is recommending the board return to limiting meeting attendance to just selectmen, department heads and the press. Residents will be able to participate remotely via Zoom, and can watch the meetings on YouTube.

The board authorized Simmons to sign an agreement with Maine Department of Transportation for the recently completed downtown improvement project. According to the agreement, the town will assume responsibility for maintenance of Main Street sidewalks, the parking lot on Water Street, the annual striping of the crosswalks and Railroad Avenue. The state will maintain the traffic signals.

Simmons shared documentation pertaining to a Sept. 23 Nuclear Regulatory Commission security inspection of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co.’s spent fuel storage facility. “Based on the results of the inspection, no findings were identified,” the NRC told Maine Yankee officials in a letter.

In other business, the board authorized the public works director and town manager to review bids and award a contract for engineering services for the planned Tidal Stream Crossing off Old Ferry Road. The project involves the replacement of an undersized culvert.

The Committee on the Town’s Appearance received a $500 donation from Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce. The monies were raised at a pie sale held during Scarecrowfest.

The Ordinance Review Committee will begin work on a number ordinances for consideration by voters in 2021. These pertain to the sale of recreational marijuana, downtown sidewalk use, solar power projects, an ordinance addressing noise and amendments to the sign ordinance.

Simmons said he sent out inquiries for retaining the services of a professional planner to assist the Comprehensive Plan Committee.

Because this year’s Veterans Day Service was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic, the select board began its meeting with a moment of silence honoring all the men and women who are serving or have served in the armed services.