Wiscasset selectmen have reached out to fire department officers but no meeting date has been set.

Chairman Judy Colby said she hopes the discussion will make for a better working relationship; as of Tuesday, selectmen were still waiting for a response from the fire chief.

Recent issues have included selectmen’s 3-2 decision banning firefighters from washing their vehicles at the firehouse and firefighters objecting to receiving their stipends through direct deposit. 

On July 27, Town Manager Marian Anderson emailed Fire Chief T.J. Merry regarding the selectmen’s meeting proposal. “The Board of Selectmen would like to meet with you and your officers in an informal workshop setting to hear directly from your leadership team what the Board can do to address issues and concerns of the department,” she stated. Anderson suggested a meeting date of Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Merry responded by email to Anderson the same day. Since selectmen were unwilling to change their position, “as far as we are concerned there isn't any real need for a meeting,” he wrote, adding firemen would continue with plans to petition for a special town meeting.

However, in a follow-up email Merry wrote, “After speaking with my officers, we would like to meet with the selectmen but we'd first like to know what they would like to accomplish through this meeting.”

Colby said she’d responded by thanking Merry but still hadn’t heard back as far as making arrangements for the meeting. Anderson noted Merry was out-of-town on vacation.

Selectmen discussed whether the meeting would be held in open session or behind closed doors. They agreed to begin the meeting in open session.

White’s Island decision postponed

For the third meeting in a row, selectmen postponed signing a quitclaim deed for White’s Island. Maine Coast Heritage Trust has offered the island to the town. Steve Walker a MCHT representative had been invited to attend but was not at the meeting. 

Traffic concern raised

John Reinhardt, who operates the Highnote Bed & Breakfast with his wife Marie on Lee Street, complained of motorists speeding through the downtown. He said the problem is the worst during the early morning hours.

“I’m really concerned and very afraid someone is going to get struck and killed,” he said.

Bids, a banner and more

Spectec Trailers of Saint Clair, Pennsylvania, submitted the lowest of two bids for a conventional dump trailer for the transfer station, at $65,770.

Nortrax of Westbrook was the lowest of four bidders for a backhoe loader for the highway department, at $104,900. This was for a John Deere model 310 SL. The price included a $22,000 trade-in, reducing the price to $82,900.

Maine Aeronautics was given permission to put up a banner, advertising the Aug. 17-20 “Rise Above” Tuskegee Airmen exhibit and fly-in event at Wiscasset Municipal Airport. The banner will go on the grounds of the municipal building.

Saturday’s activities from 10 to 4 p.m. feature a visit by a WWII P51 Mustang airplane, helicopter rides, venders, food and live music.

Selectmen approved a request from Morris Farm to place temporary signage on the municipal building lawn promoting this year’s “Tour de Farms.  The event is set for Sept. 10, rain date Sept. 11. Over 100 cyclists will tour farms in Lincoln County including the Morris Farm. After the ride cyclists return to Morris Farm for a barbecue.

The board approved a request from New Hope for Women to place a symbolic lighted tree on the town common in October. New Hope for Women wanted the lighted tree to remain up all month but town ordinances limit temporary signage promoting non-profit events to 15 consecutive days.

Selectmen appointed Margaret Rafter to the Waterfront Committee, Richard W. Thompson to the Historic Preservation Commission and William Laliberte to the Budget Committee.

Selectmen will hold a goal-setting workshop with the town manager 5 p.m., Aug. 23.  

Before adjourning, selectmen met behind closed for three pre-announced executive session, two to consider requests for poverty abatements, and a third for a performance evaluation of the town manager.