Over Zoom and Youtube Tuesday night, April 20, Wiscasset selectmen listened to, praised and talked about acting soon on teenagers’ request the town help address climate change.

“Wiscasset is an amazing place. It’s beautiful. But we need to keep it that way,” Wiscasset Middle High School freshman Grace Greene said. The new WMHS group, Sheepscot Climate Action Club, was Greene’s idea, teacher Ralph Keyes said. Keyes, fellow teachers Brad Lopes and Seth Platikus, and 2020 WMHS graduate Maria West advise the club. Greene’s fellow members are freshmen Julia Truesdell, Emily Gilliam, Nevaeh Campbell and Linnea Andersson, homeschool student Bri Wright, senior Ty DeLong and junior Brianna Colson.

The club proposed Wiscasset take the non-binding step of declaring a climate emergency to acknowledge climate change as an issue; and proposed the town form an energy efficiency committee.

West spoke in part on a shift toward alternative energy. “We understand that this is not something that you can do overnight, but ... not ... 20 years down the line ... The longer we wait, the more money we’re going to have to spend.”

Another step, a climate action plan, could help cut greenhouse gases, such as by seeking federal or state tax breaks that encourage people to have solar panels or limit their mileage, the club told the board.

Selectmen plan to consider some action as soon as May 4. And Selectman and Comprehensive Plan Committee Chair Sarah Whitfield said the club’s ideas could fit into the comp plan. Selectmen’s Chair Pam Dunning said the club’s work, including the committee idea, “super impressed” her and could be “key to Wiscasset moving forward.”

Also April 20, resident Ed Polewarczyk continued raising issues with the proposed solar project at Wiscasset Municipal Airport. If clearcutting is done, how would the town benefit from that harvest, he asked. The forest is a town asset and should not be surrendered, he said. Polewarczyk also raised financial and other questions and urged the board to help voters make an informed decision. 

Officials asked Polewarczyk to send them his statement. Town Manager Dennis Simmons noted people can also ask questions at the May 18 public hearing on the town meeting warrant at Wiscasset Community Center.

Selectmen set the school budget meeting for 6 p.m. May 12 at WMHS.

The board unanimously accepted Sharon Jacques’ donation of late husband Corey Jacques’ boat. Fire Chief Rob Bickford called the gift very generous. “We would love to use the (sale’s) proceeds toward something that would really work for us and the harbor master.” Selectmen will send letters of thanks for the boat and for Neighbors helping Neighbors’ $400 donation to general assistance.

Selectmen told Simmons they do not object to the town putting cameras on the waterfront to track its use. Simmons said the data could help as the town considers possible new piers and slips. Responding to board questions, Simmons said the police department would monitor the images, the waterfront budget would fund the cameras, and signs could be placed to inform people they are on camera.

The board named Loretta Morse Leighton, David Sawyer, Anthony Rauseo Jr., Peter H. Wells, Judy Flanagan and Steven Christiansen to the cemetery committee; Jan Flowers, Larry Flowers and Candace Cahn Iampietro to the appearance of the town committee; and Valerie Young to the comprehensive plan committee.