If Wiscasset voters agree in June, selectmen will have a committee explore options for the school department’s future. The warrant article arose from two split votes on Zoom Tuesday night, March 16.

Selectmen rejected 3-2 a proposed question Town Manager Dennis Simmons offered. Its scope aligned with residents Judith Colby and William Maloney’s proposal that started this year’s talks. Simmons’ proposed question read: “Shall the Town authorize the Selectmen to form an ad hoc committee to study the financial impact of the Wiscasset School Department discontinuing to offer grades 9-12 and offer those students tuition at a local school of their choice.”

When some members voiced concern the question was negative or it restricted what the committee would look at, Simmons said he had drafted a broader one, but narrowed it at Selectman Jeff Slack’s request.

“Absolutely,” Slack said. “I thought narrowing the scope made it more of a directive.” He recalled working on Wiscasset’s withdrawal from Regional School Unit 12. The scope was too vague and the work too long, he said. “It’s better to be direct in the beginning and then expand later. (Otherwise), it’s really hard to get anything done.”

“I wasn’t part of that discussion (to narrow the question). I’m very uncomfortable with that,” Selectman Kim Andersson said. Selectman Sarah Whitfield said the proposal did not follow the spirit of the board’s past talks over the question.

Narrow wording will close the door on other options, some the town may not even know of yet, Andersson said. If Dresden was interesting in coming back and Wiscasset ended high school classes, “We shut that door, without even checking to see if it’s unlocked. Why would we shortchange ourselves, especially when we have a history of shortchanging ourselves ... in education over and over and over again ...,” she asked.

“It makes sense to broaden the scope of what you’re looking at, to look at all possibilities, rather than (do) a warrant article for something so narrow,” Whitfield said.

Andersson, Whitfield and Chair Pam Dunning opposed the question; Slack and Katharine Martin-Savage favored it.

Before she voted, Dunning told fellow members she was “very torn.” The question she hears in town is what would it cost to close the high school. “I am going to work at opening my mind up a little bit, past that and see how it goes.”

Supporting the question that went on to defeat, Martin-Savage said it would not shut down the high school grades, it would gather information. “It’s step one in ... a longer term process.” The information might support keeping the high school grades, she said. 

The board passed Whitfield’s proposed warrant article 4-1, Martin-Savage dissenting. The question read: “Shall the town authorize the selectmen to form an ad hoc committee to study the future of the Wiscasset School Department including all options for expansion, consolidation, or continuing the status quo.”

Also March 16, the board discussed keeping the town’s options open for putting something at the Ancient Cemetery after the fence comes down. After hearing and viewing fencing and entryway concepts Maine Old Cemeteries Association member, registered Maine landscape architect and Ancient Cemetery neighbor Peter Wells presented, selectmen passed a proposed cemeteries budget of $173,882 officials said seeks no taxes and includes funding to replace the fence.

Members said they have made no decision on a project. Simmons will draft a warrant article for the board to consider. Having the funding approved in the annual town vote would avoid a special town meeting that would draw fewer voters, members said.

Parks and Recreation Director Duane Goud reported a new member’s anonymous, $15,000 donation. “(This) has created a great lift in spirits for all of us here at the (Wiscasset Community Center, complimenting) our staff on how we are taking care of things and what we are and have been doing to keep the WCC open for all to enjoy,” Goud wrote in his monthly report.

“Holy cannoli. Super wow,” Andersson said. “Clearly some significant support in our community. Cheers to Wiscasset.”

The board approved business licenses for Francoise Byasson McCoy for Marston House, LLC, 101 Main St., and Jean Beattie Flynn for Sheepscot Bay Physical Therapy, 35 Water St.; approved pier vendor permits for Sprague’s Lobster, Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce, The Potter’s Shed, Forgotten Recipes and Maine Bay Bowls; and put Sharon Jacques on the budget committee and Donald Oyster on the ordinance review committee.