The Woolwich Select Board started off the new year by promoting their tax collector Katie Johnston to town administrator.

The board unanimously chose to hire Johnston Tuesday night and begin advertising shortly for a new tax collector. “She’s well qualified and we’re very pleased Katie’s accepted our offer,” Chair David King Sr. commented.

The board hired Johnston as tax collector-deputy town clerk in July 2017. She’s originally from Gorham where she worked for five years as the town’s assistant finance director. Johnston later worked as assistant treasurer-tax collector for Natick, Massachusetts. She resides in Bath.

The board hired Johnston at an annual salary of $40,000 requiring a six-month probationary period. King added, the town will begin advertising for a new tax collector following completion of a mid-year audit. “Lynette Eastman, the town’s previous town administrator has offered to stay on temporarily to help during the transition,” he said.

King started his twelvth consecutive year as chairman after his peers re-elected him at the start of the meeting. Dale Chadbourne was re-elected vice chairman.

ReVision Energy, based in Portland, recently completed the installation of 78 solar panels at the town’s former landfill on Middle Road. ReVision estimates the solar array will provide 99 percent of the town office’s annual electricity usage.

ReVision is hosting a ribbon-cutting 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan 11 at the site. The ceremony was rescheduled from Jan. 4 due to the weather.

The $75,000 solar array was installed with no upfront cost to the town, wrote Nick Sampson of ReVision Energy in an email to the press. “(Woolwich) will now receive a slight discount for each kilowatt hour of solar electricity the system produces. If the Town chooses to buy the array in year seven, we expect the project to save the Town more than $4,500 each year, and pay itself back in just 10 years," stated Sampson.

Selectman Jason Shaw commended the fire department for its response to a recent home fire. Fire Chief Mike Demers said the fire started around the chimney. No injuries were reported.

Road Commissioner Jack Shaw said the town’s roads were in very good condition considering the recent harsh winter weather. He told the board he’s received only minor complaints.

The board noted residents needing home heating assistance should contact the town office during business hours.

The board will begin work on the 2018-19 budget next month. Selectmen plan to meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5 to discuss the fate of a small bridge spanning Nequasset Brook leading to a private residence.