Woolwich voters will consider entering into a multi-year trash and recycling contract at a special town meeting 5:30 p.m., Monday July 17. The meeting will be held in the hearing room at the town office.

David King Sr., select board chairman, told members of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee, it would be in the community’s best interest to enter into a 10-year contract with Ecomaine, a Portland-based nonprofit.

“We recently received a letter from them telling us they’ve added so many new towns we should seriously consider extending our present agreement,” he said. “If we don’t sign a long-term contract we could lose out.”

Jonathan Appleyard, committee chairman, agreed, but was concerned about how voters might perceive the change. At the May annual town meeting, voters approved $190,872 for a one-year contract with Ecomaine and Riverside Disposal of Chelsea. Riverside provides the town with curbside trash and recycling pickup. Voters also authorized the select board to spend up to $25,000 from the undesignated fund balance to use for unanticipated solid waste and recycling costs.

Selectman Jason Shaw said he was reluctant to hold a special town meeting. “But, if we wait until next year’s annual town meeting. we were told we could potentially lose our spot with Ecomaine.”

King said the new contract would have a 60-day, opt-out provision. Committee member Don Adams said he would have to see the contract before he could decide. Appleyard encouraged the town office to provide as much advance notice of the special town meeting as possible.

The two panels will meet again for a workshop at 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 10 when they’ll discuss the proposed contract extension in more detail.

Also Monday, selectmen signed a power purchase agreement with ReVision Energy of Liberty and Portland to construct an 80-panel solar array at the former landfill. Selectman Allen Greene said the array would be constructed sometime in the next 12 to 16 weeks. Voters approved the project in May.

Fish Commissioner Chairman Bill Potter called this spring’s alewives harvest “very successful.” He said 767 bushels were taken, about 100 more than last year. Selectman authorized Potter to make up to $1,000 in repairs at the dam and other minor repairs to the access road. The vote was 4-0-1 with Shaw abstaining. Shaw’s Construction will do the repair work.

Woolwich will receive a $15,000 matching grant from the state to make Nequasset Park’s swimming area and the park more handicap-accessible.

Selectmen appointed Eleanor Adams to the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee.

The new hours at the town office are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday.