Woolwich town clerk resigns

Woolwich is advertising for a town clerk following the resignation of Chelsea Lane effective June 5. The select board appointed Town Administrator Kim Dalton interim town clerk until the vacancy is filled. Selectmen accepted Lane’s resignation “with regret” Monday.

“I have appreciated my time with the town and wish everyone the very best for the future,” Lane wrote in her letter to the board.

The board hired Lane as town clerk in December 2017. The job is posted on Maine Municipal Association’s website. The advertisement notes the town clerk also acts as the deputy treasurer. Applications will be accepted until the job is filled.

“Our hope is that we can fill the vacancy as soon as possible,” said Chairman David King.

The board adopted a new set of COVID-19 guidelines Selectman Allen Greene drafted. They include adhering to the state’s recommendations by limiting meetings to 50 people while maintaining a social distance of six feet between attendees. If a meeting location isn’t large enough, the meeting will be broadcast remotely.

Town employees, elected officials and meeting attendees must wear cloth face coverings when physical distancing isn’t possible. “Anyone not wearing a covering, or is exempt from doing so, will be denied entry if physical distancing isn’t possible,” the policy states.

Only one person at a time will be permitted to use the town office elevator. Social distancing is to be maintained on  the stairs leading to the town office’s second floor hearing room. One of the town office’s restrooms will be reopened to the public. Guidelines for its use will be posted.

The board is weighing several options for holding the annual town meeting. King suggested possibly holding it in two, or even three separate rooms at Woolwich Central School: the cafeteria, gymnasium and library, and linking them by closed circuit television.

The board is also considering holding its town meeting outdoors under a tent on the grounds of the municipal building.

Woolwich’s ambulance service reached a milestone by responding to its 270th call on June 8. EMS Director Brian Carton noted that is 30 more than he predicted when the department became the town’s ambulance provider a year ago. Last month, the ambulance department responded to 30 calls and made 16 transports.

Fire Chief Mike Demers said a Red Cross-sponsored blood drive at the firehouse went very well. Another will be held there July 17. Demers thanked donors of gloves, masks and hand sanitizer to the fire and EMS departments during the pandemic. Since the last select board meeting, the fire department has responded to 13 calls, including a small fire at a mobile home.

The board authorized King to sign off on an agreement with F.B. Environmental of Portland to monitor the former landfill for $7,777.

Maxwell Gurney of West Bath was the highest of three bidders on a foreclosed property on Ledgewood Lane. Gurney bid $88,552 for the house and 3.3-acre lot. The board voted 4-0, with King abstaining, to accept Gurney’s offer. King said he abstained because he is a relative of Gurney.