It took Woolwich voters, the 80 who were present for the April 24 town meeting in the elementary school gymnasium, a little over two hours to pass a $2.6 million budget and several ordinance amendments. The 2024-25 municipal budget is up 6.9% from last year’s.

Voters breezed through the first 17 of the 47 warrant articles before spending 25 minutes hearing arguments for and against a $66,392 contribution to Patten Free Library. Some felt the proposed increase of $3,161 from last year was too high. Selectboard Chairman David King Sr. commented it would be cheaper to buy any resident who wanted one a library card.  But boatbuilder Rob Stevens of Montsweag Road urged voters to pass the article. Community libraries like Patten Free are part of what makes America great, he said. When discussion was through and moderator Mike Field called for a voice vote, the “ayes” were in the majority, but it was close. Bath, Arrowsic, Georgetown, West Bath and Woolwich belong to Patten Free Library. According to the library’s website: “Municipal support accounts for 30 percent of its operational budget. Patten Free Library does not receive any federal or state aid.” It was noted that Woolwich Selectman Tommy Davis serves as a trustee of Patten Free Library and chairs its finance committee.

Without comment, voters agreed to raise $255,241 – $9,353 more than last year – to continue curbside weekly trash and bi-weekly recycling collection provided by Riverside Disposal and EcoMaine. Also approved without discussion were budgets for the ambulance department, $389,880, and fire department, $195,448. Both budgets were up over last year, although it was noted by the moderator and on the town warrant the ambulance department has the potential to bring in $120,000 in revenues to offset its operational costs.

Voters approved a roads and bridges budget of $911,842, $200,000 of which was earmarked for hot topping, an increase of $20,000 from last year. In a separate article, voters raised $40,000 for care and maintenance of the town’s eight miles of unpaved roads.

The 2024-2025 budget included “cost of living” raises for the office staff and a $5,620 raise for administrator/treasurer Kim Dalton, which King noted would bring her salary to $76,000 and closer to the area average. The amount raised for employee health insurance was increased from $26,000 to $33,000.

To speed up the evening’s proceedings, a number of articles were bundled and voted on. On motions from the floor, voters also relieved the moderator from having to read lengthy articles containing line items. The meeting still ran close to two and a half hours. 

Nearly unanimously, voters raised $27,891 for donations to non-profit organizations. These included $5,000 to Woolwich Central School to continue its boatbuilding program at Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. They also approved a new, one-time request of $7,500 to Tedford Housing based in Brunswick. Some residents felt donations which have remained the same for a number of years should be increased. The moderator explained warrant articles are worded so that voters can only decrease proposed amounts.

Article 45, a proposed amendment to the solar ordinance, passed overwhelmingly. Resident Tom Stoner felt the change wasn’t what town officials had promised at last year’s town meeting when a committee was formed to clarify the ordinance. Davis explained the amendment would exclude smaller solar devices excluding those generating “less than or equal to 1,000 watts.”

Voters approved the appointment of Robert Stevens to a five-year term as a fish commissioner, and approved an amendment to the planning ordinance and an update to the shellfish conservation ordinance.

King urged residents upset about the deteriorating conditions on Route 127 (Middle Road) to write to Maine Department of Transportation and let their voices be heard. MaineDOT, not the town, is responsible for maintaining the heavily traveled “connector road” which serves as a major thoroughfare for Bath Iron Works commuters. “We’ve heard all of your complaints and are working with the Dresden officials on drafting a joint letter to the state as far as what improvements are needed,” commented Selectman Jason Shaw.

At the meeting’s start, the selectboard recognized the Montsweagers, a local group of folk musicians named as this year’s “Spirit of America” awardee. Also, Allison Hepler, selectman and Dist. 49 state representative, presented Jack Shaw of Jack & Sons Construction a Legislative proclamation celebrating his business’s 75th anniversary. “I’ve been around for just about all 75 years of business,” quipped Shaw.

In an email later to Wiscasset Newspaper, Hepler wrote, “I’m always grateful for the commonsense questions and comments of our residents. It always restores my faith in the value of the town meeting form of government.”  

Attendance at this year’s town meeting was on par with recent years representing only a small percentage of the town’s 2,700 registered voters.

The 2024-25 budget for Regional School Unit 1 which Woolwich is a part of will be voted by referendum ballot on June 11. Jennifer Ritch-Smith who represents Woolwich on the RSU 1 school board told voters this year’s budget process has been the “most challenging” she can remember. She encouraged residents to attend the next budget review slated for 6 p.m. Monday, April 29 at Morse high School. A second reading of the proposed budget will be held May 6 with a district-wide meeting for full budget consideration set for May 28. All of these meetings are open to the public.