The Woolwich Selectboard got the go ahead from voters to spend $80,000 from the undesignated fund balance to buy a two-acre lot across from the municipal building. The land purchase was the only item of business at the special town meeting Wednesday evening, July 19. About 25 residents crowded into the hearing room over the town office including Philip and his wife Marilyn Baker, the property owners.

After being elected moderator, Mike Field read the article and Selectboard Chairman David King Sr. moved that it be passed. “Parking is at a premium whenever we have an event here, or across the street at the old Meetinghouse, and tonight’s a good example of just how crowded with cars it can get,” he commented.

Selectman Jason Shaw said the town had the opportunity to buy the property 20 years ago but voted it down. He said town ownership would be beneficial to the fire department as well as the town office. Selectman Dale Chadbourne summed it up this way: “It’s the only piece of land on this section of Nequasset Road that the town doesn’t own. It’s really in our best interest to acquire it,” he said. Selectman Tommy Davis urged voters to pass the article as well.

The selectboard was asked how many parking spaces the lot would provide, whether it would be lit, and what the added insurance cost would be to the town. “It’s usable as a parking lot pretty much as it is,” said King, adding it could accommodate about 50 cars. “Our first priority was to see if the townspeople were willing to acquire it,”  said Shaw adding there were no immediate plans to spend any additional money on it. When Field called for a voice vote all but one resident voted in favor of the purchase. Philip Baker was all smiles afterwards, saying he was happy an agreement could be worked out with the selectboard. Bailey told Wiscasset Newspaper he had owned the property since about 1989.

The board then met briefly for a regular meeting. After dispensing with routine business a decision was made to offer Daniel Evarts of Woolwich the job of EMS/ambulance director. On King’s motion, he and Shaw voted in favor of Evarts’ nomination; Chadbourne dissented. Davis recused himself from the discussion or voting. Selectman Allison Hepler was absent. The motion passed 2-1.

“I wish there was a way we could have had them both,” commented Chadbourne after the vote. King agreed saying the two finalists were both Woolwich first responders and “excellent” candidates. Town Administrator Kim Dalton was directed to notify Evarts of the board’s decision. King said the EMS/ambulance director appointment is for one year and by policy requires a six-month probationary period.

Debbie Locke told the board this year’s annual town picnic is Saturday, Aug. 12 on the lawn between the historical society’s Farmhouse Museum and the firehouse. In other business, Gregg Buzckowski, Gaius Hennin and Locke were reappointed to the planning board.

A meeting planned earlier in the afternoon with Ben Davis of Nobleboro, owner of OpBox, was cancelled at Davis’s request. Davis has leased the former car dealership building next to Kennebec Equipment Rental. He plans to sell modular structures and other products made from recycled plastic. He has asked for the selectboard’s support in applying for Maine Community Development Block Grant monies. Davis operates a similar facility in Nobleboro.