Wiscasset’s two proposed marijuana ordinances will go to public hearing at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the town office. Selectmen Oct. 18 sent the proposals onto the planning board for a hearing. And Monday night, the planning board set it.

The Oct. 10, draft adult use cannabis business ordinance Town Manager Dennis Simmons provided on request Oct. 19 would have selectmen decide an application after a hearing. As proposed, Wiscasset would put no limit on the number of businesses; would allow stores in the commercial district on Route 1 from Birch Point Road to the Woolwich line; allow cultivation, testing and manufacturing facilities in the rural district; bar cannabis stores, cannabis cultivation, cannabis products manufacturing facilities and cannabis testing facilities from the village 1 and village 2 districts; and bar cannibas businesses from being on property within 1,000 feet of the property line of a school or pre-school, pre-existing childcare facility, place of worship, a municipal safe zone or municipal ballfield or the Town Hall. 

The Oct. 10, draft medical cannabis licensing ordinance would also have selectmen deciding an application after a hearing. The draft does not limit the number of licenses for registered caregiver retail stores, registered dispensaries, medical cannabis manufacturing facilities, or medical cannabis testing facilities.

According to the notice provided after Monday’s planning board meeting, the Nov. 14 hearing is also on proposed amendments to town rules on lot size and setbacks and rules on improvements to town property.

Also Oct. 18 and in Wiscasset Municipal Airport Manager Richard Tetrev’s monthly report, selectmen heard about a plane’s Sept. 11 emergency landing. No one was hurt, there was no fire and, between Airport Supervisor Gene Fairfield, airport committee members Steve Williams and Ervin Deck, Public Works Director Ted Snowden and his team, Wiscasset police and fire departments, Bob Blagden’s wrecker service, hangar owners Mike Muchmore and Ann Walko and a mechanic, Scott Royal, the runway was shut down and the plane removed, according to Tetrev’s report.

In an email reply to questions Oct. 21, Tetrev said the “wheels up” or belly landing involved a Cessna Model 425 owned by JAD Aviation in Bloomington, Illinois. Shortly after takeoff from Wiscasset’s airport, the plane lost all electrical power and the pilot turned the plane around and landed it back at the airport; the propellers on both sides snapped off because they were spinning when the plane landed, Tetrev said. “The belly was scratched and dented, not too bad though, one of the wings’ skin was crinkled and it had a minor fuel leak which our team easily took care of.” 

Simmons told selectmen the incident gave airport, public works and emergency workers “a pretty good dry run for a more serious emergency.” He said everyone did exactly what they were supposed to and the plane was off the runway within two hours. “So kudos to them ... Hopefully it doesn’t happen again anytime soon, but if it does, I think we’re prepared and ... all of them did a fantastic job.”

Simmons also gave kudos to the transfer station staff for praise he has been hearing from multiple people. “One guy told me he looks for reasons to go to the transfer station, as kind of a little social thing. So they’re doing a great job up there.”

Also Oct. 18, the board nodded Wiscasset School Department’s request for $13,082 from the Larrabee Fund to buy instruments. Music staff members Carole Drury and Elizabeth Goodliff said in the meeting and an email to selectmen earlier that day, the band program dwindled in the pandemic and without a band teacher. They said Goodliff was hired in October 2021, recruited students and the program is growing again this year.