The Woolwich select board is weighing its emergency shelter options. The town can continue operating its shelter at the municipal building alone or affiliate with the Red Cross.

EMS/EMA Director Brian Carlton said the municipal building and firehouse meet all the Red Cross's requirements for an emergency shelter. He told selectmen Monday night, affiliation would have advantages and disadvantages. The Red Cross would pick up all of the shelter costs in a weather-related or other emergency, and provide sleeping cots, blankets and other needs. The shelter, however, might have to accommodate storm victims from neighboring communities and space was limited.

Still be determined, added Carlton, is the overnight sheltering capacity of the municipal building. He said West Bath has the nearest Red Cross shelter, in its firehouse.

The board appeared to prefer keeping local control over the shelter. Carlton will look into having local shelter volunteers Red Cross-trained and will determine the building’s sheltering capacity.

In other business, Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert told the board that this year, he’s issued 62 plumbing permits, 58 building permits and 24 building permits for new homes.

He said 20 of the 24 home permits are for new houses built in the price range of $250,000 each. The other four permits are for mobile or modular-type homes. The new home construction is expected to add significantly to the tax base.

In another matter, Chair David King asked Engert to give the board two weeks written notice when he plans to be absent from the town office.

Selectman Jason Shaw suggested Engert also change his voicemail saying he’d be out of the office, providing information on when he’d return. Engert recently attended a training session; selectmen said they weren’t aware in advance he’d be away.

The board restricted the use of the town's new LED sign to town and school-related announcements.

“Once we allow one outside organization to use it, we’ll be dealing with all of the them,” said King, calling for a motion to limit use of the sign. The motion passed unanimously.

The board also approved taking $848 from contingency to pay for the sign’s electrical connection.

Selectman Dale Chadbourne said a tree blew down in Nequasset Cemetery. The road commissioner will look into its removal.

James Chadwick Oliver Jr. was appointed to the Road Committee and Tammy Given to the Events Committee. Shaw abstained on Given’s appointment.

Leaf collection is Friday, Nov. 30. The cost is $1 per bag for paper bags and $2.50 per bag for plastic bags. Residents must contact Riverside Disposal in advance of the pickup and can register by phone, 623-2577 or email sandy@riversidedisposal,com. If by email, include name, address and phone number in addition to the type and number of bags to be collected.