The long-awaited sand and salt building reimbursement check has arrived, for $49,651.92, according to Wiscasset Town Manager Marian Anderson. 

The reimbursement program was a Maine Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection initiative to keep salt out of sensitive areas. The program was discontinued in 2017, but it took longer for towns that invested in salt and sand sheds to be reimbursed.

Selectmen agreed to a request from Dick Forrest to have an electric meter installed for use by workers on the Providence, which is tied up at Wiscasset’s recreational pier.

Anderson plans to attend a Dec. 21 Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission meeting, to discuss broadband planning in Wiscasset and several other Lincoln County towns. The commission recently received grant funding for broadband planning.

After deciding to go through a bid process for the July Fourth fireworks vendor, Wiscasset has awarded the contract to the vendor who provided the services last year, Central Maine Pyrotechnics, with the provision the fireworks be shot off on floats in the river and begin at a specific time. There had been complaints the fireworks began too early last year, Anderson said. The cost for the fireworks is $8,000.

During a public hearing for The Cubbyhole Sports Pub to receive a special amusement permit to have small live music performances occasionally during the summer months, Ray Soule, who lives nearby, said both The Cubbyhole and Wiscasset Speedway are excellent neighbors. The board voted to approve the permit.

During public comment, Judy Flanagan said the Spirit of Giving Program brought in gifts for 300 children, and every tag had been taken and fulfilled. Steve Christiansen is still concerned about winter parking in the municipal lot on Middle Street. He said most of the cars there overnight belong to local residents with their own driveways. Police Chief Larry Hesseltine said he is looking into the issue, and that the car owners are known, but because there are no WPD officers on duty overnight, it is difficult to enforce the parking ban.

The town office will close at noon on Christmas Eve and be closed Christmas Day. Anderson said employees are using their vacation hours to close the office. Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Jan. 8.