Town office staff have come up with a good reopening plan, Westport Island First Selectman George Richardson said Monday night. “I appreciate all the work.”

In the UberConference call, the board supported the preliminary plan Deputy Emergency Management Agency Director Gaye Wagner described: One visitor at a time in the building, a plexiglass barrier between staff and customers, hand sanitizer on both sides, receptacles for used and sanitized pens, restrooms temporarily closed to the public; an outdoor walk-up window to Municipal Agent Dedee Greenleaf-Hodgdon’s office; continued encouragement to do business online or by phone; and possible use of the plexiglass barrier for in-person absentee voting.

“We’re cutting the shrubs so that there’s a pathway to (Greenleaf-Hodgdon’s) window,” Wagner said.

The staff is taking suggestions from the public and still working out logistics, Wagner said. “We’re hoping if we can get this together, what we’d like to do is start implementing this next Tuesday ...”

Selectmen were also OK with the history committee using the town hall for socially distanced meetings. The committee has been meeting via Zoom and, at its June meeting, will consider meeting at the town hall starting in July, Chair Jeff Tarbox said. The town office might not be big enough for attendees to sit apart, he said. 

Selectmen added two questions to the town meeting warrant. One might resolve a legal case, according to the litigant and the town’s lawyer on it. The board passed the question 2-1 with Ross Norton dissenting. It proposes confirming North End Road from Boatyard Road to the cul de sac at the end of the road is a town way state law obligates the town to maintain; appropriating up to $37,000 to repair that part of North End Road; and authorizing selectmen to enter into contracts for the repairs after competitive bidding.

Attorney James N. Katsiaficas of the Portland firm of Perkins-Thompson told the board Ralph Jacobs has told him, if voters pass the question, he would withdraw his litigation at no further cost to the town. “So we have a potential resolution here. It’s going to be up to the voters on the 18th of July.”

“That’s correct,” Jacobs said. “What’s laid out in this warrant certainly addresses our concerns, appreciate it.”

“OK, thank you, Ralph,” Richardson said.

The board voted 3-0 to propose voters put off advertising for snow plowing bids until after town meeting.

Meeting-goers sang Richardson “Happy Birthday.”