Dresden selectmen voted Tuesday, Sept. 1 to open meetings back to in-person attendance starting Sept. 15. Social distancing procedures will be followed and attendees will be required to wear masks. The board will also monitor the general COVID-19 situation. First Selectman John Rzasa said, “If we have to shut it down, we have to shut it down.”

Despite increases in the town, school and county budgets, Henderson announced the board would be able to keep property taxes at last year’s $18.80 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. This includes $50,000 the town voted to move from surplus to the tax commitment. Town Administrator Michael Henderson said excise tax and revenue sharing could greatly impact estimated revenue, but he said those have already been reduced in the estimates in anticipation of continued impact from the pandemic. Selectmen voted unanimously on the property tax rate.

The board continued discussing an electronic sign for the town office. Selectman Gerald Lilly said he looked at Wiscasset’s sign outside its town office and noted it changes about every eight or nine seconds. Henderson reported the prices were very good for Dresden’s sign, but the town had not yet found someone to install it. Board members discussed either a double-sided sign or a single sign in front of the town office. The matter was tabled until the next meeting after further information gathering is done and board members have a chance to view where the signs would be installed.

Henderson said there is a new requirement that a building has to be confirmed as abandoned before it can be put in foreclosure. A municipal, code enforcement, or police officer must go with the bank to a property. Henderson suggested putting together a short policy with a fee schedule for banks. The select board decided to be uninvolved completely and that any requests should be referred to the sheriff’s department.

The board will seek a face-to-face meeting with Fire Chief Steve Lilly to layout its expectations and discuss the outstanding $19,900 bill for the ladder truck and any expenses moving forward. The bill was for repairs to the truck, including the ladder, bent in a training and so insurance did not cover the cost. Dave Probert said someone really needs to be there from the fire department during the department updates. The board agreed.

The board approved an amendment to the snow plow service agreement with Goodall Landscaping, lowering this year’s contract from $217,194 to $198,584.

A special town meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at Pownalborough Hall will address clerical errors from the annual town meeting. The board’s next regular meeting is at 6 p.m. Sept. 15 at Pownalborough Hall.