Wiscasset has one less, six-digit bill to pay. Tuesday night, selectmen were set to consider asking voters in June to, if needed, tap capital reserve for the town’s share of rebuilding Wiscasset Municipal Airport’s runway.

In a new development, the town does not have to pay, Town Manager Dennis Simmons informed the board over Zoom and YouTube. He said he learned March 26, the Federal Aviation Administration will fund 100% of the project. So that warrant article is not needed, he said.

“Very good news,” Chair Pam Dunning said. “That’s $145,000 we don’t have to spend.”

Also at Simmons’ recommendation, the board did not put a solar ordinance on the warrant. He said the ordinance review committee drafted one, a legal review led him to send it back to the ORC for possible changes, and the trouble the ORC has had getting a quorum for its meetings has him concerned the committee might not be able to make changes in time for another public hearing the proposal would need.

Selectmen added to the warrant an article to spend up to three-twelfths of the previous year’s budget if a department's budget fails; and an article to tap unspent capital project funds for $12,000 to outfit the new police cruiser. Police Chief Larry Hesseltine said, for lack of money, the car has no radio, siren box, or other equipment it needs for patrols.

The board also added an article officials said would authorize selectmen to lease airport property for Cenergy’s solar project. Resident Ed Polewarczyk objected. He said voters would be making the decision before a lease’s terms have been set.

Because the negotiations are still to come, “What we’re asking the people of Wiscasset to do is to accept whatever that agreement is without knowing anything about it ... I don’t know what we’re committing the town to for 20 years,” Polewarczyk said.

“The negotiations will be public. You guys will all know what they are,” Simmons said. Including too many lease terms in the town vote would give selectmen no room for change, Simmons said. “(It) would paint ourselves into a corner ... Something may crop up ... that we don’t like.” The board approved the article 5-0.

The board discussed reforming the advisory, ad hoc cemetery committee. The tentative plan is to appoint members April 20. If interested, contact the town office.