Corrected: The original post misstated the amount of the 2021-22 EMS budget. 

Woolwich selectmen are proposing a 2022-2023 town budget of $2,295,470 that includes raises for town employees and ambulance personnel along with increasing licensing fees for businesses selling or cultivating marijuana. The annual town meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at Woolwich Central School on Nequasset Road. Last year, voters passed a town budget of $2.16 million.

Voters will consider 45 articles including several authorizing the use of over $121,500 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The proposed ARPA  spending includes earmarking $100,000 for a future town-wide revaluation, $19,000 to buy a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) machine for first responders, and $2,500 for a camera and video recording system for the communications committee.

Proposed pay hikes include raising the town administrator/treasurer’s pay from $58,100 up to $64,000, and both the town clerk and tax collector’s pay from $38,745 up to $42,600. Voters are asked to raise the code enforcement officer’s pay from $28,366 to $30,040, and the stipend paid to the animal control officer from $6,000 to $8,000. Pay for selectmen will remain the same, $5,000 annually with an extra $500 paid to the chairman, and $250 to the vice chair.

EMS Director Brian Carlton is proposing a 2022-23 budget of $289,788, up from $231,113. Most of the increase is in the payroll line. Carlton stressed the importance of keeping Woolwich’s ambulance pay competitive. Payroll would increase from $130,000 to $183,000, while workmen’s compensation would rise from $12,700 to $21,338.

The proposed EMS payroll would increase the hourly rate paid to ambulance drivers from $12.75 to $14; an emergency medical technician from $14.50 to $17; advanced EMT, $17.70 to $20; and paramedic from $20.50 to $23. The EMS director’s yearly stipend is proposed to go from $9,000 to $10,000. Voter approval is sought to add a second EMS assistant at a yearly stipend of $2,000. Carlton said the new assistant would inventory medications.

The recent rise in fuel prices prompted Carlton to double his 2022-2023 fuel budget from $2,500 to $5,000. Woolwich first responders have two ambulances, one diesel, one gasoline. Carlton is also requesting voters amend the EMS billing ordinance by increasing the mileage rate charged to patients for transports, from $14 to $16 per mile. Woolwich first responders have provided 24/7 ambulance coverage to the town since July 2019. The department is on pace for a record number of calls over the last year. The fiscal year ends June 30.

Voters will consider amending the marijuana ordinances by doubling annual licensing fees from $250 to $500 for manufacturing, cultivation, retail and medical facilities, while increasing first time licensing fees for cultivation, retail and medical marijuana businesses from $250 to $1,000. A related fee for background checks will increase from $30 to $50.

Weekly curbside trash and recycling pickup will increase $8,082 to $222,132. The roads and bridges budget request is $876,476; last year’s request was $734,999. The fire department is asking for $149,473, a $2,794 increase. The fire chief’s annual stipend will stay at $11,500 and deputy chief’s at $3,500.

Patten Free Library of Bath seeks $60,303, up $2,334 from last year.

The board waived a public hearing and approved and signed the town meeting warrant Monday night. “We did our best to keep it a level budget,” commented Chairman David King Sr. “We’re asking for $130,000 more than last year and $64,675 of the increase is for EMS,” he said.

Selectman Dale Chadbourne told Wiscasset Newspaper this year’s town report will be dedicated to two former selectmen, Sylvia Carlton and Robert Buck, who both died recently.

Also Monday, the board approved renewing a liquor license for Montsweag Farm Restaurant on Route 1 and voted 4-1, Chadbourne dissenting, to spend $7,500 in ARPA funds and join Wiscasset and Dresden in establishing broadband internet. The spending was discussed at a recent special town meeting.

Road Commissioner Jack Shaw expects town roads to remain posted to heavy limits for another two weeks, or the duration of mud season.