Alna picks Wiscasset Ambulance Service, OKs Cross Road work

Alna residents contracted with Wiscasset Ambulance Service for $17,881 March 26. Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service served the town for the past six years, but with a budget increase from $5,500 to $36,371, and the guarantee of mutual aid, WAS’s proposal won over voters. CLCAS services for the first part of 2022 will cost $7,653 which increases the ambulance budget to $25,534. The vote was 90-42.

Results for the March 25 vote brought Alna’s First Selectman Ed Pentaleri back to the board, unopposed, with 146 out of 179 votes. Jeff Verney was also reelected, unopposed, as road commissioner, with 135 votes. The March 26 meeting opened with Amy Stockford’s and Stephen Graham’s unopposed elections to the cemetery board of trustees.

Though a few articles were amended, the entire warrant passed in about four hours with the exception of Article 45, the petitioner’s version for an ordinance recalling elected officials. Voters opted for Article 46, the selectmen's version, after Pentaleri said the alternative was drafted after consulting Maine Municipal Association. MMA said stricter language would avoid minority groups weaponizing recall measures which has the potential to deadlock municipal business. Article 45 was struck from the warrant after 46's passage.

Articles 47, $525,000 for Cross Road repair, passed via amendment, 87-27. Fire Chief Mike Trask proposed using $120,000 from road carryover which would lighten the tax burden to $405,000. Trask, along with others, said Cross Road is one of many roads which are or will soon be in need of major repairs and the town needs to develop long term plans to meet those needs as cost efficiently as possible. Pentaleri said a road committee has been formed and a plan is in the works. Article 48, which authorizes selectmen to seek $525,000 in loans for Cross Road repair, also passed.

Resident and former First Selectman Chris Cooper proposed a salaries and stipends amendment which would increase the first selectmen's pay from $6,785 to $7,500 and the second and third selectmen's pays from $2,105 to $2,500 for a total of $85,320. After much discussion on duties and the lack of pay raises over the past two decades, Pentaleri said he drafted the warrant to decrease his own stipend and increase the others to $3,665 to keep pay fair. With Cooper’s amendment on the floor for a vote, Pentaleri made another amendment to return to the original language and amounts, $83,815 in total, and it passed 69-40.

Voters supported an amendment to Article 21 which will allocate $10,000 in surplus, rather than raising and appropriating the funds, for the contingency account. Article 41 passed with an amendment for a 10% or $430 increase to Wiscasset Public Library.