When both bids for an entrance at Ancient Cemetery ran over budget, Wiscasset selectmen OK’d town officials Sept. 6 to review the bids, pick the lowest qualified one and tap the board’s contingency account for the extra money needed.

Town Manager Dennis Simmons told selectmen Great Works Landscape of Dresden bid $58,708; and Ursa Concepts of Waldoboro, $75,930. He said $50,000 is budgeted for it from cemetery lot sales. Simmons and the board discussed the contingency tap; seeking a town vote instead, to take more from cemetery lot sales; or waiting until the fence is up, then putting the entrance back out to bid. It will get no cheaper, Simmons advised.

And cemetery committee member Peter Wells said one project’s timing does not depend on the other’s; either could be done first. “So don’t let that play into your decision.”

Based on selectmen’s unanimous go-ahead in their meeting at the town office and on Zoom, Simmons and Public Works Director Ted Snowden will review the bids.

Also Sept. 6, the board set the 6 p.m. Sept. 20 special town meeting at Wiscasset Community Center on Parks and Recreation’s $23,982 overdraft. And the board nodded 5-0 letting Maine’s First Ship’s the Virginia winter at the recreational pier. “This is just super,” Selectman Terry Heller said. The board learned of the request last month. The town will get $2,000 for the November to April float rental, Waterfront Committee member Richard Forrest has said.

Selectmen sent two would-be ordinance changes onto the planning board for public hearing. According to an ordinance review committee memo, an amendment on town property improvements would have selectmen, or the town manager at selectmen’s direction, OK people’s or entities’ work on town-owned or town-controlled property to install trees, plaques, benches and memorials of any kind at those people’s or entities’ expense. The other proposal would change from 10 feet to 15 feet the nearest a structure can be to adjoining property lines except in the Village 1 and Village Waterfront districts, and change the dimensional requirements schedule to reflect 15-foot setbacks from the road and side and rear property lines, except that the Route 1 Commercial District’s road setback would still be 75 feet.