The Dec. 18 storm kept Woolwich first responders and road crews busy all day and into the night. Rain buffeted by wind gusts brought down numerous trees blocking roads and causing power interruptions. Road Commissioner Jack Shaw told the selectboard Wednesday night, Dec. 20 all of the town’s roads were again open to traffic. “We were very busy throughout the storm. The fire department and our people stayed on top of it the best we could. We’re far more fortunate than communities up country,” said Shaw.

Fire Chief Shaun Merrill said the fire department responded to 26 calls the day of the storm, mostly to clear fallen trees and limbs from roads, or to stand by at downed power lines. Merrill said the fire department also responded to a minor structure fire that the homeowner had mostly gotten under control when they arrived. To date, the fire department had responded to 222 calls in 2023, 51 more than last year, according to Merrill.

Daniel Evarts, EMS director, told the selectboard December had been a busy month. There have been 26 ambulance calls so far this month, almost half of those since the Dec. 18 storm. Evarts added he recently hired two new members.

Chairman David King Sr. advised Merrill and Evarts to keep track of any and all expenses associated with the storm. “Anything to do with it keep separate, especially whatever you had to buy, or costs associated with operating the warming shelter at the fire station,” said King. Because the governor has declared the storm a civil emergency, the selectboard is authorized to take any extra monies needed from the town’s undesignated surplus to cover expenses.

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 3 the selectboard will begin hold its meetings an hour early at 5 p.m. Town Administrator Kim Dalton suggested trying the earlier starting time through the winter months. The selectboard agreed to give this a try. “If it doesn’t work out we can always switch back to meeting at 6,” commented King.

Earlier in the evening, the selectboard met in the town office to review town accounts and departmental budgets. King noted the fire department was having a busy year having expended more than half of its payroll line. “The bad part about that is we still have the second half of the year to go – until July 1,” commented Selectman Jason Shaw.

King said he’d like to have all 2024-2025 department head budgets submitted by Feb. 15. The selectboard tentatively set the annual town meeting for Wednesday, April 24. Two possible new proposals for the 2024-25 town budget include setting aside funds to hire an independent custodian to clean and carry out minor repairs at the town office, and earmarking funds to be used for training of office staff.