Woolwich looking for committee members

The Woolwich selectboard is seeking community members interested in volunteering for a Climate Resilience Committee. According to a mission statement approved by the selectboard, the committee’s goal is to “better prepare the community to climate impacts by developing and implementing a comprehensive climate resilience action plan, driven by community insights and data analysis, and supported by strategic grant funding and partnerships.”

The committee will begin by re-enrolling in the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future’s Community Resilience Partnership program, which will make the town eligible for community action grants. It will be a five-person committee, with two alternates. If possible, the selectboard hopes to reserve one committee spot for a Morse High School student, and one for a working waterfront member. Interested persons should contact the town office during business hours to request an application; or email townclerk@woolwich.us

The selectboards of Woolwich and Dresden met with Maine Department of Transportation officials Thursday afternoon, June 6 to share concerns about driving conditions on Route 127. Woolwich Selectman Jason Shaw called it a productive meeting. “They heard us and know our concerns and will do what they can,” he told Wiscasset Newspaper after the meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes at the Woolwich town office. Shaw said MaineDOT promised to address specific areas where the pavement is eroding. Although it gets a great deal of year-round traffic, MaineDOT classifies Route 127 as a “minor connector road.” Selectmen feel the absence of paved shoulders makes the two-lane highway less safe for motorists. The road is scheduled to receive a new coat of pavement next year.

At the Wednesday June 5 Woolwich selectboard meeting, the board approved a request by EMS Director Danny Evarts to purchase one additional radio and two pagers using $2,700 from the ambulance department’s donations account. During his monthly report, Evarts said Dr. Michael Schmitz of Midcoast Hospital will be serving as the ambulance department’s medical director. Schmitz replaces Brandon Giberson, who has moved. “Dr. Schmitz has extensive experience as an emergency medicine physician, as well as having been a paramedic before that. He is keenly aware of how ambulance services work and our challenges,” said Evarts. “We are awaiting a contract from him to formally finalize his appointment.” Evarts also told the selectboard the state has approved the department’s EMS Sustainability Grant application of $15,000.

The selectboard announced Mike Field’s promotion from assistant code enforcement officer to the full-time CEO. Chris Wilcoxson, who had been the CEO, will stay on as the assistant. Field was appointed assistant CEO in March and is now fully state certified, said Chairman David King Sr. The board has unanimously approved Field’s appointment.

Fire Chief Sean Merrill said the fire department has responded to six calls since the last selectboard meeting. Merrill noted Woolwich Fire & Rescue had responded to mutual aid calls in Wiscasset and Bowdoinham. He said first responders are scheduled to begin joint motor vehicle emergency extrication training with the ambulance department.

Selectman Allison Hepler said she and Selectman Tommy Davis attended the pre-construction meeting for the replacement of the Old Stage Road bridge. Work is scheduled to begin July 8 and will require the road to be closed for the rest of the summer.

In other business, the selectboard voted 4-1 with Dale Chadbourne dissenting, to sign a letter of support of Consolidated Communications’ new grant application to Maine Connectivity Authority for deploying fiber internet service in Woolwich.  

The selectboard’s June 17 meeting will be held at the historic yellow meetinghouse at the corner of Old Stage and Dana Mills roads at 5 p.m. The one-room meetinghouse was built in 1837 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.