The Woolwich selectboard acknowledged a significant amount of landscaping was needed around the pedestrian underpass adjacent to the Tanner Square Memorial on Route One. The board visited the tunnel following their July 17 meeting. Wild bamboo, ivy, overgrown tree limbs and other vegetation has grown up on both sides of the paved walkways. The area was last cleared away in 2018 when the tunnel was repainted in an art project by students of Woolwich Central School.

“We’ve got monies set aside for this purpose. It’s just a matter of finding someone to do the work,” commented David King Sr., board chairman. King and Selectmen Allison Hepler, Tommy Davis, Dale Chadbourne and Jason Shaw spent about 20 minutes touring the concrete tunnel and adjacent walkways.

The tunnel, just south of Cumberland Farms, provides a safe way for pedestrians and bicyclists to get from one side of the busy highway to the other. It was built by Maine Department of Transportation during construction of the $46.6 million Sagadahoc bridge in 2000. On Flag Day 2018, it was dedicated by the selectboard as the “Corp. Robert Meade USMC Pedestrian Underpass” in honor of Robert Meade, a U.S. Army and Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War who resides in Woolwich.

During their regular meeting, selectmen accepted the resignation of Opal Keith as town clerk. She had served in the job since March 2022. Town Administrator Kim Dalton was appointed to fill the vacancy, and it was announced Jennifer Hall of Woolwich was hired part-time to serve as deputy town clerk.

Other appointments included Debbie Locke, Gaius Henning and Greg Buczkowski to the planning board, Candance Conrad as deputy register of voters, Dean Hatch to the board of appeals, and Nancy Lorraine Hemingway, Tim Forrester and David Berndtson to the newly formed Community Resilience Committee.

After waiving a public hearing, the selectboard renewed a liquor license for Taste of Maine Restaurant on Route One.

In his monthly report, EMS Director Danny Everts said the ambulance department had responded to 15 calls so far in July resulting in 11 transports. Evarts noted, Amanda Plummer had agreed to serve as assistant director/captain filling the vacancy left by the appointment of Zach Miller as EMS deputy director.

Road Commissioner Jack Shaw said paving has been completed on portions of Montsweag and Nequasset roads and the former landfill will be mowed later this summer. In other business, the board approved a request by Fire Chief Shaun Merrill to spend $4,485 for the annual required pressure testing of 11,515 feet of fire hose.

Selectman Shaw reported Reed & Reed, the contractor building MaineDOT’s new Station 46 bridge, expects to have the job completed and the bridge open to traffic the first week of August. “They informed me they plan to work nights until the project is finished,” said Shaw.

Nomination papers will be available at the town office beginning Monday, July 29. There are two open seats – a three-year term on the selectboard and a three-year term for road commissioner. Nomination papers must contain 25 signatures of voters registered to vote in Woolwich, and not more than 100 signatures. The deadline for returning them is Sept. 6. The terms of King on the selectboard and Jack Shaw, road commissioner, are expiring. Both King and Shaw plan to seek re-election. Voting is Nov. 5.

This summer’s annual Community Picnic, formerly known as Woolwich Day, is Saturday, Aug. 10 on the grounds alongside the municipal building and Farmhouse Museum. The event begins mid-morning and continues into the afternoon. It features free burgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, cotton candy, live music and more.