Continuing to seek an energy project now would set a precedent for the select board to tell the school committee what to do, the committee’s vice chairman, Glen Craig, argued March 23. Craig suggested pulling the proposal from a planned June referendum and waiting for a possible new makeup of the select board after elections.

If some time passes, maybe another energy audit will find even more ways to save energy, getting taxpayers an even better deal, Craig said.

No one else on the committee wanted to wait. Member Chelsea Taylor said nixing the referendum would cost the project residents’ support. “If we say, ‘Oh, never mind,’ after we’ve fought this tooth and nail for the last several months, you don’t think taxpayers are going to say ‘’What the heck are they doing?’”

Members told Craig it’s time to accept how the process played out and focus on getting the referendum passed. “They beat us,” member Jason Putnam said about selectmen’s call for a town vote, and the town’s December letter warning lenders the town might not pay. Putnam called the letter stupid; Craig asked Wilmot if banks might be willing to close on a loan if selectmen rescinded the town lawyer’s letter.

Wilmot didn’t think that would do it. The letter and the process have shown a lack of cooperation between the two panels, she said. Members told Craig the town vote is needed to reassure the banks and keep the $1.7 million project on course.

Stover told Craig he agreed with him that the committee had done everything right in planning the project, but there’s no win in putting it off. “Let’s get over that,” he said about the developments that have led to the referendum.

The committee needs to move forward, Taylor said. “We can’t just continue to complain.” Craig said he wasn’t complaining; he was concerned about a precedent. He’s heard people say the whole school budget may as well be handed over to selectmen, he said. Waiting six to eight months on the project is the right thing to do, he said.

Chairman Michael Dunn looked across the Wiscasset Middle High School library to Facilities and Transportation Director John Merry in the audience and asked his opinion. Merry said he preferred to go through with the referendum.

Also March 23, Wilmot said she is in touch with auditors for clarification on a $600,000-plus portion of the $1 million an audit showed the town owed the school department. Town Manager Marian Anderson has said the town owes the department more than $300,000, but not the rest because the town paid it in teacher salaries.

Stover said it is time to put “a little more pressure” on the town to pay the department. He would like to have the department’s law firm look into it and go to court if needed, he said. A million dollars could help fund the energy project, Stover said. No vote was taken.

Wilmot announced plans to take bids for the department’s next auditor, with a goal of improved communication so Finance Manager Shelley Schmal can have information when she needs it during the year.

Eight candidates for Wiscasset Elementary School  principal have been interviewed and will be narrowed to three for another round of interviews, Wilmot said. She praised WES students Madison Westrich and Cory Ricker for greeting candidates and giving them a guided tour of the school. Principal Mona Schlein is retiring.