Nomination papers available for Woolwich selectmen

Sat, 08/20/2016 - 8:00am

Nomination papers are available for the Woolwich Board of Selectmen. Two seats, both three-year terms, are available in the Nov. 8 elections.

One name that won’t be on the ballot is that of longtime selectman Lloyd Coombs.  Reached for comment Friday morning, Aug. 19, Coombs, 82, told the Wiscasset Newspaper he felt it was time to retire. His term ends Dec. 31.

“Between serving as town administrator and being on the board of selectmen I guess I’ve put in over 20 years,” he said. “I felt it was time to let someone else younger have a turn. Over the years, I’ve seen both good things and bad, but overall it’s been a wonderful experience for me to have served the community of Woolwich. It’s really a good place to call home.”

Coombs served 10 years as town administrator, a job that once included being town clerk. After retiring, he ran and was elected to several terms on the board of selectmen. He and wife Collette were the recipients of the Woolwich Historical Society’s 2015 Distinguished Service Award.

Dale Chadbourne, 65, a longtime selectman, took out his nomination papers seeking another term. Chadbourne currently serves as vice chairman.

“I can’t say for certain but I think I’ve been on the select board either 25 or 28 years,” he told the newspaper.

Chadbourne said his first term was when the board went from three to five members. “I remember I ran that year for the one seat that was a one-year term and got elected.” He’s served on the board ever since.

A few years ago, Chadbourne recalled he wasn’t on the ballot but was re-elected anyway by write-in.

Also taking out nomination papers for selectman is Planning Board Chairman Allen Greene of Old Stage Road. “Things have kind of quieted down on the planning board and I wanted to do a little more in the way of public service for the community,” he said.

The select board meets the first and third Mondays of each month. The five members each serve a three-year term and are paid a yearly stipend of $3,000. The chairman receives an additional $1,500 and vice chairman, $500.

Nomination papers are available at the town office on Nequasset Road during business hours. Each must contain at least 25 but no more than 100 signatures of residents registered to vote in Woolwich. The deadline for returning papers is 5 p.m., Monday, Sept. 19.