Gaye Wagner, Westport Island’s town clerk, met with selectmen on Monday, May 22 to discuss a number of topics.

One was dry hydrants, which are used in rural areas to provide water for fighting fires when no pressurized water is nearby. The hydrants have pipes which are placed in the water source, usually a pond or lake. When water is needed, it is pumped through the pipe into the fire truck.

Maine’s Land Use Planning Commission, under the supervision of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, oversees dry hydrants’ placement. Accessibility to water to fight fires is a factor in determining the cost of insurance in each town, so increasing the number of dry wells could help to reduce insurance costs. The town will continue to research the subject.

Wagner reported that absentee voting is under way. The warrant articles for the June 24 town meeting are being reviewed and written as are the annual report and the town’s website.

Wagner and the board discussed the transcript of information provided by Fayette Town Manager Mark Robinson to the state’s Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation. The document stated the THC levels in the cannabis of previous generations were about 3-4 percent, but modern cannabis has about 18-25 percent. THC when smoked and the edible versions can have a THC level up to 75 percent.

The Lincoln County assessor’s return was approved and signed. Based on the 2017 state valuation for Westport Island of $213.4 million, the tax commitment is $283,427.06.

Selectmen will not meet next Monday, May 29 due to the Memorial Day holiday.