Woolwich has reached a verbal agreement with the city of Bath to provide backup ambulance service.

David King Sr., chairman of the Woolwich Board of Selectmen told the newspaper Tuesday afternoon, June 2, that the town can continue to count on the Bath Ambulance Department to respond to emergency calls when needed.

“I discussed the matter over with William Giroux their city manager on the telephone and gave him my word that we’d pay for the ambulance calls at the rates stated in the contract,” King said.

The agreement would continue until the ambulance contract could be acted on by the townspeople at next year’s annual town meeting. King described his discussion with Giroux as amicable and friendly.

“I explained the selectboard had no authority to sign the contract and that we’d be obligated to hold a special town meeting in order to get permission from the townspeople,” continued King, adding the board was hoping to avoid the expense of holding another town meeting.

The arrangement means the town of Woolwich agrees to pay Bath $270 per call for ambulance service and assumes responsibility for any unpaid charges from patients. When Bath dispatches an ambulance and no services are rendered, the town will the pay the city $135 per call.

King said Bath would only be called if North East Mobile Health Service, the town’s primary ambulance provider, were unavailable or unable to respond to an emergency in a timely manner. He said the town could also contact the Wiscasset Ambulance Department.

The town is in year three of a no-cost three-year contract with North East Mobile Health Service to provide ambulance services. It also has its own ambulance staffed by volunteers under EMT Director William Longley Jr.

“I spoke with Bill (Longley) and told him we’d be all set until next May when we can put this before the townspeople,” said King. “I think ideally the best way to fund this next year would be out of the undesignated surplus, but it’s going to be left up to the voters to decide.”

King said the townspeople have been satisfied with North East Mobile Health Service. He added that when North East dispatches its ambulances to Woolwich from Topsham, its response time is usually between 16 to 18 minutes.

Selectmen delayed action on the Bath ambulance contract at last month’s meeting to get a legal opinion from Maine Municipal Association. MMA said the board had no authority to sign the contract since it involves raising money and authority rests with voters, the governing body. At Monday, June 1’s meeting the board authorized King to attempt to work out a compromise with Bath officials.

Other business

Fred Kahrl, chairman of the solid waste and recycling committee, said at a Monday night selectmen’s meeting that the soonest the town’s pay-per-bag program could start would be Aug. 1.

Kahrl has asked WasteZero, administrator of the program, to sell its bags for non-recyclable trash at Shaw’s Supermarket in Bath and Wiscasset, Cumberland Farms, Ames True Value and at the town office. The bags will be sold at the rate of $2 per 30-gallon bag, and $1 per 15-gallon bag. Kahrl suggested WasteZero use orange bags, a different color than ones sold to Bath and other towns.

Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert was asked to meet with the owners of the Montsweag Flea Market to address parking and traffic concerns following complaints from residents. It was suggested the owners have employees directing traffic into and out of the parking area and putting up signs.

Engert added he’d also received a request from the Montsweag Roadhouse to extend the bar’s serving area to the porch in front of the building. The outdoor area would be fenced and used to accommodate overflow of patrons. The restaurant’s request will be turned over to the planning board.

In other business, Fire Chief McCarren said the fire department responded to a recent structural fire, a small woods fire, and two mutual aide calls in Dresden and Georgetown.

The board awarded its winter plowing contracts to Jack A. Shaw & Sons, Quonset Hardscape and Landcrafters; Selectman Shaw abstained. The board extended Juanita Wilson’s contract as town assessor.

The board’s next meeting, 6 p.m., Monday, June 15, will be held in the Old Town House located on the Old Stage Road. The board carries on a tradition of holding a meeting in the historic building each spring.