In a contentious public hearing Tuesday, selectmen and the public examined options for ambulance service.

The Nov. 6 ballot asks, “Shall the Town vote to discontinue the Wiscasset Emergency Medical Services Department and utilize Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service?”

But between the time the question was placed on the ballot and the hearing, CLC Ambulance Service Director Warren Waltz resigned, and the agency’s board of directors has asked the town to table the discussion until next year. Town Manager Marian Anderson said because early voting has begun, the vote must proceed. The public saw a video Selectman Kim Andersson created. It showed several aspects of the two ambulance plans, including price, service and accountability.

The video was drawn from the approved town budget for the ambulance service, and the proposed CLC plan. However, that budget’s accuracy was questioned because the town lost the contract with Edgecomb in June to CLC. Depending on when the numbers were taken, the town’s ambulance service may or may not have included revenue from Edgecomb. Treasurer Vernice Boyd thought the Edgecomb service numbers were not included; Selectmen Ben Rines Jr. thought they probably were. Whether or not Edgecomb was included changed the net cost to the town from around $8,000 to about $60,000

Due to the uncertainty, Rines recommended people vote no. Kim Dolce asked if it was really necessary to vote on the question Nov. 6.  Anderson assured her it was. Dolce also asked if there were any other options for an ambulance service. Anderson said that all the local options had been explored – NorthEast, Boothbay, CLC, and an independent Wiscasset entity organized as a 501 c 3.  The 501 c 3 had not been shown to be viable; except for CLC, none of the other agencies had expressed an interest in Wiscasset.

Bill Maloney said he was astonished CLC didn’t have a backup plan to deal with the proposal. “What kind of outfit are they running?”

Others said the town was treating the employees of Wiscasset Ambulance Service badly. Speakers said the employees couldn’t be expected to stay when there was no guarantee their jobs would remain.

A second public hearing to approve the annual permits for the town’s junkyards was held. No questions were raised during it. Robert and Heather Rogers appeared later to ask about one of the junkyards. Due to a mixup on an abutter letter they received, they arrived an hour late for the hearing. They said due to Norm’s Used Cars Inc.’s junkyard, they have been unable to sell the Miss Wiscasset Diner because potential buyers have been unable to get a loan. Anderson said she would discuss the issue with Norm’s and ask them to erect a fence, since that appears to be the solution as far as the banks are concerned. the vote on the junkyards was 4-0. Bob Blagden abstained since his property, Blagden’s Garage, was one of the facilities.

A special town meeting was set for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29 to fund fiscal year 2018 overdrafts, including $97,574 for legal fees related to the Maine Department of Transportation suit, $6,437 for unemployment benefits, and $20,480 accrued because the Wiscasset Water District changed its fees halfway into the fiscal year.

Police Chief Larry Hesseltine got approval for a contract for cloud storage of body camera images, and the use of six body cameras for officers.

Buck Rines, superintendent of the wastewater treatment facility for many years, announced he will retire Dec.  31. Selectmen accepted his resignation with regret.

The waterfront restrooms closed Oct. 9. Recreation Department staff clean the bathrooms, and there have been staff shortages because some have gone back to school, while others have taken sick leave and vacation. Some maintenance crew members want to spend the fall painting and sprucing up the facilities, rather than waiting until spring.