Woolwich selectmen are not interested in becoming a “community partner” with Wiscasset Community Center. That would have cost Woolwich $6,000 annually and offered residents reduced rates for WCC memberships and for participation in the parks and recreation department’s adult and youth programs.

The board took up the offer Tuesday, Jan. 3. Chairman David King Sr. said people who wanted a WCC membership, or membership at Bath YMCA, could do so on their own, without funding from the town. “I don’t think we should start something we can’t sustain in the future,” he said. The board’s decision was by consensus; no vote was taken.

Wiscasset Newspaper reached out to the other four selectmen for comment. “We went over a similar offer from Wiscasset a few years ago and weren’t interested. We’re already associated with the Bath YMCA,” said Selectman Dale Chadbourne. But, Chadbourne added, if residents wanted to file a petition and gathered enough signatures, they could get the question on the town meeting warrant and let voters decide.

Selectman Jason Shaw went along with King’s reason for denying the request. “I am hesitant to partner into programs that may not be financially sustainable in the long run,” he wrote in an email.

“I appreciate Wiscasset Parks and Rec's offer,” stated Selectman Allison Hepler by email. “And, if they had indicated that there was sufficient Woolwich resident interest in doing this, I may have thought differently, as I mentioned in the meeting. But they didn't.”

New selectman Tommy Davis wrote he too appreciated Wiscasset Parks and Recreation's offer. “Without input from town residents, it seems premature for the select board to take a position on the proposal,” his email stated. 

Alna, Westport Island and Dresden are all WCC community partners. The annual membership fee they pay is based on their town’s population. “It’s an agreement that gives the residents of those towns reduced fees on our memberships and programming,” explained Duane Goud, Wiscasset Parks and Recreation director in a text to Wiscasset Newspaper. In his Dec. 22 letter to selectmen, Goud described the benefits of Woolwich becoming a community partner. “We house a fully equipped fitness room, a full-size gymnasium, an active senior center and a 25-yard, six-lane swimming pool with family alcove,” he wrote.

WCC, on Route 27 next door to Wiscasset Middle High School, is about a 10- to 15-minute ride from Woolwich. Community partner towns receive reduced day fees, reduced facility rental rates, membership scholarship consideration and reduced rates for most programs. Goud added, Woolwich residents could also participate in “Community Partner Days” every third Sunday of the month from October through April when use of WCC is available to all of its residents and community partners at no cost and no membership required.

According to Goud’s letter, membership fees for community partners are based on a town’s population as reported by the 2020 Census. The $6,000 fee proposed for Woolwich’s membership breaks down to $1.95 per resident, he stated. Goud noted the new fee structure is about a third of the cost of a partnership proposal WCC made to Woolwich years ago.

The Jan. 3 meeting began with Town Clerk Opal Keith administering the oath of office to Chadbourne and Davis. Both won three-year terms. The board then re-elected King chairman and Shaw vice chair. Davis said he was thrilled to be joining the board and looked forward to serving the town. Davis also announced the receipt of a $10,000 “Get Ready” broadband grant.

Starting Jan. 18, selectmen’s meetings will be Wednesday nights instead of Monday. The meetings will still be at 6 p.m. in the conference room over the town office on Nequasset Road. No one could remember how long the board had been meeting on Monday night. Chadbourne, the longest serving selectman, thought the meeting night had changed once before over 30 years ago when the board went from three members to five.

In his bi-weekly report, Fire Chief Shaun Merrill said the fire department responded to 173 calls in 2022, about the same number as in 2021. He said Woolwich Fire and Rescue would host mutual aid training with the Dresden and Arrowsic fire departments Jan. 10. Road Commissioner Jack Shaw thanked the fire department for helping clear downed tree limbs from town roads after the recent heavy windstorm.

The board appointed Dr. Paul Dumdey, Debbie Locke, Gayla Teague, Evan Holbrook, Robin Buczkowski, Darrin Stairs and Paul Kempk to the solar committee. Davis will serve as chairman pro tem until the committee elects a chair. The committee will be responsible for drafting an ordinance to regulate commercial solar projects in rural zoned areas.