Drawing residents' praise and questions, Wiscasset selectmen Nov. 4 unanimously paused review of any proposals that involve tax-acquired properties.

Richard Davis of Young's Point Road asked how one party's interest in the town's Old Ferry Road property for a possible data center fits into the pause. Selectmen's Chair Sarah Whitfield explained, the board will look at no proposals until the evaluation process is in place, which is the point of the pause. "So, they could turn in something tomorrow, but if we approve this (motion) tonight, we're going to pause until we feel we are ready."

"This is really just trying to step back and make sure we are prepared for any proposal, whether it be a $5 million one or something much, much less. There is no process started in terms of the RFP (request for proposals), or anything like that," she said. Whitfield said a working group will develop a process and take it to the selectboard.

"This (lets) us as a town ... put our ducks in a row. And I really feel like this is answering a lot of the concerns of folks ... about the process. We want to have a process, rather than just random proposals that we're taking at any given time."

Davis told selectmen he appreciated the intent to move forward to find a process. "It was very gratifying to see."

"Well, I appreciate you bringing your comments forward, because conversation is where we get understanding," Vice Chair Pamela Dunning said.

Said Young's Point Road's Jim Stewart, "I want to applaud the selectboard (for) looking for a way to handle how to deal with these properties and how to develop them ..." 

Regina Martin-Cronk of Ready Point Road urged the board to take into account security and community safety with a big project on the Old Ferry Road property due to its nearness to the Maine Yankee property and stored nuclear waste.

Resident Anne Leslie asked Economic Development Director Aaron Chrostowsky for a timeline he imagines to get the process in place for considering proposals.

"It could take six months to a year. We don't know ...," Chrostowsky answered. "There's a lot of moving parts here," including hiring a commercial appraisal firm and, depending on that cost, possibly holding a town vote, he said. 

Also Nov. 4, the board named Corrinna Stum and Catherine Dupont to the economic development advisory committee and nodded a business license for JBR Contracting doing business as Coastal Bath Remodel.