Woolwich selectmen are revising the way they conduct employee performance evaluations and considering implementing a similar review process for first responders. The board met with the town administrator to talk over changes to its policy Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 21.

Selectman Tommy Davis, who has been drafting the changes, said the revisions were long overdue. One of the initial steps he explained is for the selectboard to bring its evaluation process in line with other municipalities. He recommended they begin by having employees complete a “self-evaluation” prior to their yearly performance review. Davis recommended dropping a scoring method the selectboard had been using and introduce a written process on which to base salary adjustments, training and corrective action.

The selectboard currently doesn’t require performance evaluations for fire department and EMS employees, although that could change starting in the new year. Selectman Dale Chadbourne, however, wasn’t convinced evaluations for first responders were needed. “Why? That’s the responsibility of the fire chief and EMS director,” he commented. Fire Chief Shaun Merrill and EMS Director Danny Evarts were unable to attend the meeting.

Selectman Jason Shaw thanked Davis for the research and work he’d done. “My thought is, we as a board enter into this new evaluation process slowly,” he commented.

In his monthly report to the selectboard, Evarts wrote the ambulance department responded to 13 calls so far in October. Thirteen patients were seen, 10 were transported, and MC1 was called eight times. Evarts noted the department will be holding a cardiac training session Nov. 8 at the municipal building.

A wire cage containing free firewood provided by Midcoast Wood Bank has been removed from the parking area across from the town office. “We’re not dropping out of the program. We’ll continue to have information about it at the town office. We’re just no longer interested in having the cage sitting out front,” David King Sr., selectboard chairman, told Wiscasset Newspaper. “We weren’t able to find anyone in the community willing to volunteer their time to refill the cage which was a condition of having it.” An “all-volunteer” non-profit organization, Midcoast Wood Bank based in Topsham offers up to two cords per household of free firewood to residents in need as a source of winter heat. The cage contained split firewood residents were permitted to help themselves to. Residents needing firewood assistance, or information about the program, can call Midcoast Wood Bank at 207-800-1658 or email the organization at info@midcoastwoodbank.org

In other business, the board renewed a recreational cannabis license for Landrace Cannabis Co. on Route One.

Selectmen are hoping for a large turnout when the Station 46 Bridge is renamed the “Veterans Memorial Bridge" at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. The ceremony will take place in the parking area of the Taste of Maine Restaurant beneath the osprey nest. The selectboard has invited Smith-Tobey American Legion Post 21 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7738, both based in Bath, to attend the dedication ceremony. Nina Ryan, a Woolwich resident, has been asked to sing the national anthem. Woolwich’s annual Veterans Day program will take place as usual at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Nequasset Meetinghouse.