Lincoln County TV CEO Mary Ellen Crowley sought funding from the Dresden Board of Selectmen on Monday, after two years of no success with similar requests.

Crowley told the board the town’s share would be $3,253, and that the figure has not gone up since she started asking for funding from Dresden. “I was hoping this year you might see clear to helping us with our finances,” Crowley said.

The local access television station has set a total goal of $50,000 for the year with support from 10 towns. Crowley said the station uses Channel 7 for Time-Warner Cable subscribers.

Crowley shared how the station has news and programs, such as selectmen’s meetings, in various communities. Organizations can make use of the station’s airtime as well, she said.

Asked how much an equipment setup for the Dresden board meetings would cost, she said the town could do it for a one-time cost of as little as $1,700. The board would make a DVD of the meetings and send them to the station for broadcasting later.

“Having the town on board really encourages communities and organizations to use it,” she said. Towns like Wiscasset, Newcastle and Bristol, among others, make use of the free service.

Crowley said a town’s population and number of cable subscribers determines the amount requested.

Besides viewing the station’s programs on television, she said residents who have high speed Internet can now access those videos through online streaming.

Board members pondered the request during their evening session. However, Board Chairman Phil Johnston said Crowley would have to appear before the town’s budget review committee to make a presentation before the matter could be considered as a warrant item for the annual town meeting in June.

Crowley emphasized the significance of having the support of selectmen for the funding request.

Plowing issues

Selectman Allan Moeller said he spoke with current snow plowing contractor Ben Goodall about the problem of mailbox damage throughout the town during previous snowstorms.

His conversation followed strong words of criticism the Dresden Board of Selectmen had at its last meeting on January 24 concerning the snow plowing contractor’s performance. At that time, Moeller said he estimated the plows had damaged about 23 mailboxes along the town roads.

Moeller said his phone constantly rang with calls complaining about the situation.

“The townspeople were not satisfied with the plowing, mainly because of the mailboxes.”

Moeller had told Goodall he would have to get together with him to discuss and resolve the matter before the town issued its next paycheck.

Clothes bin offer

Planet Aid, which previously had a clothes bin at the Dresden recycling center, has offered the town a contract, agreeing to pay the town five cents per pound for clothing dropped off in one of the organization’s bins there.

Previously, the board complained about removal of clothes from over-flowing bins, but the organization informed the board it will be doing the removal itself to make sure of proper removal. In the past, a contractor did that job.

Selectmen discussed the offer, but took the matter under advisement they could consult with the station concerning the status of the Salvation Army bin.

Budget workshop

Selectmen plan to work on the annual budget at their workshop next Monday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at the town office.