John O’Connell, former Lincoln County Administrator and one-time interim town manager for Wiscasset, will take over as interim manager on the departure of Marian Anderson, whose last day is Feb. 4.

Select board chair Judy Colby said the board had met and decided to take things slowly. “We will eventually advertise for a permanent town manager, but we want to get through the budget season first,” she said.

O’Connell said he was pleased to serve and he acknowledged he had had some experience as interim manager. “I hope to get the town of Wiscasset through this period, and wish Marian the best of luck up north in Houlton.”

The town held a brief public hearing on parking policy. The selectmen were surprised at the scope of the possible changes. “I thought we were only going to be addressing the signage at the Middle Street parking lot,” Colby said. “I think we should wait until the Maine Department of Transportation project is finished and spend time really looking at all the parking issues we have.”

Several residents who live in the village appeared to speak about off street parking for downtown residents. Lois Kwantz, who often parks in the Middle Street lot, said she had come to discuss the importance of allowing residents to park in the lots, especially in the winter. “I’ve lived here 40 years, and we’ve never really had any problem with that lot,” she said. “I’ve been the de facto parking lot manager, arranging times for people to move their cars when the lot needed plowing.” Jessie Rainer of Main Street said it is important for the town to consider the village residents who have no place to park otherwise.

Police Chief Larry Hesseltine agreed that the parking policy should wait to be updated until after the MDOT work. “Whatever we do should be community friendly,” he said.

Lincoln County’s Mary Ellen Barnes appeared to discuss the potential for changes to the town’s comprehensive plan. At first, she said, she and Selectman Kim Andersson thought of a small ad hoc committee to frame the issues in the larger comprehensive plan work, but after speaking, she thought it would be better just to begin with a larger group. She said that 10-15 people would be good, and all neighborhoods should be represented. She also suggested reviewing the 2008 plan, reviewing the state regulations, looking at recent comprehensive plans other local towns have done, and conducting surveys, fun events and other things to encourage people who don’t usually participate in town government. Barnes thought $20,000 would be a good budget for the comprehensive plan update, or $40,000 if the town got a facilitator.

Barnes also mentioned that the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission has hired a new planner, to replace retiring Bob Faunce. Although the public announcement had not yet been made, Barnes said the commission hired Megan McLaughlin, lately of Old Orchard Beach, who will begin on Feb. 11 to shadow Faunce until his retirement date, expected in March.

The town approved the Wiscasset Municipal Airport Rules and Regulations, which is the first time the airport has had a codified book of them.