Woolwich selectmen will hold a special town meeting next month for voters to reconsider funding for Patten Free Library in Bath. “From a legal standpoint we did nothing wrong,” said Chairman David King Sr., adding, on the advice of Maine Municipal Association and the town attorney, it was decided to hold another vote.  

King made the announcement May 6 at the selectboard’s regular meeting a week after voters rejected the library’s $80,108 membership request at the April 29 annual town meeting; instead, voters passed King’s motion to raise $8,500 to buy library cards for residents who can’t afford one. About 15 residents, most of whom were library supporters, were in the hearing room May 6. So was Lesley Dolinger, executive director of Patten Free Library, who wasn't able to attend the annual town meeting.

Dolinger asked if the article to be voted on would be for the full 2026-27 membership amount Patten Free had requested from Woolwich. “I don’t know,” King responded, explaining, the selectboard would be meeting sometime the week of May 11 in a workshop to discuss it. No day or time was given.

“If we are funded in any amount less than what we’re asking for we won’t accept it,” Dolinger said, adding if the library loses Woolwich’s funding, the trustees may be forced to reduce services, or increase the cost of a library card. At the annual town meeting, voters were told the $8,500 they raised would purchase 100 library cards at a cost of $85 each.

When pressed for more specifics, King said the special town meeting wouldn’t be held until after the June 9 Primary Election but before June 30, the end of the town’s fiscal year. Along with speaking with MMA, the selectboard had gotten a legal opinion from its town attorney. According to King, both had reviewed a video of the town meeting and concluded the proceedings had been carried out in a legal manner by the selectboard and moderator Mike Field. Field commented May 6, he’d done his best to calm emotions as the library debate wore on and tempers flared.

Selectman Jason Shaw told Wiscasset Newspaper the selectboard had sought the legal opinions because the legality of King’s motion and proceedings that followed it had come into question. “Both attorneys advised us to hold a special town meeting,” he said. 

Selectman Allison Hepler was absent from the May 6 meeting. At town meeting, her motion to fund the library at the full amount was defeated by voters 93-117.Responding to a request for comment, she wrote in an email May 7: “I’m always impressed when residents weigh in on town business because it shows how much they love this community. We all want to move forward in the best way possible.Also, I think we can agree, things could have been better, and we all play a role in that.” 

Dolinger said she planned to attend the special town meeting to explain the many community services offered by Patten Free and answer questions. Residents can learn more about the library at https://pattenfreelibrary.org. Woolwich has been a financial supporter of the library since 1971; Bath, Arrowsic, Georgetown and West Bath are Patten Free Library contributors.

The Woolwich ambulance responded to 29 calls in April according to EMS Director Daniel Evarts. Twenty-eight patients were seen and 17 transported with MC1 called for assistance five times. “We were called to Dresden and Wiscasset one time each,” he said.Evarts added, three members of the department have completed their nine-month training and are ready to take their national EMT registry exams.

“Brush fire season is here,” Fire Chief Shaun Merrill told selectmen. “Fortunately we haven’t had to respond to one yet but we’re ready if we have too.”  The woods remain relatively dry in spite of recent wet weather.  Merrill said the painting project is underway at the North Station; after it’s completed he’d like to purchase a new sign for the building. The fire chief also thanked the Woolwich-Wiscasset Baptist Church for the use of their parking area to carry out fire training.