School Resource Officer Jonathan Barnes of Wiscasset Police Department told selectmen Jan. 3, the extra money town employees got at Christmastime “came at a great time ... It meant a lot.” As he spoke at the town office in the meeting also carried on Zoom and YouTube, he at times motioned behind him, to the audience that included fellow officers, and motioned in front of him, to selectmen, who approved the pay last month, and Town Manager Dennis Simmons, who proposed it.

“We just want to express our sincere thanks ... We’re working for a reason, and having the support of the selectboard and town manager behind us just validates that for us, in our minds,” he said.

Dec. 6, the board nodded tapping American Rescue Plan Act funds for up to $65,000 for that second round of premium pay for eligible employees. As Simmons explained then, department heads were to get $2,000; full-time workers $1,000; and part-timers $500 or $250, depending on the number of hours they consistently work.

Jan. 3, after thanking the board and Simmons, Barnes asked Police Chief Lawrence Hesseltine to join him. Barnes told the board, the officers could get better hours and pay elsewhere, but they stay, and Hesseltine is a main reason. He said Hesseltine could make twice as much elsewhere, but “he believes in the community we’re building here and the police department we’re building here as well.”

For the officers, Hesseltine puts family first, job second, Barnes continued. They can all vouch for that, he said of fellow members of Wiscasset Police Association. 

Barnes then gave Hesseltine a plaque from the association. It was for “outstanding leadership,” Barnes said. “Thank you for being who you are and making (this) a place we all want to be,” he told Hesseltine. The two shook hands. Then came applause from around the room and online. Chair Sarah Whitfield added, “Thank you very much, and thank you for all that you do.”

In a phone interview Jan. 5, Hesseltine recalled being “speechless” at getting the honor. “I was caught off guard with it. I have a great group of guys that work for me, and I feel honored to have those guys working for me.” Asked about some of the qualities Barnes cited, Hesseltine said his goal since he joined the department as chief in September 2018 has been to build a rapport between the community and the department. “And I feel like I’ve done that, but I couldn’t have done that without the same mindset from the guys,” including Sgt. Perry Hatch, who brought experience, and Barnes and other “very dedicated” officers, Hesseltine said. 

Also Jan. 3, Simmons noted the Omnibus bill Congress passed included $1,312,000 of the $1.9 million he had requested toward Old Ferry Road’s stream crossing improvement project. “So that’s $1.3 million that we’re not going to have to beg, borrow or steal from someplace else.” Along with other funds already appropriated for the project, he hopes the work can get done this spring.

The board nodded a business license for Elissa Salter, doing business as Ellie Anne Photography. The application calls it an online business selling photography prints and products.