Jamel Torres resigned as Wiscasset town planner effective Dec. 15. Selectmen made the announcement at Tuesday night’s meeting.

On a motion from Selectman Judy Flanagan, the board accepted Torres’s resignation “with deep regret.” His departure comes just a week shy of a year since he started as town planner on Dec. 8, 2014. No reason was given for his leaving and Torres was not present.

Torres was well-liked by the board and Chairman Ben Rines Jr. was clearly not happy in announcing the resignation. “It’s aggravating to hire people and have them quickly leave,” he commented.

Selectman Jeff Slack said he was in full agreement with Rines.

After Rines announced the resignation, the board quickly moved on to other business. No indication was given whether they intended to temporarily fill the position until the end of the fiscal year.

Susan van Alsenoy, co-chairman of the Wiscasset Sun CATs, asked selectmen when they intended to follow up on a proposal made by ReVision Energy regarding a proposed solar project. She reminded the board the Sun CATS had presented them with a petition containing 140 signatures in support of the plan to place solar panels on the municipal building. Van Alsenoy asked selectmen if they would place a warrant article on the solar proposal for voters to consider at the June 2016 election.

Town Manager Marian Anderson said a solar proposal was in the works but was not ready yet for the board’s consideration.

Flanagan said the solar proposal would be discussed in more detail during the budget process. “That doesn’t guarantee its placement on the warrant, but I’d like to think there is support for this,” she added.

Old ships again

On the matter of the old schooners, Rines said the length of planking from the Hesper recently rediscovered at the town landfill will be taken up at the Dec. 15 meeting. The town manager has looked into the legalities as far as ownership of the relic. She hopes to work out a compromise with the Westport Island man who claimed he salvaged the piece from the river 37 years ago. The planking has the ship’s name carved into it.

Keeping budget by ballot

Selectmen voted 4-1, with Flanagan dissenting, to continue with referendum balloting rather than return to an annual, open town meeting. Flanagan said she felt the town had lost something when it did away with the annual town meeting. “It’s the truest form of democracy where you can amend articles and amounts,” she said.

Rines disagreed, saying it denies many people who have to work the opportunity to vote.

Slack said many people in town have told him they don’t want to return to a town meeting form of voting.

By a 4-2 vote, this time Rines and Selectman Judy Colby, dissenting, the board directed Anderson to compile a list of requests from nonprofit organizations seeking 2016 town donations. This will include information concerning the number of residents they serve, or who benefits from the service.

Rines and Colby said voters had made it clear in past elections they weren’t in favor of continuing this.

The board heard a proposal from Siemens Industry, Inc. of Scarborough for providing preventative maintenance to the heating systems of the municipal building, community center and sewer treatment plant. Siemens provides a similar service for the Wiscasset School Department. The proposal will be reviewed in greater detail by the town manager.

In other business, selectmen approved a special amusement permit for Taste of the Orient on Route 1; application was made by the owner Cecilio Juntura of Topsham. The permit will allow music provided by a DJ and dancing (parties only).

Nancy Wyman was appointed to the Wiscasset Community Center Scholarship Committee.