Between a grant conditionally awarded and others Midcoast Conservancy has found to try for, Alna’s next Ben Brook Bridge might be free, First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said March 16. Work might be in 2023, he said.

Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s condition on its $125,000 award is a contract DEP and the town will negotiate, Pentaleri said. He said the sum is the highest DEP is awarding this year, and Alna’s application scored second of 44 received. The outcome reflects the project’s high priority and benefits to fish and wildlife passage, he added.

Pentaleri credited Second Selectman Linda Kristan’s effort last year to address Maine Department of Transportation’s letter outlining issues with the 1955 bridge on Egypt Road.

Calderwood Engineering has put replacement at $570,000. Alna is partnering with Midcoast Conservancy to seek more grants for the project, Pentaleri said. “We’ve identified potential grant funding in excess of the cost.” 

Also March 16, most in-person participants, including the first and third selectmen, removed their face masks after the board dropped the masking policy it adopted in the pandemic. Proposing the change based on Lincoln County’s improved status with Maine Center for Disease Control, Pentaleri said, “It’s not clear to me that there’s a reason for us to continue the masking policy.”

Kristan opposed the change and remained masked after the vote. Kristan said she and others still had concerns, and Europe was seeing a surge. “Europe is not all that far away when you talk about a highly contagious disease,” she said. 

Third Selectman Charles Culbertson agreed with Pentaleri to leave masking to people’s discretion. Selectmen said they could consider reinstating the policy if conditions change.

Via Zoom, resident Susan Marcus said she was concerned about the March 26 town meeting at the fire station. “I hope to go ... but I don’t think I can if nobody is masked.” She wondered if others might have to stay away, too. “Just themselves wearing masks is not adequate protection for ... going into a large group like that.”

Pentaleri wished he had given that more thought. He explained, he expected town meeting goers might have strong feelings against wearing masks and speaking through them in a potentially long meeting, given the county’s improved status. “It’s a difficult balance and not everybody’s interests are going to be well-served by that.”

Resident Jeff Spinney said requiring masks at town meeting when people are wearing them nowhere else is “artificial” and would agitate people. Resident Chris Cooper suggested a section near a window or doors be reserved for those with concerns about people not wearing masks.

In an email response to questions March 17, Pentaleri said the answer may come down to town meeting day. “I definitely want to encourage participation. The truck bay doesn't really have windows that open, but it will be easy for us to open the truck bay doors a bit if the weather cooperates. We want to accommodate as many people as we can in a way that makes them feel safe, but I also think we're going to need to remain flexible to accommodate people if there is a need, without freezing people out needlessly if the demand doesn't materialize.

“This might be a situation that we need to assess on the day of the meeting, to try to find the right balance. It will definitely help if everyone dresses appropriately, in case we need to open the doors to the truck bay despite cool weather.”