Dresden Town Administrator Michael Faass told selectmen Tuesday night, June 22, Maine Department of Transportation plans to repair or replace Middle Bridge. The bridge carries Route 197 over the Eastern River.

Andrew Lathe from MDOT contacted Faass asking to speak with the select board about the bridge. Lathe said MDOT is in the early stages of planning and wants to meet to discuss the options. The bridge has been deemed historical, so MDOT must map out the process for both repair and replacement. Lathe said the bridge would likely be done by the end of 2024. Faass said there will eventually be a public hearing but this meeting is just preliminary.

The board approved multiple appointments: Nicholas Forest, Richard Graffam and Julie Spratt were reappointed and Peter Elvin appointed to the Board of Trustees for Bridge Academy Public Library; Jeffrey Bickford, Regional School Unit 2 board to replace Jeff Pierce, who resigned; Ann Pierce, property tax collector and excise tax collector, Lisa Hewitt, registrar of voters and town clerk; Faass, treasurer; and James Valley, code enforcement officer, building inspector and plumbing inspector.

Faass said it can take up to 30 to 40 minutes to process a private sale at the town office and, when people come in 15 minutes before the office closes, it can create a line for others. Selectman Allan Moeller suggested Faass make a checklist of what someone needs to process the paperwork rather than office staff collecting information for them. Faass said private sales are a third of all requests at the town office.

Resident Lauren Haven contacted Faass and suggested the Dresden Communicator newsletter be emailed to citizens rather than having people go to the website. The board decided to keep the communication as is. Forty-five people receive the Communicator through the mail and about 80 access it through the town website.

Of 152 foreclosure notices sent out May 29, Faass said 19 have still not been picked up. Faass also reported the town received an Internal Revenue Service refund of $1,349 for last year. And a government banking bond has reached maturity and the board voted to put it into a 90-day note and look into long term options.

Faass has ordered garage door replacement parts for the fire department; it is unclear when the parts will arrive due to a nationwide slow-shipping issue. New flooring in the town office will be installed June 28. Previous town administrator Michael Henderson had created, and deposited nothing into, an account for Forest Hills Cemetery; Faass moved $39,228 to the account and noted, sales of cemetery plots have been up recently.

Dave Probert, on behalf of Lincoln County Historical Association, asked selectmen if they would be willing to pay $396, which would be half the cost for gravel for the trails. The board voted to contribute $350.

The board will meet at 5 p.m. July 6 at Pownalborough Hall.