Wiscasset selectman will take $7,500 from their contingency account to purchase a used fire truck from Alna. The four-wheel drive 2002 Ford F-350 is outfitted as a brush truck.

At the board’s Jan. 5 meeting, Fire Chief T. J. Merry said the truck was needed to replace one taken out of service because of mechanical failure. There wasn’t enough money in the fire department’s budget to carry out the purchase. Selectmen held off buying the truck until they knew how much was left in their contingency account. As it turned out there was a good deal more then they were aware of.

After reviewing the account, Town Manager Marian Anderson said the contingency line contained $55,066.  Selectmen welcomed the news but were clearly surprised, since they’d only budgeted $35,000. Anderson said the difference was the result of an unspent balance remaining from the 2014 budget totaling $27,000. Having over $55,000 left in contingency allows the board to purchase the fire truck and also deal with replacing a broken furnace in the airport’s administration building.

Furnace for airport building

Frank Costa, airport oversight manager, gave selectmen three estimates for replacing the oil furnace in the airport’s administration building. The estimates ranged from $9,700 to over $19,000, the higher amount having included the replacement of fuel tanks as well.

The board opted to put the airport’s furnace replacement out to bid. Selectmen hope to award the job at their next meeting.

Special meeting Feb. 11

At the urging of Chairman Ben Rines Jr., the board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11 to meet with the budget committee. Selectmen will discuss a planned special town meeting to raise $57,058. The money is needed to cover the first loan payment towards the costs of withdrawing from Regional School Unit 12. The two panels will also review year-end budget reports from individual departments.

Once again, Rines warned his peers on the board of selectmen they would need to give careful attention to the 2016-2017 budget. “The property tax bills that go out this year will be the highest that we’ve ever seen,” he commented. “Many of our residents are on fixed incomes and we’ll need to do our best by them.”

Auto junkyard permits renewed

Following a public hearing at which there was no public comment, selectmen renewed automobile graveyard and junkyard permits for Jim’s Auto Trim, Blagden’s Garage, Grover Auto & Tire, Norm’s Used Cars and Pro Body Works.

Stan Waltz, code enforcement officer, conducted on-site inspections of all five properties. Waltz found all of five applicants to be in compliance with state and local land use ordinances, and he recommended renewal.

Committee appointments

The board made the following appointments: Richard Forrest, waterfront committee, three years,  Larry Lomison, ordinance review committee, three years, Loann Pontau, scholarship committee, one year, Zach Dalton, Shellfish Committee, three years, David Sutter, cemetery committee, one year, Norma Gordon, appearance of the town, one year and Stefan Mehrl, investment committee, two years. James Barry Todd was also appointed to the waterfront committee.