Wiscasset is making another try at funding to craft a waterfront master plan. Selectmen Nov. 3 agreed to have town staff and Selectman Cassaundra Rose pick an adaptation practitioner, coordinate with a community organization and submit a letter of intent to the Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI).The Initiative offers grants of about $75,000 to $115,000, according to an Oct. 28 memo to the selectboard from Rose and town staff.

CSCI has never given a grant to a project in Maine, Rose said. That could help Wiscasset's chances, she and Chair Alyssa Eason said.

"I think that we should continue with this. I mean, it's a long haul, and it sounds like a really good opportunity (that) doesn't come along very often," Eason said.

The memo names Island Institute and Gulf of Maine Research Institute as potential adaptation practitioners, and Wiscasset Climate Action Team, the waterfront committee, Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce, Wiscasset Creative Alliance and Wiscasset Yacht Club as potential community partners. 

Pursuing a grant from CSCI would “build upon (the town’s already) completed waterfront vulnerability assessment, advance an established Selectboard priority, and potentially secure substantial external funding for waterfront planning,” the memo reads.

The memo notes the town lost last spring’s try at a Community Action Grant to create a waterfront master plan. “Although limited resources and high demand prevented funding, the Town developed a strong proposal that can be adapted for future funding opportunities.” Submitting the letter of intent to CSCI does not commit the town to taking a grant or to taking on new costs, according to the memo.

Also Nov. 3, the board heard from Economic Development Director Aaron Chrostowsky that the board will have a proposal to consider Nov. 17 on seeking more help from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP). If the board agrees, the town would apply to ETIPP’s “deep dive technical assistance program,” for help capitalizing on and leveraging underused energy infrastructure; and reducing household energy use, according to Chrostowsky’s Oct. 28 memo to the board.

The deadline to apply is Nov. 18, Chrostowsky said.

The board is not looking to use the “deep dive” help for the community education goal, Eason clarified in the Nov. 3 meeting. “We think there are other ways that we can accomplish those, and not as part of the deep dive,” she said. “The deep dive is really more appropriate for the first goal.”

And the community education is already underway at wiscasset.gov and continues being developed, Chrostowsky said. Rose added, she will soon bring to the board ideas on helping residents lower their energy costs.

"Absolutely," but this might not make those costs "too much" lower, Eason said. "Don't get your hopes up, there."

The board nodded Automobile Graveyard and/or Junkyard permits for Grover Auto & Tire, Blagden's Garage and Norm's Used Cars.