Wiscasset selectmen chose to skip a planned legal executive session prior to its April 24 meeting. According to members, they did not feel it was necessary. Instead, the board voted 4-1 to withdraw from the Maine Department of Transportation lawsuit without prejudice.

The dissenting vote was Katharine Martin-Savage, who wanted to wait until the justice made a decision. Selectman Ben Rines Jr. said the people had spoken, and he saw it as the duty of the board to carry out the wishes of the voters.

It was a full house, with about 60 attendees, but there were few speakers during public comment or at any other time.

Unhappy with the time it is taking auditor William H. Brewer to present the completed audit to the town, selectmen said they would have Brewer come to the next meeting on May 1 to answer questions about why it is taking so long. “It has been more than a year,” Chair Judy Colby said. “This is unacceptable.”

The Federal Aviation Administration sent a letter requesting the town bring to a close the issue of the easement at the airport, by an action plan that must include an option to remove the hazard by eminent domain, the option to displace or relocate the runway, or any other option that might be acceptable to the FAA. The deadline is May 1. Town Manager Marian Anderson said the letter had also been given to the owners of Chewonki Campground, who have been unable to obtain an assessment of the property to make a counter offer for the value of the easement.

A public hearing was held prior to the approval of a liquor license at Seabasket on Route 1; the approval was needed because ownership has changed. The new owner is Louis Rylant. Another new business, Creamed Baking Company, owned by Meghan Olcot, was approved as a new business. It will operate at 49 Water St. Two pier vendors were approved for the summer months – Frank Sprague of Sprague’s Lobster and Ronald Leeman of Forgotten Recipes.

The School Department request for the school budget validation meeting was approved for 6 p.m. May 16 at Wiscasset Middle High School gymnasium.

Committee appointments were approved for Phil DiVece, Conservation Commission, a term expiring in December; Steve Williams, Airport Committee, as non-voting member with a term expiring in December 2021; and Lynn Pelletier, Cooper DiPerri Scholarship Committee.

The town’s new ambulance has been delivered.

A public hearing in advance of the June town meeting will take place May 15. Anderson also suggested the town reconvene the Public Advisory Committee. Its meetings were suspended when the lawsuit against MDOT occurred. Kim Dolce asked, with the project already out to bid, what would the committee be doing. Colby said, with the lawsuit behind them, it was possible that a meeting with Gov. Paul LePage might be possible and MDOT may be more amenable to minor changes in the streetscape, perhaps to include minor parking changes.

Anderson said Edgecomb voters would be considering a bid by CLC Ambulance Service for $20,000. Wiscasset’s offer was about $21,800, factoring in uncollectable fees from Edgecomb residents. Selectmen chose to keep the bid as is.