Wiscasset remains committed to "enhancing the marketability of the Mason Station property and realizing its highest and best use," Town Manager Dennis Simmons told selectmen in his written report for the board's July 15 meeting. Simmons noted the engineering work for environmental cleanup at North Point at Mason Station is ongoing and cleanup is anticipated for next spring.

On another matter, Simmons said the town's proposal for a new plow truck for public works garnered no bids; the proposal will be reviewed and another put out. 

And Wiscasset Police Chief Lawrence Hesseltine's June report that was part of the packet for July 15 asked for careful driving in the construction area along Route One in Woolwich and Wiscasset. Hesseltine said the department and Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office have been helping with traffic as Central Maine Power and Northern Utilities place new poles and wires. "This work is expected to continue through the end of the year."

Hesseltine added, the department all month received complaints of speeding on side roads. He said, "We do our best to respond to these complaints by increasing patrols and remaining highly visible, however there are times when a higher priority call is received and must be responded to." He said the department did 36 stops for speed and issued 11 speed citations.

In the meeting at the town office and over Zoom and YouTube, Simmons announced Wiscasset's "wonderful" tax collector, Sue Anderson, is resigning. "Sue has decided to branch out and open her own business. And as sad as I am to see her leave, I hope she does well."

In other business, the board nodded a business license for The Bird Gallery, 51 Water St. Owner Rachel Altschuler's application described the business as an art gallery and working studio. And the board, at Simmons' and legal counsel's recommendation, approved accurate time-keeping and visitors in the workplace addendums to the personnel policy. Simmons' written report explained town policies are being reviewed "to ensure compliance with ... state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, and to implement policies recommended by legal counsel that help protect the Town from unnecessary liability."

In public comment, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson invited the public to the budget presentation at 5:30 p.m. July 23 at Wiscasset Elementary School and, also at WES, the 6 p.m. special town meeting on the budget; a first try lost at the polls in June. And Sharman Ballantine, one of the longtime volunteers for Help Yourself Shelf at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, thanked the town for contributing $3,000 she said will go toward buying food from Good Shepherd Food Bank. 

"We are so grateful that the Wiscasset citizens recognize the need for the food pantries. Despite best efforts, food insecurity remains a problem in Lincoln County," Ballantine said.