Biz nods, hot tub good bye for now and town property efforts
Wiscasset selectmen agreed April 21 to tap Old Ferry Road stumpage funds for pre-planning work ahead of any development of town property at Old Ferry Road and Mason Station. Officials said the needs include updating both a boundary survey and a deed and getting a commercial appraisal.
Also April 21, selectmen nodded pier vendor permits for Sprague’s Lobster, IndustrialME, The River Shack, Midcoastmaineboats.com and Potter's Shed; and a medical use storefront cannabis license for Above and Beyond Cannabis, 493 Gardiner Road. Town Manager Dennis Simmons said Above and Beyond "is taking over Seafoam LLC" and also has a Damariscotta store.
The board also nodded a business license for coaching and consulting business Reauthentisys, 111 West Alna Road, and renewal of Charm Thai's liquor license. "They're a great group of people and they run a clean, professional restaurant," resident Dan Sortwell said about the 762 Bath Road business in a hearing on the renewal request.
In public comment, former selectman Ed Polewarczyk invited anyone to request his presentation on data and estimates he compiled on Wiscasset's schools based on studying Maine Department of Education's website, about student performance, staffing levels and other areas.
On a question from resident Chet Grover, Simmons planned to write a history of the town's budget committee. According to Wiscasset Newspaper files, after years of the town's having trouble filling budget committee seats, voters in June 2024 decided 324-207 to change the committee from elected to appointed; the newspaper reported in a December 2024 article ahead of the 2024-25 budget season, attempts to fill the committee had failed, and Simmons and the board discussed possibly seeking to abolish the ordinance that calls for a budget committee. In that 2024 meeting, Selectmen Pam Dunning and William "Bill" Maloney voiced support for having an ad hoc committee instead, for work like the budget committee did on the change to light-emitting diodes, or LED lights, and not having to meet monthly. Dunning said at the time, such a committee might get more takers.
Simmons told Wiscasset Newspaper April 22, he will send the paper the brief history he prepares.
The board declared Wiscasset Community Center's hot tub "surplus" and OK'd Simmons to sell it. In his manager's report, Simmons explained the hot tub, bought with donated funds, was out of service due to non-compliance with state health and safety requirements; Parks and Recreation Director Duane Goud "has received interest from a potential buyer," Simmons wrote. Plans call for any proceeds to go into WCC's donation account and be, as Simmons wrote, "reserved for the future purchase of a compliant replacement hot tub."
