Wiscasset selectmen took care of town business March 5. They sold the old superintendent’s office, approved an amusement permit for the Wiscasset Raceway, wrote off $11,337 in EMA debt, made appointments to town committees, discussed a zone change for the Castle Tucker property, authorized a consent agreement, held a public hearing and went into executive session twice.

Superintendent’s building

The selectmen authorized the Town Manager Laurie Smith to sign all necessary documents to sell three acres and the superintendent’s office to Michael and Beth Smith, reserving a 50 foot easement for a cost of $142,000.

Michael Smith, the owner of the Coastal Electronics, & Computer Services Corp, located on the Old Bath Road in Wiscasset, is planning to move his business to the Gardiner Road site.

Coastal Electronics & Computer Services Inc., is a Maine company founded in 2002 by Smith and incorporated in 2007.

During a telephone interview earlier this week,  Michael Smith said his next step is to built a garage on the property, and will start working with the town planning board to get it started.

Special amusement permit

Following a public hearing on the application for a special amusement permit for the Wiscasset Raceway, and a brief presentation by one of the owners Vanessa Jordan, the selectmen approved the application.

Jordan told the selectmen and the members of the public the plans she and her husband Richard Jordan have for the raceway. The plans are to have a full racing season, with races every Saturday Night from April 16 through October 5.

There will be no selling of alcohol at the Speedway, and it will be prohibited from all areas.

Laurie Smith welcomed the Jordans to Wiscasset, and commended them on the detail of their application.

Kevin Atkins consent agreement

The selectmen authorized the town manager to finalize the consent agreement with Kevin Atkins of Youngs Point.  Atkins is being cited for a Shoreland Zoning violation. The consent agreement requires Atkins to pay a fine of $10,000, plus attorney’s fees of $1,000 and expert fees and costs of $750.

Atkins asked the selectmen at their meeting two weeks ago, in lieu of the $10,000 fine, if he could do community service. The selectmen declined the offer.

According to a memorandum to the selectmen from Town Manager Laurie Smith, on September 17, 2012, the town received a complaint of tree cutting. A site visit from the Code Enforcement Officer confirmed that a large area had been clear cut.

Further investigation over the next few days unveiled that the abutter, Kevin Atkins had cut the trees on the properly owned by Brian Potvin.  The site was inspected again by the code enforcement officer and Mike Morse of the Department of Environmental Protection.

The findings of the investigation were given to the town in October 2012. Thirty-two trees were cut within 75 feet of the upland edged of the coastal wetland. The stump diameters range from two inches to 27 inches.  Seven additional trees located with the 75 foot setback had been drilled and poisoned, according to Smith’s memo.

Castle Tucker zone change

A request form Historic New England, the owner of the Castle Tucker property is asking the town to consider removing the property from the resource protection to the Shoreland zone.

The selectmen referred the request to the Ordinance Review Committee for the possibility of reclassifying the Castle Tucker property to limited resident Shoreland Zone.

Historic New England Site Manager Peggy Shields Konitzky told the selectmen they would like to restore the grounds at Castle Tucker close to its historic condition in the 1920s with its apple orchards and gardens.

Selectman Ed Polewarczyk said he would like to have the change on the June Town meeting warrant.

Appointments

The selectmen made the following appointments: Tammy Serrano, 1-year appointment to the Appearance of the Town Committee and to the Celebrations Committee; Appointments to the Ad-Hoc Cemetery Committee, Donald Jones, Jackie Lowell, and David Sutter; John Merry appointed to the Budget Committee, and Selectman Pam Dunning was appointed to Ad-Hoc Cemetery Committee to represent the selectmen.

Other business

The selectmen authorized the town treasurer to write off $11,337 in EMS bad debts, another $64,000 in receivables have been sent to a collection agency.

The selectmen discussed the upcoming budget process with the town manager, and Budget Committee member Cliff Hendricks. The proposed budget will be ready for a review of the selectmen and budget committee on March 19.  

The town departments will meet with the selectmen Saturday, March 23. The budget committee will meet on March 28 to discuss the budget and to communicate their concerns and recommendations to the selectmen for consideration. A public informational meeting will held April 2.  The selectmen will vote on their final recommendations following the public hearing.

The selectmen decided to list each department separately on the town warrant ballot for this year’s town meeting, even the list of capital improvement items will be given a separate question this year.  

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 207-844-4632 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.