Tuesday night, Wiscasset selectmen talked over Dresden’s emergency medical services contract.

Wiscasset EMS Director Dennis Simmons spoke of his concern that Dresden voters did not appreciate accepting “uncollectables,” bills unpaid by the patient or his or her insurance company and that revert to the ambulance service – as part of the contract. Simmons was worried that while the contract was signed after the 2017 Dresden town meeting, then-director Toby Martin had assured town meeting voters they would not have to pay those charges. Simmons said Dresden would have to pay the bills, but would likely not sign another contract with Wiscasset. In the meantime, he said, the calls from Dresden bring income for the EMS. “I would hate to lose ongoing revenue for this,” he said. “Uncollectables don’t affect how our department runs, but lack of revenue would.”

“I say we should let it slide,” Chair Judy Colby said. “We can look at the issue again when the contract expires.” The board voted not to attempt to collect those charges. The contract expires June 30, 2020. 

Corrected: Also Tuesday, selectmen heard a proposal from Cenergy for a solar farm at Wiscasset Municipal Airport. Two small projects and one larger one would be done, in line with solar legislation passed this term. The firm proposes a two-year, lease option period that would pay the town a one-time, $1,000 payment. After that, the firm would pay the town up to $45,000 a year for the duration of a lease agreement. The town would also receive preferential pricing for the electric supply, Cenergy said. If the larger part of the solar farm could not be at the airport, it might go on town land near Maine Yankee, and be linked into the transmission lines there.

Selectmen agreed to examine the proposal again Sept. 3.

The board set a special town meeting for 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at the municipal building to pay for departments’ overages.

The town approved a sewer abatement for Monkey C Monkey Do on Route 1, after a pipe to the water fountain broke during the winter and could not be identified or fixed until spring. A second sewer abatement was denied because the applicant did not submit it in time.

A tax-acquired mobile home at 970 Gardiner Road was sold for $2,500.

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