Woolwich selectmen reviewed the warrant with moderator Mike Field Monday afternoon in preparation for Wednesday night’s April 30 annual town meeting. Voters will consider a proposed 2025-26 town budget of $2.75 million and a number of ordinance changes. The meeting in the gymnasium of Woolwich Central School will begin at 6 p.m. The proposed budget represents about a 3% increase over this year's and doesn’t include monies needed for operation of the schools; next year’s Regional School Unit 1 budget will be voted on in June. 

In an effort to keep the meeting moving, the selectboard asked the moderator to bundle several items of routine business, although voters may ask questions of any of the 42 articles. Ballot clerks will be at the door to check in voters prior to the start of the meeting and copies of this year’s Town Report, which includes a warrant for the meeting, will be available.

During the discussion, it was noted most articles are written so that the amounts can be reduced but not increased by voters. An exception is article 40 requesting monies for non-profit and community organizations. Monies sought for this purpose are bundled and total $20,391. As stated on the warrant, this article is $7,500 less than what was raised last year because of a one-time, extra contribution made to Tedford Shelter for construction of a new facility in Brunswick.  

As in past years, monies sought to help support Patten Free Library in Bath appear as a separate item, article 17, which asks voters to raise and appropriate $71,506 to support the library’s operating costs. However, unlike article 40, this amount cannot be increased, although can be reduced should voters agree to do so.  

As in years past, the meeting will begin with announcements of community interest. These include the annual presentation of the “Spirit of America Award," which is being given to Allen Greene. A retired engineer, Greene served 20 years on Woolwich’s planning board followed by two consecutive terms on the selectboard. He and wife Janice are both active on the community’s Special Events Committee. The Greenes have lived in Woolwich on Old Stage Road for more than 30 years. 

The selectboard noted the 265th edition of the Town Report is dedicated to John McPhail, a former principal and schoolteacher at Woolwich Central School. McPhail died Nov. 8, 2024 at 94. He was also a past member of the town’s fire department, served as the Civil Defense director and was a member of Woolwich Grange. McPhail is survived by his wife of 73 years, Lillian. The McPhails moved to Woolwich in 1960.