At Woolwich town meeting this year, held on a Saturday for the first time in over 20 years — May 7 at 9 a.m. at Woolwich Central School — citizens have a lot to decide. Yes, paying for trash bags is back on the town meeting warrant but there is so much more to discuss first.

Despite some additional items being placed on the town warrant this year, the municipal budget is $7305.00 less than last year’s. We are pleased about that.

First, there’s the possibility of a real recreation program in Woolwich, sponsored by the town, run by parent volunteers, and inclusive of every Woolwich kid who wants to participate in sports. This has been a citizen-organized program from the beginning and has the support of the current Recreation Committee which, if voters approve this program, would be renamed the Special Events Committee. The budget request includes funding that has been authorized by Junior Athletics in the past, and does not include revenue that will be coming from the program.

Also, as you may have read, it is increasingly difficult to recruit firefighters in small towns as well as fire chiefs. On the recommendation of former Fire Chief Geoff McCarren, the selectboard has put forth modest pay raises for the chief, the officers, and the hourly pay of the firefighters, dedicated volunteers all. And, if you’ve not had a chance to do so, please thank Chief McCarren for his years of service and welcome the new Fire Chief Mike Demers.

Making the Nequasset Park swimming area more appealing and also more accessible has been on our minds for some years. This year, also based on legwork done by an ad hoc town committee, there is a warrant article asking for funds to hire Pine Tree Engineering to come up with some options.

OK, Trash: At the behest of the Solid Waste and Recycling Committee, the selectboard requested proposals for a one-year curbside trash and recycling contract. The winning bid came from Riverside Disposal, which takes everything to ecomaine, a non-profit in Biddeford that is a trash-to-energy plant and a state-of-the-art recycling center. Ecomaine, like other recycling centers currently, carries a cost-sharing tipping fee for recycling, which will vary based on the value of the various recyclables. The value of recyclables has collapsed in recent months but once the value increases, ecomaine’s cost of recycling turns into a revenue-sharing plan, shared among its member towns.

PAYT: As a result of a citizen petition submitted in March, voters will be asked to consider adopting a “pay-as-you-throw” plan for non-recyclable trash, similar to last year’s town meeting. If passed, residents would pay $1 for a 15-gallon bag and $2 for a 30-gallon bag. We, all of us on the selectboard, believe that the decision on PAYT should be made at town meeting, not a referendum. Also, we take seriously citizen petitions, which require diligence and determination to meet the standards required. That said, the selectboard is united in believing that we have had enough votes on PAYT and, regardless of the outcome, will not entertain any petitions on this for a year.

There are important issues that affect all of us, both collectively as a town and individually as residents. Every vote counts. Every voice is important. Towns like Woolwich with a strong sense of history and support for the town meeting form of government require, even demand, citizen involvement on Saturday, May 7 at Woolwich Central School at 9 a.m. (Doors open at 8). In the meantime, pick up a copy of the Town Report from the town office, 13 Nequasset Road.