Woolwich voters will cast their ballots at the town office, not at the usual polling place, Woolwich Central School, Nov. 2, the day of the general election.

Select Board Chairman David King Sr. said plans are being made to set up a polling area on the town office building’s second floor where the board meets and the fire department trains. “People can access the room from the stairway in the lobby and the building is equipped with an elevator for those who need it.” King could not recall the municipal building ever hosting a general election. “It’s going to take some people by surprise but the select board really didn’t have a choice. The school building belongs to RSU (Regional School Unit) 1 and they were reluctant to allow us to hold the election there because of COVID concerns.”

The select board announced the change on the town’s website and in the newspaper. But Selectman Dale Chadbourne thinks people will still be showing up at the school Election Day, thinking the voting is taking place there. “It’s where we’ve always voted as long as I can remember, and I go back a ways,” he told Wiscasset Newspaper. Chadbourne said he was disappointed the select board could not work out something with school officials. He worried too about parking, which is limited at the municipal building. “I think there’ll be a fairly large turnout. Question 1 on the CMP Corridor is going to draw a lot of people to the polls.”

Polling hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Absentee ballots are available at the town office on Nequasset Road during regular business hours. For more information, call the town clerk at 442-7094.

At their regular meeting Monday, Oct. 18 the select board discussed how best to spend $335,963 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies. Before they can do so, voters will need to authorize the select board to accept the monies at a special town meeting the second week of November.

“If the voters agree to accept the funds the select board is then obligated to hold a public hearing to explain how we plan to use the monies,” explained King. He added, the board sought counsel from its attorney and Maine Municipal Association. There are stipulations on what a municipality can and cannot use the ARPA monies for; one thing the select board is considering is adding a ventilation system on the second floor of the municipal building. “It’s never had one and we’re sure the money could be used for that,” said King.