Alna selectmen have decided to become whole sooner than they have to. They plan a special election June 12, when residents vote on the Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 budget.

The open seat is second selectman. Voters in March moved Melissa Spinney from second to first after longtime First Selectman David Abbott announced he would not run.

Proposing the special election, Third Selectman Doug Baston said May 9 the board could have continued with two until town elections next March, when Spinney's vacated term runs out. But if either missed a meeting, it couldn't be held, Baston said. And the board has a lot of work ahead including getting the town office built, so a third person would help, he said.

“I think we should do it, because we’ve got a lot to do.”

“I agree,” Spinney said. They said nomination papers would be available right away and Town Clerk Liz Brown would set the due date. 

Awaiting audit

Alna’s audit missed the town report in March, still isn't done, and its absence has kept the town from getting a tax anticipation note (TAN) to pay bills, selectmen said. "It is screwing things up," Baston said.

Spinney said the latest word from Bath-based William H. Brewer & Co. is the town will have the audit by May 18.

Spinney said the firm did not say why the audit wasn't finished, but told her Wiscasset's has been a big job. The Wiscasset Newspaper is seeking comment from the firm on Alna's audit.

Selectmen said they have learned they can now get this year's $500,000 TAN from Bath Savings without having the audit in hand. Spinney planned to sign the TAN paperwork May 10. The board also plans a $240,000 line of credit with Bath Savings for town office site work and the down payment on the modular while the town awaits Maine Municipal Bond Bank's fall sale, Baston said. The credit line and the TAN will each have an interest rate just over two percent, selectmen said.

Plowing issue 

The board has heard back from town plowing contractor Hagar Enterprises on property owners’ complaints of gravel far onto their land. Spinney said she asked the Damariscotta firm about it. Co-owner Seth Hagar’s written response states the firm plows beyond the ditches in every town. “Mainly this is a safety issue when mother nature decides to rain during the winter months causing the roadways to hold all of the water if the ditches are not open.”

Hagar wrote, in Alna this winter the firm had to push snowbanks further back than usual because ditches froze, water ran in the road and a couple of accidents occurred.

"We don't strive to do any damage, we don't enjoy it and every year I have to rake my lawn from where we plow my town road and do damage to my own lawn."

Resident Toby Stockford told the board May 9, he feels for snowplow drivers because they have a hard job. But the impact was more than it should have been, he said. Selectmen agreed and said they will bring it up in their next pre-season meeting with the firm.

Resident Chris Kenoyer said a Maine Department of Marine Resources representative has offered to give the town updates on this spring's fish counts near Head Tide Dam. Selectmen plan to email residents the latest data each time they send out their board meeting notes.

Baston also plans to check back with the state about an email he said he thought he sent, requesting the agency add signs about keeping pets and children away from the traps.