The Wiscasset select board will hold a special town meeting to address approximately $11,502 in 2018-19 budget overdrafts rather then cover the overdrafts from $19,636 left in contingency.

Treasurer Vernice Boyce told the board Tuesday night the parks and recreation department was overdrafted $9,037, mostly due to having underbudgeted for workers compensation.

Other accounts overdrawn included the senior center, $1,752; municipal insurance, $335 and the overlay account – monies used for abatements – $378.

Boyce said she wouldn’t know the exact amount the budget was overdrafted until she received the fourth quarter bill for animal control services the county provided. Animal control had $1,972 left in its budget according to the town’s July 23 expense summary report.

Boyce said the board could cover the overdrafts out of its contingency line. She said the board had spent just $364 of the $20,000 voters raised.

“If you chose to use contingency to cover these you’ll have to vote to do so tonight,” she said explaining the town audit starts July 29.

Selectman Katharine Martin-Savage moved to hold a special town meeting with an article authorizing the board to use monies from the undesignated fund balance to cover the overdrafts. The motion passed 4-1. No date was set.

Selectman Kim Andersson cast the dissenting vote. She wanted to use the remaining contingency monies to cover the overdrafts.

Boyce later told the board there likely won’t be any monies left in the undesignated fund balance to reduce this year’s tax commitment.

Town Manager John O’Connell recommended the board carry forward approximately $286,500 in unexpended funds from the 2018-19 budget.

In other business, reserve accounts managed by H.M. Payson Co. of Portland had a market value totaling just over $15 million at the close of June 30, the end of the town’s fiscal year.

This included $3.51 million in endowments and another $11.51 million in reserve monies.

The board began its meeting with a tour of the Wiscasset Academy building on Warren Street which the town leases to the Maine Art Gallery. David Pope, an art gallery board member, led the tour.

Pope said many of the historic building’s windows need glazing and repainting; the cupola, trim and wooden shutters also needed repainting.

Pope said the biggest problem was water leaking from the foundation into the basement.

The board asked Pope to prioritize a list of the repairs for future discussion.

Following a discussion with Wiscasset EMS Director Dennis Simmons, the board voted unanimously to write off $106,219 in uncollected ambulance bills going back to 2017.

The board will review the town’s contract with Dresden to determine who’s responsible for its uncollected ambulance fees.

The board appointed Christopher Junturo to the Ordinance Review Committee. The vote was 4-1, with Chairman Judy Colby dissenting.

The board had one bidder for the replacement and installation of lockers at Wiscasset Community Center. MHS Sales, Inc. of Yarmouth bid $34,415.  

The board entered into executive session at 8:30 p.m. to discuss disposition of publicly held property.