Vacant buildings and vacant school board seats captured much of the discussion at the December 2 Woolwich selectmen’s meeting.

In October, Fire Chief Geoff McCarren and Deputy Fire Chief Domenic Maccio discussed the risk that vacant and dangerous buildings present to firefighters and suggested the town investigate ways to mark these structures.

At Monday night’s meeting, Maccio updated the board on his investigations into how this issue is handled in Maine and other New England states. Maccio said that from a statutory perspective, Maine was behind the times.

“What’s in place in this state is archaic,” Maccio said. “There is no backing for us on the state level.”

Maccio suggested that instead of an ordinance or regulatory approach to the problem, the Woolwich fire and code enforcement departments work with other agencies and develop a dangerous/vacant property list that would be maintained by Sagahadoc communications. “Then when we are dispatched, they could relay that information to us,” Maccio said.

Selectman David King said he was concerned about who would maintain the list and how rapidly it would be updated to reflect changing conditions.

EMS Director William Longley said dispatch presently maintains some data on individual medical needs, and the actual number of houses that fit the category would be small.

“If we are all watching, it’s an easy thing to accomplish,” Longley said. Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert said that while he liked the collaborative approach suggested by Maccio, the town could also consider requiring new occupants to any vacant structure to notify the town.

The fire department will continue to investigate options and report to the board.

School board election

November’s RSU 1 school board election drew few votes, fewer candidates and mixed results.

In District 1, there were no official nominees to replace Robin Buczkowski and write-in ballots resulted in a draw between one unwilling and one unable candidate.

Fred Kahrl and Robin Buczkowski, both of Woolwich, each drew 13 write-in votes, Woolwich Town Administrator Lynette Eastman told the board. Karhl does not reside in District 1 so is ineligible, and Buczkowski declined the position, Eastman said.

In light of that result, the RSU 1 School Board has decided to appoint the third place write-in candidate, Jennifer Ritch-Smith, of Woolwich, who received 12 votes, to serve the three-year term. Although Woolwich selectmen did not express any qualms about Ritch-Smith’s ability to serve, they did express concern about the process.

“We feel that this creates a vacancy on the board and that Jenny Ritch-Smith should be appointed jointly by Bath and Woolwich and only until the next regular election,” Eastman explained in an email on Tuesday, “There is no issue with Jenny. This issue is strictly with the way it is being handled.”

“Their attorney said they can do what they want to do and our attorney says that they cannot,” King said. “I guess we have to decide how much we want to pursue this.”

After further discussion, Selectman Jason Shaw recommended Eastman contact Bath’s City Manager and Engert suggested an email to the Maine Municipal Association might shed more light on the board’s options.

Other business

As part of his regular EMS report, Longley recommended the town renew its interim agreement with Northeast Mobile Health Service, which allows Woolwich EMS responders to cover weekend ambulance calls when personnel are available. Northeast has a three-year contract to provide 24/7 ambulance coverage to Woolwich; the interim agreement allows a local option on weekends when feasible. The board members supported Longley’s recommendation to renew the agreement. Longley said he would meet with Northeast.

Tyler Warnke and Gaius Hennin reported that the town clock is working again although it may be a little slow. Warnke said they will meet with Chris Balzer on Thursday to develop a maintenance plan.

Selectman Allison Hepler announced plans to create a new citizen’s committee, or to merge the Internet and public access TV committees, to improve public communication.