Dresden Fire Department will hold its annual open house in observance of Fire Prevention Week on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at Pownalborough Fire Station from 6 to 8 p.m. The department announced the event at the regular meeting Monday of the Board of Selectmen.

Members of the local department will be serving hot dogs and drinks to the general public. Residents and other people will be able to obtain information about fire safety for their homes and businesses. Children will also have an opportunity to gain knowledge from the special even then and also at Dresden Elementary School some time during the week for talks and demonstrations.

During the selectmen’s meeting Monday, the board decided to grant the fire department’s request for up to $600 from town recreation funds for expenses incurred for the annual affair.

Other business

On Monday, selectmen opened bids for both snow plowing and painting of the Town Office building in the Village. The board received three bids for snow plowing for the winter months, which it will decide at its next regular meeting, Monday, Oct. 4: from Rosemary and Albert Lilley, $7,500; Mike Christy, $6,500; Josh Watson, $6,880.

Selectmen commented last year the town had no contractor in time for the first storm of the season, which came as a surprise last October but that they will be ready this time. 

The board received two bids for the paint job on the exterior of the Town Office: from Clarke Painting of Portland, $24,000 and from Tom’s Painting, $5160. Despite the considerably lower bid from Tom’s Painting, the board decided to wait until its regular October 4 meeting for a decision and thus instituted a new policy for bids in the future.

The delay in announcing a decision on the bids will give the board a chance to review each of the bids for both the snow plowing and painting and ask any questions before finalizing its decisions, Chairman Phil Johnston said.

Selectman Allan Moeller said he received a bid of $650 to take down the dead tree on the corner of Route 27 and Route 127 next to the stone well in the Village. He said he also got a bid from another contractor to take down a pine tree on Bog Road and wants to hear from him about the prospects of taking down the tree in the Village.

Before making any decision, Moeller said he is also waiting to hear from Central Maine Power about safety in the removal because of the proximity of electrical wiring there.

Moeller said he also checked on the sand situation for the town roads this coming winter. Dick Holbrook & Sons, contractor for the sanding and salting of roads, currently charges $11 per yard of sand from the company’s pit on Cedar Grove Road in Dresden. He said the contractor has sand ready to fill the estimated quota for this winter.

In other road issues, Moeller said culverts will be installed on Alexander Road, Lincoln Road, and Everson Road. He also mentioned concern about a culvert on East Pittston Road off Blinn Hill Road where flooding has occurred, which he said may necessitate requesting funding. Moeller estimated it may cost about $50,000 to remedy the situation.

Selectman David Probert, reporting on issues at the transfer station, said a concrete base for collection bins will cost an estimated $3,800 where currently only a dirt surface exists for the bins. 

Probert said there have been complaints from residents about lack of help with recyclable items. The board discussed the matter and determined it should present a written notice to employees concerning the matter before taking further remedial action.

During the Monday session, the board announced the resignation of Richard Ross from the Bridge Academy Charitable Trust. In a letter to the board, Ross stated he would remain on the trust board until the trust obtains a replacement.

The board will hold a workshop next Monday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. at the town office. The next regular meeting on October 4 will be held at Pownalborough Hall at 6 p.m. All regular meetings have been held there lately and will be held there in the future.

The town office will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8 in observance of Columbus Day, Administrative Assistant Trudy Foss announced.