The Woolwich Board of Selectmen won’t allow a Portland contractor to stage materials or equipment on town property when he makes repairs to a Route 1 bridge over Nequasset Brook this fall.

Greg Scott of Scott Construction Corporation had asked permission to store steel rebar, fiberglass forms and equipment at the waterfront park located behind the town office.

Scott’s company is doing repair work for the Maine Department of Transportation. The job involves shoring up piers beneath the bridge with concrete. It’s scheduled to start around the last week in September and be completed in November. Scott told selectmen that most of the construction work would be done underwater by a team of divers.

Road Commissioner Jack Shaw didn’t like the idea of equipment and materials being stored in the park. He was concerned the pavement in the parking area would be damaged and the town stuck with the cost of making repairs.

“We seldom ever come out of these things good,” Shaw said.

The board was concerned by how the bridge repairs might impact the day-to-day activities at the park like swimming and canoeing. Selectman Dale Chadbourne noted the work was scheduled around the same time as Maine’s duck hunting season. Hunters rely on the boat launch to access to the Nequasset watershed.

Selectmen told Scott he could use the town’s boat launch but not the parking area. It was suggested he make arrangements for leasing a private lot across from the town office for his staging area and vehicle parking.   

Flea market in compliance

In other business, Code Enforcement Officer Bruce Engert said he had met with Gena and Erald KilKenney, the owners of Montsweag Flea Market.

Engert said the flea market was in complete compliance with all state and town ordinances.

Selectman Jason Shaw asked the Kilkenneys if they could have an attendant directing motorists into the flea market’s parking areas during busy times.

Gena Kilkenney said they have attendants in the parking lot, but by law they couldn’t be in the road.

She asked if the selectboard would consider recommending the speed limit be lowered on Mountain Road in the area near the flea market. Advisory signs for motorists were also suggested near a bend in the road. The Kilkenneys noted they have three fields for parking and said they will do their best to direct traffic in and out of the parking areas.

Other business

William Longley Jr., EMS director wasn’t able to attend Monday’s meeting. Longley submitted a written request for permission to use up to $600 in donated monies towards the purchase of radios. The board will take action on the request at its July 6 meeting.

Fire Chief Geoffrey McCarren said the fire department responded to three calls since the board’s last meeting. Two were for mutual aide, one in Phippsburg and the other a structure fire in Wiscasset.

The board approved a $5,412 request from McCarren to purchase two radio repeaters for the fire department.

The board received an 18-page contract from WasteZero but tabled action until its July 6 meeting to allow the town’s solid waste and recycling committee to review it. WasteZero will administer the town’s pay-per-bag program approved at last month’s town meeting. WasteZero will provide the bags for non-recyclable trash pickup. The WasteZero bags will be sold for $2 per 30-gallon bag, and $1 per 15-gallon bag. Pay-per-bag is scheduled to begin in August.

By a unanimous vote, the board renewed the liquor license for the Taste of Maine Restaurant on Route 1.

Monday’s meeting held in the community’s historic 1837 town house had a small turnout.