Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith appointed Daniel Bradford, as the town’s new harbormaster June 22.

The appointment followed some confusion over who has the authority to appoint the harbor master. The selectmen confirmed that it was within Smith’s authority to make that appointment.

Previous harbormaster Peter Dalton resigned in February.

On March 20 during this year’s budget discus-sions, the selectmen voted to make the harbormaster a stipend position at $5,000. The compensation of the harbormaster’s position has decreased from $13,360, along with the duties of the position. Smith said the expectation is that new harbor master will focus on service to recreational and commercial users of Wiscasset Harbor, without having to focus on administration or maintenance as did the former harbormaster.

Then there was the question as to who had the authority to appoint the new harbormaster: the selectmen or the town manager.

After obtaining legal advice it was determined that the town manager has the authority. The selectmen voted June 19 to authorize Smith to make the appointment.

The Appointment Selection Committee of Se-lectmen David Nichols, Bill Curtis, Smith and Waterfront Committee and Yacht Club member Jack Pringle met and interviewed applicants for harbormaster.

Newly appointed Bradford, a resident of West-port Island.

According to the town manager, Bradford is expected to work 20 hours each week during the summer season. His stipend is based on 330 hours per year.

Selectmen accept Koehling property offer  

The selectmen met for several hours on June 19, both in public session and in executive session, before voting to accept an offer of $25,000 for the Koehling property on the Gardiner Road by Thomas Petre.

With the conditions the town would go forward with the soil management plan and a voluntary response action program at a cost to the town of between $1,200 and $1,500. The plan allows applicants to voluntarily investigate and cleanup properties in exchange for protection from the Department of Environmental Protection enforcement actions.

By taking these steps, the town has taken the burden away from the buyer, providing the buyer guarantee that the property has been remediated to DEP’s expectations and is as ready for development.

Rejected town warrant items discussed

The selectmen will send three budget items back before voters. Wiscasset voters rejected these articles on the town warrant on June 12.

The $60,000 contingency fund; 254 voters in favor and 410 opposed. The selectmen will ask the voters to approve $50,000 for contingencies.

The voters rejected raising $7,000 for Lincoln County Television; the selectmen will ask the voters to approve $5,000 for their services. Lincoln County Television volunteers record and broadcast the Board of Selectmen and Planning Board meetings on local television. The selectmen indicated this service should continue.

The selectmen discussed the rejection of the code enforcement officer’s budget of $54,996, which failed by a margin of 39 votes.

This budget will be brought before the voters again. Since the town does need a code enforce-ment officer to enforce town ordinances, the voters will be asked to perhaps approve a smaller budget. However, the selectmen have not decided on an amount to bring back before the voters as yet.

Code Enforcement Officer Rick Lang, along with being responsible for the enforcement of town ordinances, is responsible for issuing building permits, plumbing permits and sign permits, he is the town’s licensed plumbing inspector, building inspector, and health and safety officer.