A forthcoming policy requiring department heads to get prior approval for big-ticket purchases caused a bit of a stir at Monday evening’s Woolwich Board of Selectmen meeting.

David King Sr., selectmen’s chairman, said the policy was in response to the board’s concerns about learning of departmental purchases after the fact. The policy would require a purchase order for expenditures of $750 or more and need three selectmen’s signatures for approval, he added.

“We’d like to know ahead of time what it is we’re buying,” King said.

The idea didn’t sit well with either of the emergency services directors.

William Longley Jr., EMS director, likened it to being micromanaged.

“You see an invoice for everything we buy,” he said. “Let us do our jobs.”

Fire Chief Geoffrey McCarren said the policy would mean waiting up to a month for a purchase. What would happen if something emergency-related were needed immediately he asked?

King said the policy hasn’t been written yet. It would be modeled on what other towns require and could include a emergency clause. Selectmen may contact Maine Municipal Association for their assistance in drafting the policy.

The discussion shifted to several recent purchases including shirts and a new vehicle air bag for the fire department, and EMT radios and pagers.

Selectman Jason Shaw said most towns have purchase order policies.

“My own feeling would be a $1,000 threshold,” he said.

Selectman Dale Chadbourne said he was certain Woolwich had a purchase order policy in the past with a $500 limit.

King assured McCarren and Longley that selectmen were not attempting to micromanage anyone. “It’s for us to know what you’re purchasing in advance,” he said. “We haven’t worked out all of the details and want your input. We want it to work for us and all the department heads.”

In other business, Longley noted his department received 19 EMS calls last month. One of those emergency calls was handled by the Bath Ambulance Dept.

McCarren said the fire department responded to eight emergency calls, including four motor vehicle accidents and one mutual aide for a structural fire in Wiscasset.

The board of selectmen has received a number of complaints about the new Route 1 traffic pattern between the Bath Bridge and the Taste of Maine Restaurant.

At issue is the merge of two lanes into one in northbound traffic. The board felt the merge was too close to an intersection and should be moved further north beyond the Subaru dealership. MDOT is testing the new traffic pattern during the summer. The state will return to complete the paving project in the fall.

Road Commissioner Jack Shaw said the town’s own road-paving program will be challenging this summer. Like other Maine towns, Woolwich has less state funding to work with.

“We’ve got sections of road that need attention all over town,” he said. The Chop’s Cross Road was mentioned among the roads in need of repairs.

The board asked the road commissioner to meet with Joan Jordan regarding removing several dead trees at the waterfront park.

Selectman Lloyd Coombs said the Woolwich Historical Society’s Summer Concert Series begins 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 8. Concerts are free and held at the Nequasset Meetinghouse. 

Before adjourning the board made the following reappointments: Lynette Eastman, treasurer and general assistant administrator; Dickey Brigance, emergency management director; Jean Mank, tax collector; Janice Bradford, town clerk; Jon Hentz, shellfish warden; Terry MacGregor, animal control officer; and William Longley Jr., EMS chief.

The board had previously reappointed the code enforcement officer. The position of fire chief is a 3-year term and does not expire until 2016.