It's not every day that an explosion happens near a school.

That's why the Damariscotta Fire Department wants to prepare for the unexpected via a tabletop exercise that would incorporate different agencies to simulate an emergency scenario.

Town Manager Matt Lutkus said Damariscotta Fire Chief John Roberts approached him about possibly holding the exercise.

“The idea here is to have a simulation for as much as they can conduct to simulate a major disaster,” Lutkus said during the Aug. 19 board of selectmen's meeting. “I think it's time well spent.”

There would be two drills — one Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. that would be the “tabletop exercise” — and the full event simulation in October.

The simulations are expected to feature a fake explosion near the Great Salt Bay Community School and will include emergency medical responders, the police department and the fire department.

Something old, something new

The board also approved moving forward with an old project and a new one.

The town will seek bids to repair the stone arch and wall in front of the Walpole Cemetery and to seek out bids to build a new salt shed.

The arch and wall, which was donated to the cemetery in 1897, has started to move, Lutkus said.

“The wall has started to shift slightly,” he said. “The mortar in the wall has started to deteriorate, and as a result, one side of the arch is starting to lean towards Bristol Road.”

Lutkus said the last time any significant work had been done on the arch was approximately 40 years ago. Because of the arch and wall's historical significance and proximity to the road, the cemetery committee wants a complete assessment performed by an engineering firm, which would likely cost in the neighborhood of $2,800.

But don't expect work crews out there for a little while longer, Lutkus said.

“Because there's no safety issue, we can just wait,” he said. “We need to have two days in a row with temperatures 48 degrees and above for it to set. I don't think we'll get (the bids) in before Oct. 1.”

Because the weather is unlikely to cooperate, and the arch isn't likely to fall into the roadway, Lutkus said the work could be done next year.

One thing that won't wait is winter, however.

During a particularly heavy snowfall last winter, the town's salt shed succumbed to the weight of the snow and collapsed. The town has approximately $26,000, including $8,200 from an insurance claim, saved to build a new shed. On Wednesday the board approved preliminary sketches that will be used to grab bids from potential builders.

“We have a few weeks — we do need to get moving however,” Lutkus said. “(Selectman and architect) George Parker really stepped up to the plate and (Superintendent of Roads) Steve Reynolds was greatly involved in designing a shed that would work for us.”

The board approved the sketch and the request for proposals for the arch, 4-0, with Selectman James Cosgrove unavailable for the meeting.