Wiscasset selectmen postponed action Tuesday night on the state’s revised cooperative agreement for the downtown project. Selectmen first want to review the document with the town attorney. The board plans to devote its Nov. 1 meeting to discussing the agreement.

Chairman Judy Colby announced at the outset of Tuesday night’s meeting the board wouldn’t be taking any public comment on either the cooperative agreement or Maine Department of Transportation’s planned $5 million downtown project.

“It’s been discussed over and over for weeks. Tonight, we’d like to have no discussion on the subject what-so-ever,” she said.

The hearing room was filled to capacity and many of those attending wanted to address the agreement. A copy was included with other supporting documents for the meeting and the item was listed on the agenda under unfinished business.

Selectmen want to hold the Nov. 1 meeting in a larger venue. The Wiscasset Community Center gymnasium was suggested.

Town Manager Marian Anderson said the meeting would be well-publicized in advance.

Also Tuesday, Police Chief Jeff Lange told selectmen there were some problems regarding the enforcement of the heavy load limits on Federal Street. He said signage had been posted and warnings issued but the 6,000-pound limit impacted more than just large commercial trucks.

“F-250 pickup trucks weigh over 6,000 pounds and technically are in violation,” he explained. The limit wasn’t intended for those vehicles; however, Lange questioned the fairness of singling out larger trucks when smaller ones were also in violation.

Selectman Ben Rines Jr. suggested Lange get in touch with MDOT. “We can’t change the weight limit. MDOT needs to address it,” he said.

“It’s unethical for me to enforce this on larger trucks and not the smaller ones,” Lange responded. He added only warnings would be issued until the issue was resolved.

Lange noted the new traffic signal at the junction of routes 1 and 27 was malfunctioning and going to be re-programmed by MDOT.

“For the time being it’s back to just flashing,” he said.

 Retired U.S. Naval Commander Richard Tetrev presented selectmen with an American flag for the newly installed flagpole at the municipal airport.

Tetrev is a former Brunswick Naval Air Station commander. The flag is one that flew over the former base in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of D-Day.   

The 35-foot fiberglass flagpole was installed in front of the main terminal building facing Chewonki Road. The flag will be raised at a brief ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. The rain date is Sunday at 2 p.m. Airport Manager Frank Costa said local veterans and community members are encouraged to attend the ceremony.

Parks and Recreation Director Todd Souza said the community center’s roof replacement project had been completed on budget.

Selectmen voted 3-2, with Jefferson Slack and Judy Flanagan dissenting, to “flat-line” the 2017-18 municipal budget. Slack felt the vote was premature. Flanagan said she wasn’t ready to decide.

Rines felt the vote was sending a message to taxpayers the board was attempting to rein in town spending.

The board will meet 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 12 with department heads to discuss capital improvements for next year.

Slack noted EMS Director Toby Martin was just $110,000 from meeting his projected revenue for the year for the ambulance department. In his monthly report, Martin noted the department made 66 calls. They included 38 in Wiscasset, 12 to Edgecomb, five to Woolwich and three to Westport Island.

The report notes that Kristin Draper, who works for Lincoln County EMA, was appointed Deputy EMA Director.

Second floor renovations above the ambulance station are scheduled to start Oct. 23 and be completed Nov. 11.

Anderson noted the town had not fared well during a recent state inspection of the sewer treatment plant. A number of violations were discovered and the town could be facing fines.

Selectmen will tour the Maine Art Gallery on Warren Street, 5 p.m. Nov. 7. The visit is open to the public.