The Wiscasset Selectboard will consider whether or not the historical commission can require a certificate of appropriateness for the Maine Department of Transportation’s downtown project. The request is part of a busy agenda, 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 6 in the municipal building hearing room.

Judy Colby, select board chairman, said the discussion is in response to a May 16 letter from John Reinhardt, historical preservation commission chairman.

“They’re saying according to the town’s Historical Preservation Ordinance, MDOT must apply for a certificate of appropriateness. It’s on the agenda for discussion,” she said Friday morning and declined to comment further.

“We would like to bring to your attention that although a state agency, under the ‘home rule’ provision, MDOT is required, as with all parties undertaking major demolition and/or construction work within the Wiscasset Historic Preservation District, to prepare and submit Certificates of Appropriateness for review and approval by the Wiscasset Historical Preservation Commission before any such actions may be taken, per provisions of the Wiscasset Preservation Ordinance, Article 6, Section 10.5,” Reinhardt states in his letter.

He further states, “MDOT’s project calls for substantial changes to the downtown Historic District, not only for Main Street, but on numerous side streets within the district and along the waterfront. We strongly advise the board of selectmen to send an official letter to MDOT advising them of their responsibilities in terms of compliance with the Historical Preservation Ordinance at the earliest date,” adds Reinhardt.

The commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting is 5 p.m., Thursday, June 8 in the hearing room.