Wiscasset selectmen on March 20 heard from residents with concerns on both sides regarding the town's lawsuit against the Maine Department of Transportation.

The lawsuit seeks to prevent MDOT from doing any construction until the Wiscasset Historic Preservation Commission has signed off on the project.

“I am a resident and a father of two kids,” said Will Truesdell of Federal Street. “The town’s vote for option two was what made my wife and I choose to stay, to buy a house in Wiscasset. MDOT is not our enemy, they are trying to help us. This current dispute has divided our town and we need real leadership to pull us out of this.”

“I just want to remind everyone that there are 25 businesses downtown that like option one, while only three are in favor of option two,”  said Leslie Roberts of Wiscasset.

Voters will say whether or not they wish to continue the lawsuit. The referendum is April 17. A public hearing on the matter is April 3 at Wiscasset Community Center.

In other public comments, Police Chief Jeffrey Lange asked why there seemed to be “continuing efforts to disband” the police department.

“Voters overwhelmingly agreed to keep the PD in 2015,” Lange said. Residents voted 342-209 against dsbonding it in June 2015. “If the county sheriff takes over, some services (the department provides) will drop such as the school resource officer, the harbormaster, shellfish warden, house checks, and others.”

Lange also expressed that residents seeking concealed weapons permits would be forced to drive to Augusta if the police department disbands, and that response times will increase to issues such as burglar alarms and domestic disturbances.

Lange asked the board to reconsider having the question on the warrant.