At the Nov. 22 meeting of the Waldoboro Board of Selectmen, board member Craig Cooley made a plea to immediately demolish the empty AD Gray building.
The matter came up during discussion of the impending demolition of the back wing of the former elementary school.
During the discussion resident Hans Nicolaisen said the town pays more than $10,000 a year to heat the building, currently listed for sale for $1.
In May, the town put out a request for proposals for projects to utilize the former school building. The building was offered for $1, with the hope it would draw proposals to foster economic growth and involve the redevelopment of the building. In September, the town had not received any proposals, and the selectmen voted to extend the deadline for proposals to Dec. 31.
“It might be time to think about demolishing the whole thing since no one seems to be interested,” Nicolaisen said.
Cooley agreed. “I just have a problem heating an empty building,” he said, to applause and shouts of approval from several citizens in attendance. “It’s ludicrous to do this.”
“I think we need to solicit bids for the demolition of the building once and for all,” Cooley said. He made a motion to do so, but did not receive a second.
The selectmen subsequently approved the demolition of the back wing 3-1, with Cooley casting the dissenting vote.
“I think removing [the back wing] would be getting rid of an eyesore and a potential financial liability for the town if that roof caves in,” Selectman Steve Cartwright said. “It does nothing to help move the place.”
The Waldoboro Public Works Department will perform the work, which will cost the town about $8000, primarily for the disconnection of utilities and removal of asbestos.
Heating the building is necessary to prevent roof drains from freezing, Waldoboro Town Manager John Spear explained. The back wing isn’t heated and, thus, the demolition won’t translate into energy savings.
At the previous selectmen’s meeting, Winchenbach asked the selectmen to say the Pledge at the beginning of every meeting. The selectmen tabled the matter because Chairman Clinton Collamore was absent. This time, they tabled the item because Selectman Ted Wooster was absent.
Wooster showed up more than an hour later, as the selectmen were entering an executive session to discuss labor negotiations.
Following the meeting, Winchenbach vowed to continue her quest as long as necessary and expressed confidence in her ultimate success.
Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde introduced Shuman to the selectmen. He “has aspirations of being a game warden someday,” Labombarde said, and the department hopes to “give him the experience he needs to make the next step.”
In other hiring news, Wayne Bergey, of Warren, has joined the Public Works Department as a truck driver.
Aqua Maine President Judy Wallingford said the company has been sold and will officially change hands around Jan. 1 and become The Maine Water Company. “That’s the only change you should see,” she said.
Cartwright applauded the company’s performance. “I think we’re very fortunate to have this relationship and fortunate the price hasn’t gone up,” he said.
The town received a $13,818.90 emergency management performance grant. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds and the Maine Emergency Management Agency administers the grants.
The selectmen voted 4-0 to apply for an approximately $8000 federal grant for the purchase of mobile repeaters for the Waldoboro Fire and Police departments. The grant does not require a match and, according to Spear, would resolve lingering mobile communications issues.
Spear said he would meet with Department of Transportation Region 2 Manager Mike Burns Nov. 30 to discuss flood and scour concerns related to the Rt. 1 bridge over Medomak River. If the river rises “above a certain level, they intend to close it and reroute traffic,” Spear said.