Wiscasset selectmen decided Tuesday to hire an attorney to conduct a police department investigation on the recent time sheet change question.
Town Manager Arthur Faucher recommended the board secure the services of an independent counsel to address the controversy that has erupted over the situation.
Faucher said the board learned last Thursday the police union will be conducting its own investigation and advised that no executive session with the police officers be held during the regular Tuesday night selectmen’s meeting.
“Now that union counsel is present, I suggest we do the same,” he said.
The board agreed and asked town attorney Dennis Jumper to contact Brunswick attorney Peter Rowe. Jumper had suggested Rowe as one of two options, and selectmen chairman Bob Blagden said he spoke with him about the possibility and recommended him.
“An independent counsel would also help assure public opinion that a proper evaluation was done,” Faucher said.
Various residents complained at the last selectmen’s meeting about having the town manager conduct the investigation as the board instructed him to. Faucher seems to feel with the attorney conducting a forensic investigation, the town would avoid a perception of partiality.
Selectman Phil Di Vece said he would like to see the investigation limited to 30-40 hours with a cap of $10,000 for legal fees. “I want everybody in Wiscasset to know how much it’s going to cost,” he said.
To keep the cost down, selectman Pam Dunning advised asking the lawyer for a broad-based game plan with the town attorney as the point person.
“I would like to see this wrapped up quickly, but I want a thorough job,” Di Vece said.
Selectmen Bill Curtis suggested getting some advice from the Maine Municipal Association before moving ahead with hiring an attorney. “This could turn into a hot issue.”
Blagden disagreed. “I prefer to go with the recommendation of the town attorney whom I have a lot more confidence in than the MMA,” he said. “It’s already a hot issue.”
Attorney Jumper advised the board about its position if they act as jurors in the event disciplinary action is called for as a final outcome of the investigation.
“You’re supposed to be impartial,” he said. “Please just keep that in mind.”
Music fund request
High school principal Susan Poppish and three Wiscasset music instructors in the local schools obtained board approval for use of $23,800 for the town’s Larrabee Fund, devoted to exclusively to Wiscasset school’s music program needs not covered in the proposed Regional School Unit (RSU) 12 budget.
Currently the fund has $329,958. The terms of the fund stipulate it can go only to Wiscasset schools. Budget committee chairman Steve Mehrl said in conversation with the RSU board, all purchases the town makes stays with the town.
One of the items requested concerned a new sound system (circa 1985) for the middle school, which the teachers say cuts out during concerts. However, selectman Dunning questioned whether that item would be exclusively for the music program.
Middle school instructor Roger Whitney said the music program actually operates and maintains the sound system and lets the school use it for assemblies and other events, not the other way around.
Whitney said 95 percent of the music equipment comes from the Larrabee Fund and without it, students would not have school instruments on loan because no available money exists to repair them.
For the high school, requests include $350 for a projector screen, $1000 to clean uniforms, $8000 for performance shells or $1000 for repairs, $600 for piano tuning and repair, and $200 for music supplies.
Primary and middle school requests consist of $3000 for band instrument repairs, $600 for piano tuning and repair, $3500 for LCD projectors for music rooms in both schools, $350 for recorders for the grade four, music for performing groups, and $300 for general music supplies.
If new acoustic shells are not needed at the high school, the music program would only need $16,820 of the request. Principal Poppish said each year the schools do not always use the total amount requested, and requisitions for purchases go through the town office.
Sand bids opening
The board awarded the bid for sand and delivery to Harry C. Crooker & Sons of Topsham for 2500 cubic yards of sand at $11 per cubic yard. Crooker was the low bidder.
Other bidders were Nathan Northrup with $11.81 per cubic yard bid and J.R. Hill & Sons with a $12.50 per cubic yard bid. Jack Shaw & Son declined to bid.
