Waldoboro Board of Selectman chairman Clinton Collamore, on behalf of the town, accepted a Spirit of America Volunteer Recognition award during a ceremony at the Blaine House in Augusta Tuesday.
Waldoboro joined 21 other communities in receiving awards.
Collamore presented the award to Town Manager Bill Post, and Meenahga Grange members Ron and Lillian Dolloff during the board of selectmen meeting.
Collamore said the Spirit of America Foundation recognized the efforts of the town and the Meenahga Grange for volunteer efforts. Waldoboro resident Randall Gross was honored for his volunteer efforts at the Grange and the Foundation recognized his efforts with the town.
“I think Randy was very deserving of that award,” Ron Dolloff said, thanking Collamore for the presentation, who in turn, thanked the Dolloffs for their efforts with the Grange.
“Contrary to some people’s beliefs,” Collamore concluded, “there are a lot of good things happening in Waldoboro and this is a fine example.”
Board members approved allocating $25,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency funds account to support a radio communications project in town, and also approved two ballot warrant articles for the special town meeting for Nov. 3.
The two articles ask voters for approval of a land use ordinance amendment which sets guidelines for small wind energy systems and for amendments to the shellfish conservation ordinance.
Shellfish Committee chair Abden Simmons said the amendments were unanimously approved by the members of the committee. They ask that those who have shellfish licenses in town and who are over age 60 not have to put in conservation time to be eligible to hold their licenses. In reaction to a tough season, they also wanted to bump up the sale of licenses by one month, given proper notice to the Dept. of Marine Resources.
The board appointed a new member to the MSAD (RSU) 40 School Board of Directors, Francis Cross.
According to Post, two applicants applied for the seat, but Waldoboro resident Deborah Tillou decided not to join the board due to an already heavy workload. The position will end June 30, 2010 at which point there will be another opportunity for those interested to submit an application at the town office.
Selectmen approved the allocation of funds from a town FEMA account to support a communications project between Waldoboro and the county. The town has roughly $199,000 in the account currently, according to the town manager.
Post said they were able to absorb the costs of damage caused by heavy storm damage and were reimbursed by the federal government, and have been working with Lincoln County in improving the communication system for emergency personnel.
The project involves moving repeaters from one town site to another and changing the public works frequency. The town must also install a generator building at the base of one of the towers.
Post said if any trouble with the generator were to arise, the rest of Lincoln County would know about it. He said the new system would be especially helpful to the fire department.
“It makes the response time that much quicker,” he added.
The board approved a liquor license application submitted by new business, AllPlay Family Entertainment Center, which has taken over the space formerly occupied by the bowling alley in town.
“It’s not going to be the bar style atmosphere it used to be,” owner Don Benson said.
They plan to offer beer and wine in an entertainment center where families will have the opportunity to bowl.
“Thank you very much for getting bowling up and running again,” selectmen chair Clinton Collamore said. “A lot of people have been talking about it.”
