The Wiscasset Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 in favor of a secret ballot referendum for the annual town meeting Tuesday, Oct. 21. The meeting will be held the second Tuesday in June in a new place. Instead of the community center, the voting will be at the meeting room at the town office.
Selectman Ben Rines made the motion for a secret ballot referendum town meeting. Budget Committee member Richard Hansen asked the selectmen to each declare their positions on the secret ballot referendum and the open town meeting.
Selectman Pam Dunning told Hansen the board was about to take a vote on the issue. Selectman Tim Merry was the opposing vote on the motion for a referendum vote.
Bottle policy
Selectman William Barnes made a motion to adopt the bottle policy that had been presented to the selectmen at their meeting Oct. 7. His motion did not receive a second, therefore the motion failed.
Since the issue of insurance on the bottle bins at the transfer station has been resolved, the board decide to leave it up to the town manager and the transfer station staff to determine the placement of the bins.
Town Manager Marian Anderson told the board the placement of the bins is still a work in progress.
Primary School closing vote
The selectmen signed the warrant for the citizens petition with a vote scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 9. The petition was turned into the town office Oct. 15 with 177 valid signatures.
The Wiscasset School Board voted to close the primary school at its meeting Sept. 15. The citizens petition was circulated to require a town vote.
The ballot question will ask, “Shall the school committee of the town of Wiscasset be authorized to close Wiscasset Primary School? The additional cost of keeping the school open has been estimated by the school committee to be $785,254.”
Morton Street parking issue
Richard Barnard, whose driveway is on Morton Street, asked the selectmen to post no parking signs on Morton Street. The town manager told the board she visited the street and would recommend the selectmen consider posting the signs. The street is very narrow, and with parking it would be difficult for emergency vehicles to get through.
The selectmen will discuss the issue at their next meeting. The residents on the street will be notified that the selectmen will make a decision at their meeting, giving them an opportunity to express their thoughts on the matter.
Public hearing
The selectmen held a public hearing for a special amusement permit for Wiscasset Speedway LLC, with no comments from the public.
The permit will allow motor sports, family events, concerts, carnivals, and a circus, with the primary focus being Saturday night stock car racing.
Selectman Jefferson Slack asked that the 10 p.m. curfew be enforced. Co-owner Vanessa Jordan told the board she has no problem with the curfew. “After all, we want to be good neighbors,” Jordan said.
The permit was issued with a 5-0 vote.
Donation to Good Shepherd Food-Bank
The selectman made a donation of $1,500 to the Cupboard Collection Program of the Good Shepherd Food-Bank with the money to come from the town’s contingency account.
The food bank delivers food to three locations in Wiscasset.
Award
The town of Wiscasset received the 2014 Maine Municipal Association Annual Report Excellence Award.
