Town of Wiscasset, Maine

2010 Annual Report Town of Wiscasset Town of Wiscasset ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL OFFICERS WISCASSET, MAINE July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010 Cover picture: “Sheepscot River Sunrise” by Ronn Orenstein Lincoln County Publishing Co. Newcastle / Damariscotta, Me. Annual Report Dedication Tim Merry The 2011 town report is dedicated to Tim Merry. Tim has served the citizens of the Town of Wiscasset on the Wiscasset Fire Department for the last 34 years – 20 of those years as Fire Chief. Although Tim stepped down from his duties as Chief in June of 2010, he remains an active member of the Fire Department, now serving the very important role of Safety Officer. Pictured above is the former Fire Chief, Tim Merry, with his sons, TJ and Nick. Tim has lived in Wiscasset his whole life. He joined the fire department in 1977 and enlisted in the US Air Force later that same year where he spent four years stationed in England as a crash/rescue firefighter. Firefighting has always been in the Merry blood. Tim’s grandfather and father were members of the Wiscasset Fire Department. At the time Tim joined the fire department, his father was the Fire Chief. His brother, John, is still an active member, serving as Assistant Fire Chief. The tradition continues with both of Tim’s sons who are 4th generation firefighters in Wiscasset. After the passing of his father, and Fire Chief, in May of 1990, Tim was Town of Wiscasset elected Fire Chief – a position he would hold for the next 20 years. He was able to keep the fire department updated through the years with state-of-the- art firefighting vehicles and equipment. The fire department’s latest vehicle purchase was in 2006 when they purchased a new engine. Tim put in countless hours at the station keeping up with administrative paperwork, coordinating vehicle maintenance, conducting inspections and many other tasks. He led the fire department through many challenges, as well, including the budget crunching times after the closing of Maine Yankee, the national downward trend in volunteerism and the increase in mandatory training requirements for firefighters. Through it all, Tim was able to maintain a professional, high quality fire department that would outshine any other. His encouragement and leadership drove the members of the Fire Department to maintain the utmost pride in their department and continue to strive to be the best. It is with great honor and deep appreciation that we dedicate the 2011 Wiscasset Town Report to Tim Merry. Thank you for your continued service to your community. Annual Report Table of Contents Dedication ................................................................................................ 2-3 Town Manager ......................................................................................... 6-9 Town Officers ....................................................................................... 10-16 250th Committee ........................................................................................17 Airport .................................................................................................. 18-19 Ambulance Service and Office of Emergency Management ............... 20-21 Assessors’ Agent .................................................................................. 22-23 Notice to Veterans / Homestead Exemption ..............................................24 Budget Committee ............................................................................... 25-28 Chamber of Commerce ..............................................................................29 Code Enforcement Officer / Building & Plumbing Inspector / Sign Control Officer ..................................................................... 30-40 Conservation Commission .........................................................................41 Fire Department ................................................................................... 42-43 Harbormaster ........................................................................................ 44-45 Highway Department .................................................................................46 Investment Advisory Committee ...............................................................47 LCTV ................................................................................................... 48-50 Library .................................................................................................. 51-52 Lincoln County Commissioners .......................................................... 53-54 Lincoln County EMA ........................................................................... 54-55 Parks & Recreation / Community Center ............................................ 56-59 Police Department ......................................................................................60 Senior Center .............................................................................................61 Shellfish Committee ............................................................................. 62-63 Town of Wiscasset Table of Contents Shellfish Warden ........................................................................................64 Superintendent ..................................................................................... 65-66 Tax Collector ........................................................................................ 67-69 Town Appearance Committee .............................................................. 70-71 Town Clerk ........................................................................................... 72-74 Town Payroll ........................................................................................ 75-77 Town Planner ....................................................................................... 78-81 Transfer Station ..........................................................................................82 Transportation Committee ................................................................... 83-84 Wastewater Treatment ................................................................................85 Water District ....................................................................................... 86-87 U.S. Senator ......................................................................................... 88-90 U.S. Representative ....................................................................................91 State Senator ..............................................................................................92 State Representative ...................................................................................93 Election Warrants & Results RSU — Jan. 26, 2010 .................................................................. 94-96 RSU — June 8, 2010 ................................................................. 97-102 Town Meeting — June 8, 2010 ................................................ 103-113 Town Meeting — June 24, 2010 ......................................................114 Town Meeting — Sept. 14, 2010 ..............................................115-116 Town Meeting — Dec. 7, 2010 ........................................................117 Auditors’ Report ............................................................................... 118-148 Warrant, June 14, 2011 ..................................................................... 149-166 Annual Report Town Manager The year began with an Interim Town Manager (Don Gerrish of Eaton, Peabody Consulting Group) and an Acting Town Manager (Sue Varney). Much of the beginning of the year was committed to the hiring of a new Town Manager, which was finalized in late spring. In July, a new Board of Selectmen began their service with a new Town Manager. I was pleased to begin my service to the Town on July 19. Immediately after starting, I spent time meeting with the Board of Selectmen to determine their priorities. Below is the list of goals that were determined to be a priority and their status. • Job descriptions were needed for town employees. The process included all town employees and supervisors resulting in job descriptions for each regular employee. The Board of Selectmen adopted the job descriptions on February 8, 2011. • The Town had two expired union contracts. The Selectmen adopted the ratified Public Works contract on December 21, 2010. The Police contract was ratified and adopted on March 15, 2011. • The Town personnel policy needed updating, as it was last amended in March of 2003. The new personnel policy was adopted on March 1, 2011. • The non-union pay plan and structure needed review, and an update to non-union salaries had been requested. The Selectmen reviewed the full-time positions with market salaries and updated all non-union salaries on February 15, 2011. The Selectmen have also requested that all town employees receive regular performance evaluations and that future pay adjustments be related to performance. • The Town needs a capital investment program that outlines the capital equipment and infrastructure needs for each department. A capital improvement plan which included the requests for the next five years was included as part of the budget process in February and March. • The Board of Selectmen appointed an Investment Committee in the early part of 2010 and authorized them to work in coordination with the new Financial Advisors (H.M. Payson) to develop an investment policy. The policy addresses the allocation

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