Flashing warning lights sought for Woolwich school

Woolwich officials will pursue flashing traffic warning signs for Woolwich Central School on Nequasset Road. Road Commissioner Jack Shaw told the select board June 7, the state will provide the lights alerting drivers they are entering a school zone, but the town would have to pick up the cost for their installation.

The solar-powered lights would be similar to two recently installed on Route 27 near Wiscasset Middle High School and others near Wiscasset Elementary School. The flashing yellow lights alongside the north and southbound lanes alert motorists to a school zone where the maximum speed limit is 15 mph. The speed flashes as a motorist approaches the sign.

“I’m asking to have your support so we can move forward on this and get our request in,” said Shaw. Only three of the five select board members were present, Selectmen Jason Shaw and Chairman David King Sr. were both absent. King told Wiscasset Newspaper beforehand, the meeting would be the first select board meeting he missed in 12 years.

Selectman Allison Hepler thought installing the lights was an excellent idea. Agreeing were Selectmen Tommy Davis and Dale Chadbourne, who was serving as chairman in King’s absence. Before submitting the town’s request, the road commissioner said he needed to take pictures of the road and determine the best places to install the light posts. He planned to follow up with selectmen at a future meeting.

In his written report to the board, EMS Director Brian Carlton stated since May 24 Woolwich Ambulance had responded to 24 emergency calls. There were 13 transports, three non-transports and one patient transfer from Miles Hospital in Damariscotta to Woolwich. MC1 was used three times and Wiscasset Ambulance once. Carlton noted both ambulances were needed to transport victims of a recent Route 1 traffic accident to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Carlton praised first responders for their efforts at the accident scene.

The board continues to advertise for an EMS/ambulance director. Carlton’s resignation takes effect July 1. Town Administrator Kim Dalton said the job is being advertised on Maine Municipal Association’s website and on Indeed.com. The deadline to apply is June 30.

Debbie Locke, president of Woolwich Historical Society, reminded everyone the June 21 selectboard meeting would be held in the historic 1837 Town House. The wooden, one-story building is at the corner of Old Stage and Dana Mills roads. According to “History of Woolwich, Maine: A Town Remembered,” the town hall was paid for with monies the community received from the federal government, the result of the liquidation of the National Debt credited to President Andrew Jackson. Woolwich chose to use its $800 share to buy land and build the town hall which has always been painted its distinctive yellow color. The location was chosen because this place is geographically the center of town. Its meeting room is lined with straight-back wooden benches facing a small gallery occupied by the selec board. It served the town as a meeting place until 1951. The meeting at the 1837 Town House will begin at 6 p.m.