Waldoboro, ME

SPECIAL TOWN WARRANT -  November 8, 2022 at the Town Office from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
WALDOBORO WARRANT QUESTIONS & BRIEF EXPLANATIONS

Article 2. Shall the Town vote to authorize the Select Board to amend the inter-local agreement under such terms and conditions as they deem advisable with the Town of Friendship for the cooperative use of the Waldoboro Emergency Medical Service?  (This agreement allows the Town of Waldoboro to charge the Town of Friendship for EMS Services)

The Town of Waldoboro has had an interlocal agreement with the Town of Friendship to provide EMS services since March of 2006. This amended agreement defines the services that Waldoboro EMS provides to the Town of Friendship and the formula used to calculate the charges for the service. The formula is based on population and call volume. As an example, for FY 2023 the Town of Friendship’s percentage of the cost of operation of the Waldoboro EMS would be 13.10%, the Town of Jefferson’s 18.67% and the percentage cost for the Town of Waldoboro would be 68.23%.

Article 3. Shall the Town vote to authorize the Select Board to negotiate and enter into an inter-local agreement under such terms and conditions as they deem advisable with the Town of Jefferson for the cooperative use of the Waldoboro Emergency Medical Service? (This agreement allows the Town of Waldoboro to charge the Town of Jefferson for EMS Services)

 The Town of Waldoboro is entering into an agreement with the Town of Jefferson to provide EMS services. This agreement defines the services that Waldoboro EMS provides to the Town of Jefferson and the formula used to calculate the charges for the service. The formula is based on population and call volume. As an example, for FY 2023 the Town of Jefferson’s percentage of the cost of operation of the Waldoboro EMS would be 18.67%, the Town of Friendship’s 13.10% and the percentage cost for the Town of Waldoboro would be 68.23%.

Article 4. Shall the Town vote to appropriate a portion of the $306,251.65 proceeds from the sale of the Friendship Street School to the following projects:

The Town of Waldoboro completed the sale of Friendship Street School in July, realizing $306,251.65 from the sale. The Select Board has recommended that approximately one-third of the proceeds ($102,500) be allocated to the following projects. The Select Board together with the Budget Committee will make recommendations during the 2023-24 budget process for the potential uses of the remaining proceeds.

   To appropriate the sum of $15,000 for engineering to cap the concrete foundation area of the former Sylvania site, creating a natural grass area on the site?

The capping of the Sylvania concrete foundation with a natural grass area was a recommendation of the Sylvania Task Force and the Sylvania Development Committee. The grass area would cover the existing concrete slab and improve the overall safety and appearance of the site. This capping would not preclude use of the space but provide for a grassy area.

   To appropriate the sum of $60,000 in matching funds for a 2022 Department of Environmental Protection Stream Crossing Grant for the replacement of the Elm Street culvert? (Grant funds $150,000, Town matching funds $60,000 total project cost $210,000)

The Elm Street Culvert has been identified as a culvert that needs replacing due to the stream being lower than the culvert after work by the MDOT on Route 1 near the Town Office. This work caused erosion and deterioration of the culvert. The Town pursued the replacement through the MDOT with no success. The culvert due to MDEP regulations must be a live bottom culvert to allow for fish passage, which makes the replacement more costly, and complicated by its proximity to both water and sewer lines. The $60,000 would be used as matching funds to obtain a $150,000 grant, providing $210,000 for the project.

   To appropriate the sum of $7,500 to replace the “Welcome to Waldoboro” signs along Route 1?

The $7,500 would be used to replace the Welcome to Waldoboro signs located at the north and south Waldoboro town lines on Route 1. These signs are in need of replacement and updating.

  To appropriate the sum of $20,000 to remove the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid from the Town Forest? (The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, an invasive insect is present in the ancient Hemlocks in the Town Forest and need to be eradicated to save the Hemlocks)

Our Town Forest is home to one of only 11 documented old-growth Hemlock stands in Maine. In May of 2021, the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, an invasive insect that is deadly to Hemlocks, was detected in the forest. The Conservation Commission has been working with the Maine State Forest Service and their entomologist to determine the best courses of action to save the Hemlocks in the Town Forest. The Forest Service developed a plan to save the oldest trees that includes treating the Hemlocks with trunk injections of a pesticide and periodically releasing beneficial beetles which prey upon the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. The Town did receive a grant of $10,000 for the first set of trunk injections for the trees. The $20,000 in funds will be used for a second round of injections, and the ongoing release of beneficial beetles.

If you have questions, or concerns please contact the Town Manager at townmanager@waldoboromaine.org or by calling 832-5369 ext. 6 or visiting the Town Office.