Select Board creates ad hoc committee to guide wastewater treatment plant outreach

The Wiscasset Select Board voted 5-0 to create an Ad Hoc Wastewater Treatment Plant Outreach Advisory Committee charged with conducting public outreach and advising the town on questions related to a potential relocation of the wastewater treatment plant.

Sarah Whitfield moved for the committee’s creation and the board approved draft directive documents. Cassaundra Rose told the board the panel would include “five to nine members from both in and out of the service area,” and emphasized the need for the committee to understand funding and regulatory steps that would affect any relocation. Board members and public commenters sought clarity on whether relocation is required and how any project would be funded and permitted; board discussion signaled the committee’s role will include public education on those points.

Public commenters raised procedural and funding concerns. Edward Polewarczyk and James Crowley asked for information about the rationale for relocation and the timeline for funding and approvals. Steve Christiansen noted Wiscasset has not received certain federal funds for sewer work that other nearby communities have secured, saying Boothbay Harbor received “$2.5 million from FEMA for a seawall for its sewer plant.” The Select Board did not set a membership roster at the July 21 meeting; Rose indicated the committee would draw members from within and outside the service area.

The board set no immediate policy or contract decisions at the meeting; the vote established an outreach and advisory body to gather input and report back. The Select Board also scheduled a goals workshop for August 25 and the Town Manager recommended prioritizing the wastewater treatment plant topic at that meeting.