An election to fill Blagdon's seat will be held February 21. Nomination papers will be made available on November 29.

Town Manager Andrew Gilmore, and the selectmen, Alex Robertson, Ben Rines, Duane Goud and Bill Barnes, thanked Blagdon for his efforts on behalf of the town. Goud, who was the vice chairman, took over as chairman.

Newly elected selectman Bill Barnes, who won an election to the board November 8, took his seat at the table for the first time. Barnes is filling the seat vacated by Bob Blagden, who accepted a job as the town's road commissioner.

The selectmen agreed with a recommendation by Gilmore to set up a committee to look into how best to implement referendum voting, which was approved by almost a 300-vote margin on November 8.

Prior Morrell, who circulated a petition to get the measure before voters, will serve on the committee, along with Barnes, a member of the school committee, a member of the budget committee, the town clerk, and Susan Blagden, chairman of the appeals board. They agreed to try to get the information ready by February 1, although Robertson questioned whether this was rushing the project.

Gilmore announced that the town's pumping station on the Birch Point Road, which was destroyed by heavy rains and flooding, will not be paid for by FEMA, because the state didn't qualify for funds. Gilmore said the town's insurance won't cover even half of it. The selectmen will have to find money in the budget to fix the equipment.

The old Wiscasset Academy building, now used as the Maine Art Gallery, needs some repairs, Gilmore said, including a new furnace. He called home restoration expert Les Fossel to see if the building could go through the winter unheated, and was told it could. Gilmore said Blagden drained the pipes.

However, Barnes and Rines expressed reservations about leaving the building unheated, because the plaster might crack. Gilmore agreed to look into it further.

Don Jones suggested the selectmen make sure the temporary building on the Creamery platform is removed. Bruce Benner's Pro Body application was approved.