Support for restoring full funding to the Wiscasset assessing/human resources function went forward Tuesday night when a petition was presented to the Board of Selectmen.

Treasurer James George presented a petition with 247 signatures, certified by Town Clerk Sandra Johnson, which asks selectmen to fund the position now held by Sue Varney.

However, former selectman Ben Rines, Jr. said the wording in the petition will have to be changed, unless the selectmen want to send out another tax bill.

"It's easy to remedy," Rines said.

"It just needs to be re-worded." Rines has served a number of terms on the board of selectmen, beginning in the 1970s. He was also the First Selectman, which was a full time paid administrative position, before the town changed to a town manager form of government.

Rines criticized the board for getting into a situation where a town employee for almost 30 years is about to lose her job. The funding runs out January 25.

"I was more than happy to come down here tonight to speak on behalf of Sue," Rines said. "I've worked with her in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and she has served the town above and beyond… Now it looks like she's going to be thrown under the bus."

George told the selectmen the town needs to come up with slightly over $30,000 to fund the position through the end of the fiscal year in June. If the town does not fund it, Varney, under her union contract, is entitled to $72,000 in severance pay.

"This will save the town more than $41,000 and keep the office open," George said.

None of the selectmen made any comments on the situation.

They decided to follow Town Manager Arthur Faucher's suggestion to meet with members of the Budget Committee to discuss the issue on January 17 at 6:30 p.m.

Rines urged the selectmen to keep Varney on the job until after a special town meeting is called to act on the funding request, even if it's after January 25, so that the office can remain open.

In other business, the selectmen appointed ballot clerks for the January 15 special election (the assessing position will not be on this ballot). Polling hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the community center. Voters will act on proposed ordinance changes and elect a fifth selectman to replace Alex Robertson who resigned from the board several months ago because of health reasons.

Selectmen gave Lieutenant John Allen the green light to get specifications ready for a new police cruiser to replace two cruisers. Allen said one is a 2001 model, with 166,000 miles on it, and the other is a 2004 model, with 126,000 on it.

"Does that mean we will only have two cruisers?" chairman Duane Goud. Allen said yes. The cruiser the town will keep is a 2006 model.

"To be able to act on this funding request at the June town meeting, the car dealers will have to have the specifications by March," Allen said. He said he doesn't feel justified in putting much more money into repairing either of the two cars, adding his maintenance budget is only $4,000 a year.

Selectmen agreed they would like to look over the specifications before they are sent out, and set a due date for the bids from the dealerships to be returned to the town of February 26.

Allen brought some welcome news to the board - the town and school department will be getting a $19,000 grant through the county Emergency Management Office for "active shooters' training" at the high school. Allen said the training is designed to prepare school and emergency responders to respond to a terrorist/hostage situation in a school. .

The Wiscasset Community Center will be celebrating its 10 th anniversary during the week of February 8 - 16. In a letter to selectmen, director Todd Souza said plans are underway to have an open house during which all classes will be free to everyone.

The purpose of the celebration is to "thank our members for their support," the letter said, and "to show the community that we have something for everyone."

Selectmen approved the celebration, "allowing any funding as necessary."

Faucher presented a six-month summary report which shows "expenses, on average, are about where they should be."

Faucher announced the town has recently received the deed from Point East for the road leading into the new industrial park off the Ferry Road The town approved a bond to pay for the construction of the road.

Selectmen approved a request from wastewater treatment plant supervisor Buck Rines to be paid for 40 hours of vacation time instead of taking the time off. Faucher said he has built up a total of 178 hours.

Selectmen also approved a request by Selectman Bill Curtis that he and Selectman David Nichols "review the fixed base operation status at the airport." The current fixed base operators, Ann Walko and Mike Muchmore, owners of Wicked Good Aviation, announced last month they will be leaving in February. The airport is owned by the town, and requests for proposals have gone out to find a new fixed base operator.

The board went into executive session to discuss evaluations and pay for Faucher, Souza, Debbi Applebee and Jeff Hinderliter.