‘Holy cannoli’: $15K gift for Parks and Rec
SUSAN JOHNS
File photo
If Wiscasset voters agree in June, selectmen will have a committee explore options for the school department’s future. The warrant article arose from two split votes on Zoom Tuesday night, March 16.
Selectmen rejected 3-2 a proposed question Town Manager Dennis Simmons offered. Its scope aligned with residents Judith Colby and William Maloney’s proposal that started this year’s talks. Simmons’ proposed question read: “Shall the Town authorize the Selectmen to form an ad hoc committee to study the financial impact of the Wiscasset School Department discontinuing to offer grades 9-12 and offer those students tuition at a local school of their choice.”
Wiscasset Town Manager Dennis Simmons. File photo
Wiscasset Selectmen’s Chair Pam Dunning announced Tuesday night, Town Manager Dennis Simmons is six months in and no longer probationary. The whole board is “ecstatic, pretty much, with his performance to date,” Dunning said. “The entire board is very happy (and he) is going to continue with us for a very long time, we are hoping. Not letting him go.”
The announcement live on Zoom and YouTube followed a half hour virtual executive session Simmons arranged for the board in a breakout room. In there, each selectman spoke and Simmons shared some challenges and how he managed them, Dunning reported back in open session afterward. Simmons started last July after John O’Connell resigned.