WILTON — A community sign highlighted with a decorative scene of the town’s lake and mountains recently was installed in front of the Town Office on Weld Street.

Selectmen listened when community members expressed a desire for a sign, Chairman Terry Brann said. 

Board members, Brann, Tom Saviello, Scott Taylor, Russell Black and Paul Gooch each chipped in and split the cost of the $2,000 sign, he said. The sign was created by Signworks in Farmington.

Lettering to announce community events has been ordered, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.

In other business Tuesday, Police Chief Heidi Wilcox told the board there is less crime or less reporting being done than last year as she gave her quarterly report.

The department has remained busy from March through May with “officers handling 162 crime incidents leading to 71 arrests and 664 other calls for service such as property checks, noncriminal matters and vehicle safety enforcement stops,” she said.

Selectman Saviello asked about creating an ordinance to deal with what he terms, “10 percent of the public taking 80 to 90 percent” of the department’s time.

He suggests the town adopt an ordinance similar to one used in a southern Maine town that addresses the need for police officers to return to the same location more than once. When the officers have to go back so many times, they can levy fines, he said.

The board members agreed to consider his goal to have one ready for town voters by next year’s town meeting or at a special town meeting before then.

Currently the department is in the process of filling a full-time vacancy left by Matt Billian.  Officer Brian Lynch has also been called to service with the National Guard and is training to leave for Afghanistan, she said.

The board also unanimously approved the use of $2,800 from the town’s cemetery funds for purchase of new signs for five town cemeteries.

Irish reported that the Department of Transportation has agreed on the location for town signs indicating turns into downtown Wilton. The signs are to be installed soon. Most locations were moved back further from the intersection to alert drivers on Route 2 that the turn is coming up and to not interfere with other signs, she said.

The board agreed to once again offer a barbecue prior to the annual town meeting on June 18. The barbecue begins at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria of Academy Hill School, and the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., she said.

Voting for selectmen positions takes place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, at the town office. Saviello seeks another three year term while Tiffany Maiuri, Chris Krauss and Paul Berkey Jr. are running for the seat vacated by Gooch, who tendered his resignation effective June 18.

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