The poor condition of Welchville Dam in Oxford threatens water levels in Hogan and Whitney ponds. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat
OXFORD — Town Manager Adam Garland advised selectmen Thursday that the west screen for the Thompson Lake dam has been constructed and is ready for installation.
He said he is working with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
“The warden dive team is interested in doing the install,” Garland said. “The center fish screen was engineered by the last manager … to set it up but (DIF&W) has made some suggestions on the potential weight, that having it in three different sections will make it a lot easier to manage. I thought it was a great suggestion so I reached out to the engineer and he will modify the design by late summer or early fall.”
Garland said he will meet with the engineer about the Welchville dam next month. He expects plans will be ready to present to selectmen by their Aug. 5 meeting, including the alternative to add grading controls instead of repairing or replacing the dam.
Garland also told selectmen that after requesting proposals from commercial brokers to list the town office building on Pleasant Street, he will list it with Patrick Casalinova of The Fletcher Group in Portland.
Selectman Floyd Thayer asked why there was no appraisal done first.
Garland said Casalinova is sending him a list of appraisers he can contact to solicit proposals. It will take several weeks so the building will be listed for the first 30 days without a price. If any offers come in right away they can consider them with no obligation to accept any.
Police Chief Michael Ward reported that the department has been shorthanded and, along with Garland, proposed amending the town’s personnel policy to grant waivers for relatives to be able to work in some departments. One officer left at the beginning of 2021 but would like to return. In the meantime a sibling had been hired so the former employee cannot be rehired under the town policy.
All selectmen voiced support for changing the policy for departments that do not handle finances on a case by case basis, along with stipulations, including that one could not supervise the other.
Selectman Scott Hunter pointed out that in May and June the department has paid out $8,100 in overtime because there are not enough patrolmen.
Selectman Dana Dillingham said it would be preferable for relatives to work opposite shifts unless there are extenuating circumstances.
All agreed rehiring the officer, who was not named, would be preferable to sending a recruit to the police academy. The department has one recruit enrolled in the next academy session starting in August.
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