WOODSTOCK — In an effort to be proactive, Woodstock selectmen hope to meet with the town’s SAD 44 directors to talk about the future of the Woodstock Elementary School, particularly relating to maintenance.
They discussed the topic at last week’s selectmen’s meeting.
Chairman Ron Deegan, noting that the town mil rate went up 1.5 mils this year, said he wanted to make sure funds would go toward keeping the school in good shape.
A significant portion of the tax increase was due to the SAD 44 budget, the town officials said.
Deegan said he had noticed that some wooden parts of the 37-year-old brick school are in poor condition.
“I’m concerned about closing the school,” he said. “I don’t want the reason to be it’s not maintained.”
Bob McQueeney agreed, saying it was important to make sure Woodstock didn’t end up like West Paris. The SAD 17 school board has taken steps to permanently close the old Agnes Gray School in that town due to its poor condition.
“We pay our share,” said McQueeney. “We want to make sure our investment is being taken care of.”
SAD 44 has given no official indication that closing the school is on the horizon.
Grange, WFD
In other business at last week’s meeting, McQueeney updated the board on the work of the Grange Committee, which is studying options for the late-19th century building in Bryant Pond Village. He said the group plans to bring those options to the annual Town Meeting in 2025.
McQueeney said it has been proving difficult to get estimates to either bring the building up to code or to tear it down.
He noted there could be asbestos and lead paint in the structure, compounding and raising the price for either option.
The selectmen also approved a plan to employ a cost recovery company to handle town insurance claims against drivers who are involved in vehicle accidents that consume more than four hours of the Fire Department’s time. Town ordinance stipulates that in such situations the WFD file a claim to cover its costs.
Currently, Chief Kyle Hopps handles that. The company would charge $75 per claim to take over that responsibility. The town officials said it would take the burden off Hopps at a reasonable price.
The board also voted to take $23,494 from the wind farm fund to purchase a new digital sign for outside the town office. It would be 3 feet by 6 feet, larger than the current 2 by 6 sign that no longer lights up correctly.
The selectmen also started reviewing numbers for the 2025 town budget.
Selectman Jeff Campbell was unable to attend the meeting.
The board meets next Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. at the town office.