We don’t usually publish town department heads’ monthly reports in their entirety, or even close. But in the spirit of Wiscasset’s efforts to help inform residents as the town continues toward the wastewater treatment plant’s move off Cow Island, we did this time: Plant Superintendent Robert Lalli’s report was packed, from routine items you might not hear much on — but which the town handles to protect the environment and to meet requirements — to the big, years-long news about the move and whether or not it has to, or should, happen.

Lalli tells about the latest talks with Maine Department of Environmental Protection, including its commissioner. Read all about it. Spoiler: The state still does not want to help upgrade the plant instead, and cannot require it to be moved, but possible serious consequences loom if it isn’t moved.

In other words, the meeting confirmed what the state has been saying for some time and which town leaders have relayed to residents for some time.

The selectboard has tried to figure out how to ensure a well-informed public on all things wastewater as the fundraising and town votes continue toward an eight-digit move. 

To that end of informing the public, the board is empaneling an outreach committee. At wiscasset.gov, the town says: “The Ad Hoc Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Outreach Advisory Committee shall advise and support the Town of Wiscasset in public education and community engagement related to the relocation of the WWTP. The Committee’s work includes facilitating information sharing, coordinating outreach activities, and helping build community consensus toward the selection of a location for a new wastewater treatment facility.”

A lot of work, but the plant move is a lot of money and has drawn concern of environmental and other impacts; voters have already nixed one location previously approved. 

So the helping build consensus part of the committee’s description could be the hardest task for the committee and the town.

We’ll keep reporting on this, and publishing or sometimes publishing Lalli’s monthly reports as we have this week; his and other department heads’ reports are also at wiscasset.gov in selectmen’s meeting packets, usually about every other meeting since the board normally meets twice a month.

The reports are not Entertainment Weekly, but they are highly local and frequently interesting or somewhat interesting: The patrol boat was taken out last month after a report of two kayakers in distress. Turned out, they were not. They were just enjoying the harbor, the harbormaster report read.

So give the town's website a look and, if you haven't already, subscribe at wiscassetnewspaper.com for our free Morning Catch email. We are trying to keep up with the third school budget, all the other November questions, change at the middle high school, and the continuing matter of the sewer plant's future.