Dresden selecttmen on Monday finished reorganizing the town office by elevating Administrative Assistant Michael Henderson to town administrator.

The change will give him supervisory control and the ability to conduct evaluations of the hired office staff, said Selectman Trudy Foss. “This will allow him to make judgment calls on his own,” said Foss. Selectmen will retain the power to hire and fire employees. Henderson will take over the job of treasurer, she said.

Foss announced the hiring of Susan Carver of Richmond as town clerk. She said Carver has worked in the office of an attorney, but not previously as a town clerk. “She has a good history. She is very personable,” said Foss. Foss said Carver will be trained on the job by Henderson and Tax Collector Ann Pierce. Henderson said Carver will be taking Maine Municipal Association training classes as early as July 22. “She will have to take the classes,” said Foss.

Selectmen accepted the written resignation of elected Town Clerk Shirley Storkson, effective June 24. The hired staff will  start July 2.

In other business, Henderson said he will invite Wiscasset officials to talk about whether or not Dresden should be liable for uncollectible ambulance fees. Henderson said it was unclear if the town was responsible for them as part of the three-year contract with Wiscasset Ambulance Service. “It was not written clearly,” said Henderson. “They sent us a bill for $6,900.”

Selectman Gerald Lilly said Wiscasset was still cheaper than alternative services. 

Dan and Sherry Moody said there was an immediate need to hire someone to mow the grass at Forest Hill Cemetery. The town took over the cemetery’s maintenance from the cemetery association at the annual town meeting. “Most of the cemetery committee people had died,” said Sherry Moody.

Dan Moody said the job required 20-24 hours of mowing and trimming each cutting. “You have to have somebody who is responsible,” said Moody.

Selectmen said several people had shown interest in the job.

The board approved contracts with Midcoast Humane; Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for animal control;  and Code Enforcement Officer James Valley; agreed to meet with Goodall Landscaping at the end of the current contract next April to discuss several complaints about the quality of snowplowing service this past winter;  ratified the election of Fire Chief Steve Lilly and Assistant  Fire Chief Michael Nylen; and appointed Peter Lincoln, Joe Wiley and Jeff Pierce to work out details for proposed improvements to the public landing on the Eastern River.