RICHMOND — Selectmen meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Town Office to consider a proposed contract for ambulance services for the town.

The proposal would keep the town’s ambulance service provided from Topsham by North East Mobile Health Services, a private ambulance company which has had the town’s ambulance contract since 2009.

Selectmen also are scheduled to:

* discuss establishing a committee for a community garden;

* accept the resignation of Robin Thayer on the Regional School Unit 2 School Board;

* adopt new general-assistance maximum benefit levels to reflect new state rules;

* consider allowing a “bring your own bottle” event for fundraising purposes at the American Legion; and

* discuss selling the Public Works Department’s International truck to Holbrook Excavating Inc.

Fire and Rescue earns high honor

GARDINER — The Gardiner Fire and Rescue Department has been recognized as a Platinum Level Heartsafe Community through the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council.

Gardiner Fire Chief Mike Minkowsky said the Platinum Level is the highest of the three recognition levels. He said only departments that guarantee a paramedic at every call are eligible for the Platinum Level recognition.

A Heartsafe Community has four critical steps in place as part of the “chain of survival”: early access to emergency care, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, early defibrillation and advanced care.

The department’s public wellness coordinator, Meagan Breau, is in charge of the public outreach program for Gardiner and surrounding communities. Outreach programs include CPR instruction, wellness check clinics, and Vial of Life information.

Breau was responsible for the data collection and application process necessary to receive the Platinum Level designation.

Gardiner Fire and Rescue provides paramedic level EMS services for Gardiner, West Gardiner, Litchfield, Farmingdale, Chelsea, Randolph and Pittston.

Hallowell center hires new coordinator

AUGUSTA — Lynn Boardway has been hired as the new Adult DayBreak coordinator at Spectrum Generations’ Cohen Community Center in Hallowell.

Boardway’s duties will be to manage the adult day program. Adult day care is a program in which older or disabled adults who may need some structure and support because of cognitive or physical problems can enjoy each other’s company.

The Adult DayBreak program aims to provide a safe environment where caregivers can take their loved ones and be assured that they are safe and comfortable during the day while the caregivers are at work or need time for themselves.

Boardway has degrees in gerontology and social work, and she brings with her 28 years of experience as a licensed social worker.

For more information about the Adult DayBreak program, contact Boardway at 626-7777 or via email at [email protected].

Augusta planners consider courthouse

AUGUSTA — Proposals to alter zoning to allow a planned new courthouse project to move forward, and a pre-application review for the courthouse project itself, go to the Planning Board tonight.

Planners are also scheduled to consider renewing mineral extraction licenses for two pits owned by McGee Construction, one of which has previously drawn complaints from neighbors.

The Maine Governmental Facilities Authority is seeking to build a new, 120,000-square-foot Kennebec County courthouse at the site of the current courthouse, off Winthrop, Perham and Court streets.

The applicant submitted a pre-application which city planners are scheduled to review at their meeting at 7 p.m. in the lecture hall at Augusta City Center.

Mineral extraction permit renewals have been requested for two McGee pits in Augusta, one on West River Road, the other on Sanford Road.

The West River Road pit has been the subject of numerous complaints over the past five years, according to Matthew Nazar, deputy development director. Many of those complaints were related to an asphalt plant that has since moved out of the pit. Asphalt plants are no longer allowed at the site due to a city zoning change.

From local reports