WELLS — The Town of Wells recently celebrated the contributions of its nearly 400 volunteers at the 5th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Sept. 13. About 120 people attended this year’s event that was held at the newly renovated Johnson Hall Museum at 2713 Post Road in Wells.

In addition to a program that included department heads who spoke on all the benefits of having volunteers as board, committee, and program members, Selectman Karl Ekstedt presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Charles “Chuck” Millian.

Millian started as a volunteer on several committees in the mid-1980s and became a member of the Site Review Board in 1991 (25 years ago). The Site Review Board merged with the Planning Board in November of 1993; Millian has been on the board ever since, including approximately 17 to 18 years as the chairman. When asked what he liked most about his volunteer experience, Millian said, “I enjoy trying to make the town a better place to live in and a better place to be.”

During the fiscal year that ended in June, members of the Wells Volunteer Force contributed nearly 9,000 hours to the town of Wells on a myriad of boards, committees, and programs. This equates to more than $200,000 (based on 2015 average dollar value of volunteer time) of savings to the town.

“The contribution of knowledge, skills and abilities donated to the town goes well beyond a dollar figure,” according to press release from Town Manager Jon Carter. “The feeling of doing something good for our residents and our environment is truly why our volunteers are out and about in our town almost daily in one capacity or another. Whether it’s on a board, like the members of our Personnel Advisory Board, or a committee, like the members of our Harbor Advisory Committee, or one of our programs such as the Piping Plovers or Healthy Beaches, our volunteers are committed to making Wells the best place to live, work, and play.”