After an hour of discussion and two changes to the original question, Edgecomb voters agreed to proceed with the engineering study of the wastewater pumping station, voting by secret ballot, 15 to 6 in favor at a special town meeting Nov. 18.
Resident Jarryl Larson raised concern the article lacked specifics details of what the town is asking the engineering firm of Woodard and Curran to cover in the study. Larson said the warrant article should have had more detail. “I don’t know what you are asking for,” Larson said.
Town Clerk Claudia Coffin told Larson a lot of warrant articles are written without specifics and questions are usually brought up at town meeting. “The discussion begins now,” said Coffin.
Selectman Stuart Smith said the board held two public informational meetings in which the scope of the study was discussed. Smith said topics discussed included an allocation study, estimates of the build-out of the Davis Island infrastructure, future needs of the sewer district, and a possible new pumping station location and design.
Larson referenced a similar study performed in 2008 in which a lot of the same topics are addressed. However, Stuart said residents have told the board of selectmen the town needs to know the current condition of the infrastructure.
Resident Jeff Musich said he supported the study and entrusted the selectmen to determine what the study should include. However, Musich did make the motion to amend the article to not exceed $25,000. Musich said he hoped the new study would not duplicate cost for work already done in 2008.
The second amendment, suggested by Dave Boucher, excluded private systems from the study. Boucher said he didn’t think the town’s money should be spent on inspecting a private system.
“My taxes are high enough already. I don’t want to pay any more if we don’t need to,” Boucher said.
According to Smith, Edgecomb’s taxes will not be affected by the money allocated for the study as it will be taken from the tax increment financing fund.
Voters unanimously approved taking $6856.19 from the surplus account to pay interest due on the road reconstruction loan. Selectman Jack Sarmanian said this is a result of a higher interest rate than anticipated. “Due to our fine federal government,” Sarmanian said.
Moderator Chip Griffin told Edgecomb voters he was very impressed with how focused and respectful they were during the meeting.
