In a two-to-one split during their Monday night meeting, the Edgecomb Board of Selectmen agreed to send a letter of support for a Wiscasset bypass route to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). The board also discussed the upcoming municipal budget process, as well as a proposal by residents for the town to have a five member board of selectmen.
Selectman John Johnson decided not to sign the letter submitted to the ACOE signed by Selectmen Jack Sarmanian and Stuart Smith, which designates the route so-named N8C as the more preferred bypass route proposed by the Dept. of Transportation to divert traffic around Wiscasset.
The three options for bypassing downtown Wiscasset, so named “N2A”, “N2F” and “N8C”, cross the Sheepscot River at northern, middle and southern sections respectively, above the Wiscasset – Edgecomb Davey Bridge.
The letter addressed to Jay Clement of the New England District of ACOE states, “The Town of Edgecomb supports (previously sent to you 651 letters from Edgecomb residents and taxpayers) a Wiscasset bypass route that increases public safety, enhances mobility, and provides a net improvement to the environment to the greatest extent possible. Any bypass constructed must be the most efficient in traffic diversion with the least impacts on both the built and the natural environments.”
The N8C route indicated in the letter is by Johnson’s description the “long bridge route,” which he decided not to support. He said he, along with Bypass Task Force members from Wiscasset, is unopposed to the preferred DOT route called N2A, which is the proposed northernmost route bypassing the town of Wiscasset.
State funding cut from the town’s school budget, which translates itself to cuts at the Edgecomb Eddy School, amounting to roughly $75,000 for the current year, according to selectmen. They said the school also anticipates approximately $220,000 cut in state funding from next year’s school budget. Selectmen are concerned costs not covered by the state will be absorbed by taxpayers.
Selectman Jack Sarmanian reported there is still federal funding available to towns for infrastructure costs. He has been researching grant opportunities to help fund a new fire station project. The estimated cost discussed among selectmen was $600,000.
“Something has got to be done, but $600,000 is going to be a tough sell,” Selectman John Johnson said.
During a conversation with Fire Chief Roy Potter about the fire department’s annual report, Sarmanian said the plan is, “not $600,000 or bust.” Rather, the plan among committee members researching grant funding is to find out what project would be feasible.
Potter said the fire department needs to obtain an Internet connection and register some trucks, in addition to a new fire station.
He said some volunteer firefighters are filing reports as required by NIMS from their homes and would like a department Internet connection to help with the reports. The trucks, engine number five and a tanker truck, are both insured, but need to be registered.
Potter anticipates someone from the Dept. of Labor will conduct a station inspection. Selectmen have said the fire department building is in tough shape and needs to be replaced, but the town voted to pay for minor repairs last year. The station has a new door, selectmen said, and the town spent $5000 last year to shore up the fire station roof.
Larson also mentioned a town web directory she has been putting together with her husband, Byron Johnson. Larson prompted an inquiry from Sarmanian when she took a picture of the board and replied she was collecting photographs of all town selectmen for the web page. The directory includes business locations, information and links, as well as other information relating to the town of Edgecomb. The website is: www.edgecombme.com.
At the start of the Monday night discussion, Selectman Johnson said he was frustrated by the formation of committee rules and discussions being held without communicating with the Board of Selectmen.
“There’s no anger about it,” he said. “I’m just surprised.”
In the email from Cameron and Larson that includes the draft, Cameron states they have been pondering whether or not the town ought to have more than just three selectmen.
The letter states, “Considering the number of new activities and the increased intricacies of even the most familiar activities carried out by our elected town officers, and considering the demands of personal lives upon our pool of candidates, we agreed between us that increasing the board from three members to five was preferable than moving to a town manager.”
Selectman Stuart Smith said Edgecomb does not need a town manager. Board members however agreed the fact they are not allowed to meet outside of regularly scheduled meetings is inhibitive.
“This inability to communicate is borderline ridiculous,” Sarmanian said.
The board will meet with Larson and Cameron next week to further discuss the possibilities. Cameron said they had removed the section of the document stipulating residents would vote by secret ballot.
The proposed expansion of the board would allow two board members to meet without violating public information laws. It is intended to reduce stress on individual board members by spreading out the burdens placed on the board as a whole. The proposal also suggests it would ensure balanced discussion of issues before being brought to a vote and to ensure continuity when board membership changes.
