3 articles added late will be hand counted
BILL PEARSON
Edgecomb Town Hall. File photo
For the second consecutive year, Edgecomb voters will decide municipal spending through a referendum election. Selectmen opted against a traditional town meeting due to coronavirus concerns, and voters will head to the polls May 21 to decide municipal and school budgets and elect town officers. On April 6, selectmen finalized a 60-article warrant. Polls are open from 1 to 7 p.m.
The proposed combined municipal and school budget is $4,917,732, a $95,315 increase or 1.98%. The Fiscal Year 22 school budget is $3,283,589, a 0.9% decrease. Lower education spending also translates to a lower local school assessment. That decreased from $2,569,806 in Fiscal Year 21 to $2,432,378 or a 5.3% drop.
BILL PEARSON Tue, 02/09/2021 - 4:15pm
Coronavirus or no coronavirus, Edgecomb selectmen will continue signature requirements for town meeting warrant article requests. On Feb. 8, Budget Committee Chairman Jack Brennan requested to waive the requirement due to COVID-19, but all three selectmen favored continuing the practice. Last year, The Community Center in Boothbay Harbor submitted the required 60-70 signatures necessary to seek $2,000 from voters during the annual town meeting. Voters rejected the request. Brennan told selectmen had voters approved the request, the non-profit organization would have been “grandfathered” this year, and not required to seek petition signatures. “I think we should waive the requirement this year,” Brennan said. “Their request letter seems pretty straightforward for our town. The pandemic is still a tentative situation even with mask wearing, social distancing and vaccinations. So in good conscience, I don’t think asking f
BILL PEARSON Sat, 02/06/2021 - 10:00am
Pat Jeremiah, middle, has resigned as an Edgecomb planning board member. Alternate Cory Mullins will succeed her. File photo
A long serving Edgecomb planning board member has resigned. Pat Jeremiah informed Chairman Barry Hathorne she no longer wanted to serve. On Feb. 4, Hathorne told board members “I told her I didn’t want to accept it, but I would.”
On Feb. 7, selectmen will appoint alternate Cory Mullins as a permanent board member and will discuss appointing a new alternate. Edgecomb has five planning board members with two alternates.
In other action, the board approved Scott Larsen’s change of use request. Larsen requested converting the Sheepscot Harbour View Condominium indoor pool room into a residential unit. Larsen sent a letter indicating the condominium board approved the change pending design approval and compliance with association bylaws and local and state regulations. The condominium is at 46 West Islan
BILL PEARSON Sun, 01/24/2021 - 8:00am
The Edgecomb Planning Board approved two applications Jan. 21 including one for a blasting permit. The board voted 3-0 with two abstentions to approve Maine Drilling and Blasting Co.’s request for a five-day blasting permit, starting Jan. 25. Barry Hathorne, Jack French and alternate Cory Mullins voted for approval. Rebbeca Graham and Gretchen Burleigh-Johnson abstained because they did not receive the emailed application prior to the meeting. The blasting is for Maine Drilling and Blasting’s client Reggie Bergeron’s property at 5 Emerson Lake Road.
In a letter, Maine Drilling and Blasting described the blasts as necessary for establishing a house foundation and utility poles. “It will not exceed established levels of ground vibrations and limits that could cause damage,” read the letter from pre-blast specialist Jim Thomas.
BILL PEARSON Wed, 12/16/2020 - 8:15am
In 2020, COVID-19 resulted Edgecomb first postponing its annual town meeting to August, then changing to a referendum municipal election. On Dec. 14, selectmen discussed holding another referendum-style meeting in May 2021 due to a continuing rise in COVID-19 numbers. Selectmen must decide prior to March 15 in order to meet deadlines for absent ballots. Chairman Mike Smith believes a referendum format is the best way to combat COVID-19 health concerns.
“The way things are going we need to have a conversation about what kind of town meeting to have. Last year, the referendum had a larger turnout, and I don’t think that would be replicated with a town meeting. And I don’t know how we could hold a town meeting with 80 to 150 people,” he said.