Not only does Edgecomb have a full-time fire chief, but it also has an official municipal fire department. On July 1, residents voted 21-6 to establish an ordinance creating a municipal fire department. The proposed ordinance was one of four articles on the special town meeting warrant. 

In May, residents approved the move from a part-time to full-time fire chief but defeated two articles regarding fire department salaries. The May warrant called for a $13,300 fire chief salary based on a part-time position, officers were in line for a 15% raise and firefighters’ wages were increasing by $3 per hour. Residents defeated the articles in order to allow selectmen to reassess compensation needs based on a full-time fire chief. 

Article 2 sought voter approval to raise and appropriate $93,203.37 for fire department salaries and the employer’s share of taxes. Residents approved the measure with only two dissenting votes out of nearly 40 residents in attendance. The full-time chief job pays $62,400 annually with no benefits. Department officers and firefighters will not receive an increase. Residents approved compensation as follows: deputy chief, $2,700; captains, $1,200; lieutenants, $600; firefighters, $14,760 (total); clerk, $3,120; and tax share of employment taxes, $6,623.37.

Article 3 sought voter approval for $8,332.11 for firefighter training and the employer’s share of taxes. This measure also received overwhelming voter approval with only two dissenting votes. 

Article 4 created a Town of Edgecomb Fire and Rescue Department Ordinance. The article was approved, 21-16, with significant opposition from the fire department. Selectmen told residents the ordinance was needed to protect the town against liability issues based on town-owned property under the operation of the fire department. Selectman Michael Maxim explained the ordinance should have been established in 1989 when the fire department changed from a volunteer to a municipal department. “It should have had an ordinance when the ‘handshake’ occurred back in the late 80s. But it never did,” he said. “Essentially, the department was operating as a ‘hybrid’ between volunteer and municipal. The town attorney advised us that an ordinance should be in place.”

Fire Chief Roy Potter spoke against enacting the ordinance as currently presented. “I can’t agree with this ordinance for a couple reasons,” he said. “We have a chief and his duties are described in state statute. Another thing that bothers me with no disrespect to the selectmen, but what does the selectboard know about fighting fires and running a fire department. The fire chief answers to the selectboard, but as far as firefighters and operation of the department, they answer to the chief.”

Selectmen told residents the proposed ordinance language couldn’t be changed during the town meeting, but it could be revised after implementation. Selectman Lyn Norgang agreed with Potter on several points, but she believed the ordinance needed adoption. “Until we are legal, we are still vulnerable as a town. So, perhaps, view this as a steppingstone. We need to get to this place whether it has a few warts or not,” she said.

Maxim agreed more work is needed on the new ordinance. He told residents the ordinance lacks a fire chief job description and a personnel policy. Selectmen will continue working on the ordinance amendments later this month.