The new year signals a start to a new legislative session, and Edgecomb’s select board updated its state representative, Rep. Holly Stover, about local important issues. On the Jan. 25 Zoom conference, Selectman Dawn Murray discussed the impact of unfunded mandates on the school committee. Chairman Mike Smith had concerns about road conditions, especially state Route 27 and U.S. Route 1. Selectman Ted Hugger had two questions impacting local businessmen like him. Hugger owns Cod Cove Inn in Edgecomb and Cedar Crest Inn in Camden. Prior to attending the board meeting, Hugger saw a televsion news report about the state considering taxing the Paycheck Protection Program and other federal stimulus funds.

“The optics on this are really bad. The federal money used by businesses, like mine, were to keep employees on the job, lights on and remain in operation. Nobody made money on this, in fact, we are losing our shirts. This is shortsighted and unfair,” Hugger said. Stover told him the time was not right for tax increases. “I haven’t seen this report, but I will look into it,” she said. “An additional tax burden is something none of us can afford.”

Hugger also urged the legislature to start meeting again so the two chambers could govern in concert with the governor. “What really concerns me is the legislature isn’t in session. This leaves the administrative branch unsupervised without debate and considering alternative policies. We have closed storefronts and hotels and inns may never reopen. We need some honest deliberative debate and strong legislative guidance,” he said.

Murray drew from her experience as a former Edgecomb School Committee member. She recounted how expensive federal mandates devoted to one or two students limited what a small community could spend on other educational resources for the entire enrollment. Prior to the pandemic, federal mandates required Edgecomb to pay for education and transportation for a special needs student to a southern Maine school. Another mandate required Edgecomb to transport a homeless family’s children between Bath and the school.  “The system is failing us,” Murray said. “This is a 1,100-household community and these mandates are too expensive,’ she said. 

Smith discussed how Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens drew 22,000 visitors this winter for Gardens Aglow and the increased traffic had taken a toll on both state Route 27 and U.S. Route 1. “Our roads our taking a beating and we need you to contact the DOT (Department of Transportation). I don’t think another peninsula has the amount of traffic we experience,” he said. Smith also had concerns about broadband access. He discussed how one resident has no internet access and broadband was limited in town. “If you address the broadband issue, I think the road condition could wait. This is an issue which needs immediate assistance,” Smith said. 

Stover reported prior to the questions she is interested in expanding broadband access to rural areas. “Now we are seeing so many students, whether they are high school or college, are learning remotely, so broadband access is more important than ever before,” she said. She also agreed to write a letter supporting a Cod Cove Farm Road subdivision’s seeking of a ConnectME grant. Resident Jack Dexter attended the Zoom conference and asked for the legislator’s support.  Stover also reported some news from the state capitol. She is serving on the Health and Human Services and Government Oversight committees. Stover said Gov. Janet Mills is proposing an additional $45 million in general purpose assistance for public kindergarten through grade 12 education and a slight increase in municipal revenue sharing (from 51.78% to 51.83). “I know that doesn’t sound like much, but it does keep us moving forward by taking baby steps to where we should be,” Stover said.

The selectmen had another guest, Wiscasset Water District Superintendent Chris Cossette for his annual meeting with town officials. Smith was concerned about an increase in the next year’s rate structure. Cossette reported the district had absorbed cost increases and a rate increase was likely.  “We are still working on the numbers and I will let you know when they are in,” he said.

In other action, selectmen agreed to seek town hall painting requests for proposals. Smith volunteered to gather them and report back at a later meeting. The town received correspondence from Maine Local Road Center, an MDOT community service division.The center is holding a lottery for a radar speed center trailer. The lottery is for municipalities in Lincoln, Knox, Sagadahoc and Kennebec counties to use for two weeks, promoting traffic safety. Selectmen will apply next month. 

Municipal Website Committee member Janet Blevins reported, the death of former member Don Kroitzsch has caused problems in making changes to the website. Officials cannot add Murray’s municipal email account to the website because the Google security requires two-factor authorization from Kroitzsch’s cell phone. “We don’t know what to do,” Blevins said. “Not sure if Google can help us, or if we need to start from scratch.”

Selectmen adjourned with the intent of reconvening on Jan. 26 for an executive session discussing the potential sale of a Lallis property portion. Selectmen will meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8 via Zoom conference.