Edgecomb selectmen are in the final stages of putting the annual town report together. On Feb. 7, recording secretary Barbara Brennan volunteered to coordinate all the department heads’ letters for the town report. Selectmen appointed member Mike Smith to draft a letter for inclusion. In two weeks, the full board will review his work prior to publication. Brennan reported the town report would be ready by mid-March. 

In other action, Smith reported about the budget committee’s meeting with Road Commissioner Scott Griffin. He is responsible for road conditions and has a separate five-year snowplowing agreement with the town. “He is asking for a 3% increase for maintenance and is contracted for an automatic 1.5% plowing increase. With rising material costs, the committee seemed pretty comfortable with those numbers,” he said. 

Board Chairman Dawn Murray reported she will have more information in March on American Rescue Plan Act stimulus guidelines. Edgecomb qualified for $133,287 in funding and, so far, has received half. Murray told selectmen she will attend a March 2 Maine Municipal Association Zoom conference on COVID-19 related stimulus spending. “I will send you notes afterwards, and we can discuss how to spend the money at our March 7 meeting,” she said. 

Murray is also taking the lead in the board’s second “Meet and Greet” scheduled from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 12. In December, selectmen hosted the first “Meet and Greet” at the town office. Murray moved to Edgecomb four years ago. She served on the school board prior to becoming a selectman in 2020. Murray proposed the event so new residents, like herself, could meet one another and longtime community members.

“It sounds like a great way to discuss the town meeting warrant while having a coffee,” Smith said. 

Selectmen briefly discussed a recent state notice on a new program for erradicating Brown Tail Moths. In 2021, overwintering webs were found in every county in Maine except York. According to the state, Lincoln along with Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Sagadahoc and Waldo had the highest populations last year. 

Selectmen didn’t recall seeing a large infestation last season. “It was a couple years ago when they were everywhere,” Smith said. “So we should keep this in mind if they return.”

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the town hall.