Edgecomb selectmen expressed concern Sept. 23 over the recently negotiated contract for local teachers.

Mike Smith called attention to the new three-year contract that gives teachers  a 2.75% increase each year. “We hope administrative costs are less by the time this contract expires in 2022,” Smith said. “The school has to be able to stand alone without tuition students. Teachers and the school committee need to keep that in mind.”

The contract calls for a current starting salary of $43,950, increasing to $45,245 the following year and $47,245 in 2021-22. “If the state gave us the money they are supposed to, it wouldn’t be such a challenge,” Smith said.

Ted Hugger agreed. He said selectmen found out about the contract in the newspaper and they should have been informed by the superintendent’s office as negotiations progressed. “We felt that the only people who weren’t represented at that table were the taxpayers,” he said. “This growth is not sustainable in a small town.”

“The increases in this year’s taxes are due to the school budget,” Selectmen’s Chair Jack Sarmanian said. “There was no control over the increase due to the school.”

Also at the meeting, resident Tom Boudin asked to become a member of the waterfront committee. Boudin said his goal is to provide public access to the water for those who don’t have their own. He told selectmen he spoke with Doug Beck who oversees grants for Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands. Boudin mentioned use of the town’s Woodend fund for expenses associated with an access area.

Smith replied that the town needs to determine whether it can use property it owns or it needs to buy new property to comply with the terms from an earlier tennis court grant. Selectmen agreed to contact the town’s attorney.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7 at the town office.