There is a new dawn in Edgecomb. First-year Selectman Dawn Murray was elected chairman of the board June 2 by a 2-0 vote. She succeeds Mike Smith who has served as chairman since Jack Sarmanian’s resignation in October.

As chairman, Murray led the discussion about the board’s goals for the upcoming year. Hiring an administrative assistant is one of the short term goals. Smith foresees hiring someone part-time, four days per week. “My term ends in less than three years, and that should be more than enough time to create the position,” he said. Selectmen also want to create a contingency fund for unexpected projects which may pop up from time to time. The town is waiting for $125,000 in federal funding from the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid Relief Economic stimulus) bill. Selectmen believe creating a contingency fund may make them more competitive in state and federal grants. 

The Cod Cove Road community of seven residents was unsuccessful in applying for a ConnectMe broadband grant. Smith reported the successful applicants were for much larger proposals and had municipal financial participation. “This was our first time and we learned a great deal of the process,” he said. “We need to find out if our lack of matching funds made a difference in the application scoring. If so, this contingency fund would be great for those projects.”

Selectmen want to look into the future by holding another Edgecomb 251 public forum in July. The town was incorporated in 1774, and 2024 is its 250th anniversary. Town leaders want to consider what the future may look like, hence Edgecomb 251, with another forum. The town had the first one prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Selectmen believed the time was right for another public discussion at either Edgecomb Eddy School or town hall now that public gathering regulations have loosened.

Selectmen also discussed the possibility of further expanding Wiscasset Water District’s operation in Edgecomb. The district services Davis Island, but Midcoast water officials believe further expansion into Edgecomb would provide region-wide benefits. Wiscasset Water District Superintendent Chris Cossette and Boothbay Region Water District Manager Jon Ziegra explained how expansion into Edgecomb fits into longer term regional water plans. Both Wiscasset and Boothbay water districts are members of the Five Rivers Regional Water Council which also includes Bath, Brunswick/Topsham and Great Salt Bay systems. 

The council’s long range plan is connecting Bath to Boothbay. The water line would run along U.S. Route 1 and up Route 27 through Edgecomb. “Edgecomb has been involved in our capital improvement plans for years. This is part of a long term plan 20 to 50 years in the future,” Ziegra said. Selectman Ted Hugger thought the proposal would benefit business expansion along U.S. Routes 1 and 27. “It’s just something that makes sense and would be good for business,” he said. 

Edgecomb plans on future discussions with Cossette and Ziegra about the proposal. Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, June 14 in the town hall.