Edgecomb Planning Board Chairman Jack French urged selectmen July 15 to get moving on a developer's request for sewer approval.

Otherwise, selectmen could risk a lawsuit claiming foot-dragging, French said.

Similar suits against selectmen and planning boards have popped up around New England, said French, a lawyer.

“I don't understand why we're making this big issue … I don't want to see the planning board get sued … because of this type of stuff where you go out and fiddle around,” French told selectmen.

Selectmen defended their ongoing efforts to explore a series of sewer issues at the same time as developer Tony Casella is planning a hotel on Route 1. Casella has announced plans have the hotel connect to a pump station belonging to a local homeowners' association.

Selectman Stuart Smith denied stalling on the sewer matter.

“You're completely out of bounds here, Jack,” Smith said. The selectman also repeated his contention that a town ordinance bars the kind of sewer plan Casella has raised.

French disagreed with Smith's interpretation of the ordinance.

Selectmen have been contemplating a special town meeting to request a study of local sewer issues. Those may include how to dole out the approximately 31,000 gallons a day remaining in the town's allowance to send across the Sheepscot River to Wiscasset, board members said.

“We want to make sure we're doing the right thing at the right time, as expediently as we can,” Smith said.

French suggested selectmen approve the sewer request for the hotel, subject to Casella showing his sewer plan is adequate.

The developer, not the town, should pay for any studies needed to comply, French argued. “Why are we asking the voters?”

Selectmen later set a July 29 public hearing on the possible questions to take to an engineering firm. A special town meeting to consider funding the  study could follow in mid-September or earlier, if possible, selectmen said.

The hearing starts at 7 p.m. at town hall.

Crooker firm wins paving deal

Selectmen chose a $475,540 bid from Harry C. Crooker & Sons of Topsham to pave several local roads this year. It was the middle bid of three, including a $465,176 one from Marriners of Rockport and a $481,734 bid from Lane Construction of Washington.

In picking the second-lowest bid, selectmen expressed their satisfaction with the Crooker firm's prior work for the town. “Cross Point Road has been holding up pretty darn well,” Smith said.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or susanjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com.