A Rockland man is interested in transforming the Pyro City Maine building into a restaurant. Edgecomb selectmen received a request from businessman Steve Stinson about fire and sewer infrastructure near the former fireworks store. Town officials reported Stinson owns a restaurant, Claws, in Rockland.

Selectmen hired local lawyers Chip Griffin and Bruce Harris to research Davis Island Association’s water and sewer capabilities. On March 7, selectmen approved hiring the two lawyers at $350 per hour capped at 10 hours. “We want them to advise on what our responsibilities are for the pumping station and other components,” Selectman Mike Smith said. 

In other action, as one Freedom of Access Act request ends, another begins. Earlier in the day, a Wiscasset Superior Court judge dismissed the most recent lawsuit filed by resident Timothy Harrington, Smith said. “He didn’t show up so the judge found in our favor,” Smith said. The selectmen said Harrington’s latest lawsuit dated back to his August request for documents. “He received the documents, but he claimed it wasn’t in a timely matter,” Smith said.

The second FOAA request was made by resident Toriann Colby who asked how much money Edgecomb has spent in legal funds. Smith told the selectmen meeting’s audience he asked her to wait until April. “We will have a full board then, and she agreed to wait,” he said. 

Edgecomb has $133,000 in American Rescue Plan Act stimulus funds. Smith said current plans included to pay firefighters for training and response time during the pandemic, retrofitting the town hall with upgrades, and repairing the sand and salt shed. He asked the nearly 30 residents in attendance, in preparation for the budget hearing which followed the meeting, for other projects. Selectmen also added another article to the April 15 special town meeting warrant. The warrant already includes a special election for two selectmen seats. One is the seat Dawn Murray held. Murray resigned, but her term ends in May. The other seat is Ted Hugger’s. Hugger will resign on April 15. His unexpired term still has over two years remaining.

The new warrant article reads “Shall the town vote to appropriate $5,641 from the Edgecomb Waterfront Committee Fund for the harbor master’s budget?  The request includes $2,000 for the Harbor Master, $500 for the assistant harbor master, $191 for the town ‘s share of Medicare and  Social Security taxes, and $2,950 for operational expenses?”

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