Coronavirus or no coronavirus, Edgecomb selectmen will continue signature requirements for town meeting warrant article requests. On Feb. 8, Budget Committee Chairman Jack Brennan requested to waive the requirement due to COVID-19, but all three selectmen favored continuing the practice. Last year, The Community Center in Boothbay Harbor submitted the required 60-70 signatures necessary to seek $2,000 from voters during the annual town meeting. Voters rejected the request. Brennan told selectmen had voters approved the request, the non-profit organization would have been “grandfathered” this year, and not required to seek petition signatures. “I think we should waive the requirement this year,” Brennan said. “Their request letter seems pretty straightforward for our town. The pandemic is still a tentative situation even with mask wearing, social distancing and vaccinations. So in good conscience, I don’t think asking for signatures is right.”

Selectmen briefly discussed the request before reaching agreement to continue with the requirement. “We still require signatures for municipal candidates, so I don’t see why not require signatures for warrant articles,” Selectman Dawn Murray said. Brennan indicated he would notify The Community Center officials of the board’s decision. “We need to let them know and I will check with the town office on how many signatures they need,” he said.

In other action, selectmen authorized using $1,600 from the legal fund for Schmid Preserve’s grant application. Maine Forestry Service is seeking applications for a Canopy Grant. Schmid Preserve Board President Lisa McSwain told selectmen the board is seeking a $7,200 grant which requires a $3,600 match. McSwain reported the grant would go  toward the preserve’s first management plan in nearly two decades. The board is seeking town assistance because they only have $2,000 for a possible match.  “I don’t want to put a lot of time into this application if we can't guarantee the match,” she said. 

Selectmen also reported they had reached a deal to sell 33.7 acres of the Lallis property. Selectmen will provide more details when the sale is finalized. 

Selectmen appointed new members to the planning and Schmid Preserve boards. Cory Mullins was promoted from alternate to a full planning board member. He succeeds Pat Jeremiah, who resigned last month. Mullins’ term expires in June. Rebecca Schaffner received an appointment to the Schmid Preserve Board. She fills Jim Beam’s unexpired term. 

Selectmen authorized a $21,250 property valuation reduction for Katherine and Jeffrey Dempski. This resulted in a $381.18 abatement in their 2020 property tax bill. Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 via Zoom conference. Chairman Mike Smith ended the Feb. 8 meeting stating he hoped in-person meetings would return in March.