Edgecomb officials are methodically putting together a plan for replacing a defunct tennis court built in 1974 with federal funds. On Oct. 18, Schmid Preserve Chairman Lisa McSwain updated selectmen about her participation in the search for an outdoor recreational location to satisfy federal replacement guidelines. 

McSwain told selectmen a proposal is under consideration to use a 13-acre Middle Road parcel as part of a plan connecting Schmid Preserve to the River Link Trails which would eventually extend to Canada. The Middle Road property is owned by Alice Abbott. McSwain reported Abbott had offered the parcel to the town for the past three years.

And now town officials are thinking the time may be right to accept. McSwain has also spoken to Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust and Doug Beck of the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry as the federal government’s agent in the matter. McSwain reported Beck and the trust had tentatively approved the proposal. McSwain hadn’t informed Abbott about the proposal, but would seek her input soon.

Under the proposal, the Abbott property would become part of Schmid Preserve. Because a recreational replacement parcel is involved, McSwain reported Beck informed her the federal government would impose conservation guidelines on the entire 766-plus acre preserve. 

This condition left selectmen dumbfounded. They didn’t have a problem with the federal government imposing conservation guidelines on the 13-acre, gifted property, but had serious concerns about federal guidelines on the entire preserve. They wanted to seek an opinion if the Abbott property could remain town property and not be included as part of Schmid Preserve to meet both federal and Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust requirements.

“Giving up control over 766 acres to replace a tennis court doesn’t make sense. I think we need to take a closer look at this,” Selectman Dawn Murray said. Selectman Mike Smith and McSwain said they would contact Beck for clarification on federal guidelines for the replacement proposal.

In other action, selectmen found a replacement for outgoing Code Enforcement Officer Jarrod Pinkham whose resignation took effect Oct. 19. Selectmen nominated resident George Chase who will serve out Pinkham’s one-year term which expires June 30. Chase will also fill the  licensed plumbing inspector and 911 Addressing Officer jobs. Chase isn’t certified by the state as an LPI, but has one year to fulfill the job’s requirements. 

“I’m excited about this,” Chase said. “I’m taking a break from my work, and I have wanted to pursue something like this for years. I’m sure I can meet the state’s requirements within the one-year time frame.”

Chase was recently appointed to the newly reconstituted appeals board. His new job requires he submit an appeals board resignation letter which he did prior to the meeting’s end. 

Murray reported she had submitted federal paperwork required to receive the town’s $133,000 in American Rescue Plan stimulus funds. She reported the funds should be received by Oct. 20. How to spend the stimulus money is a topic for Oct. 25’s town forum. This is the second forum which focuses on the town’s future.

The forum will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Selectmen finalized the forum’s agenda which includes updating residents about the previous forum’s results, a future administrative assistant’s job description, expanding Wiscasset Water District service into the entire town, and municipal measures taken to combat COVID-19’s spread.

“Our goal is getting a  clear direction or feeling from the residents about the future. I hope it results in setting up two committees,” Smith said.  “One, for how to spend the stimulus money and retrofitting the town hall.  The other (committee) would write a job description for an administrative assistant,”  he said.  

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 1.