Selectman Mike Smith has often compared sending refuse to a landfill to “burying it in somebody’s backyard.” He has concerns about the long-term negative environmental impact it has on the planet. In 2016. Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District contracted with Fiberight, a new biomass plant in Hampden, to accept the district’s trash. Edgecomb is one of four BRRDD members. But in the ensuing years, the district has sent its trash to a Norridgewock landfill because the Hampden plant has been plagued by financial and management problems.

On Sept. 6, Edgecomb selectmen queried their district trustee Curt Crosby about plans for reopening the beleaguered plant. Smith had concerns about a deal that fell through, between the Municipal Review Committee and a prospective management group. BRRDD is a member of the committee, which now owns the plant. “It sounds like at least another two years before it’s operational. My personal concern is we will continue disposing our trash into somebody else’s backyard. This is no real solution,” he said.  

Crosby provided selectmen with the district’s relationship with the Hampden facility. The committee has 115 Maine municipality members. Crosby reported the plant is likely “to be operational in a year. It won’t make a profit for two years,” Crosby said. “Other than that, I don’t know any more than what is in the newspapers.”

The MRC had a 25-year relationship with Penobscot Energy Recovery Company in Orrington. PERC is also a biomass plant. In 2016, MRC sought a new partner due to a sharp rise in tipping fees. “If we sent our trash to PERC, it would cost us $150,000 more per year in tipping fees,” Crosby said. 

In other action, Chairman Dawn Murray updated the board about recent Maine Freedom of Access requests. “We’re currently at No. 18 with 17 coming from the same individual and one from the Boothbay Register,” she said. “I anticipate this will be an ongoing issue, but nothing so overwhelming that Barbara (Brennan) and I can’t handle.” Seventeen FOAA requests came from River Road resident Timothy Harrington who requested information pertaining to “pending litigation” with an abutter and a potential property development which would create five to 30 new house lots.

Murray has also been working on finding electronic signs in hopes of slowing traffic down in town, especially on Route 27. She spoke to Dresden officials who recently bought a large electronic sign for a similar purpose. “They spent $20,500 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to buy a sign. Maybe this is what we should do,” she said. Smith proposed posting lawn signs around heavy traffic routes. “A bunch of those signs reading ‘Give us a brake!’ Something like that might work,” he said. 

Besides an electronic sign, Murray is researching the cost for electronic communication equipment for enhanced Zoom conference meetings. Again, she was impressed how Dresden officials used federal COVID stimulus funding. Dresden bought communication equipment for enhanced Zoom conference meetings. “We didn’t get enough money for a new fire truck or lovely new plumbing. But we have enough for enhanced Zoom conferences,” she said. “Dresden spent over $2,500 on a nice electronic setup. They went live with their first select meeting by Zoom so this is something we should think about.”  

Selectmen scheduled a 250th Anniversary Celebration planning meeting from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the town hall. Murray will invite historical society members and school officials to participate in planning the celebration taking place in 2024. “We are encouraging the public to participate in the planning and hope to see a big turnout,” she said. 

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19 in the town hall.