On May 18, Edgecomb residents will consider changing from a part-time to full-time fire chief. On April 3, selectmen included the proposal as article No. 18 on the May town meeting warrant. Even though it’s on the warrant, the article is one of five on which selectmen placed a “select board does not recommend” comment.

During the April 16 selectmen’s meeting, the board discussed an email from Fire Chief Roy Potter who wondered “why there is no information as far as the new fire chief position? What happens if it’s approved? The salary should be listed so voters know the cost if it is voted for.”

Town Clerk Claudia Coffin checked with Maine Municipal Association about the article’s wording. She told selectmen MMA responded, “it’s OK, but unusual.” All three selectmen – Mike Smith, Michael Maxim and Lyn Norgang – reached a consensus on not recommending article 18 along with three other fire department-related proposals and one school committee proposal. Smith said No. 18 wasn’t proposed by the board and was placed on the warrant in deference to Potter’s long service.

“Out of respect to his 20 years of service and this being our 250th anniversary, we thought the subject should be debated,” Smith said. “These four articles and one by the school committee will shape the town’s future. If the town wants to have a full-time fire chief and fund the school at the proposed level, we should have that discussion.”

Selectmen opposed creating a full-time fire chief position because there are too many unanswered questions. “The article’s wording is vague for a reason. It doesn’t stipulate when it starts or how much the pay is. This is a new position and a tremendous amount of conversation still needs to happen,” Smith said.

Three other fire department proposed articles also resulted in “select board does not recommend.” Article 19 which seeks authorization  to expend, raise and appropriate $57,511 for salaries and share of employer’s taxes received the same non-endorsement as did article 20: to see if the town will appropriate from surplus $17,220 for firefighter training and $1,317 for employer’s share of taxes. Article 21 also received selectmen’s non-enforsement. No. 21 reads “to see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate $33,136 for the fire truck reserve fund.” Selectmen proposed $20,000 for that fund. 

“We didn’t agree with increases with their funding levels for (fire) officers’ pay. They proposed a 15% increase. We support 7% which is what the teachers are getting. We also didn’t agree with their increases for hourly training,” Smith said.

Town warrant and meeting

The only school committee article which received a “select board does not recommend” is No. 66. The article would appropriate up to $200,000 from the unassigned balance fund (surplus) for placement in a student expense reserve. The committee could expend funds from contingency reserve as it deems appropriate upon receiving majority approval from selectmen. Selectmen objected to the school committee proposal due to cost. “We were challenged by the amount they were asking for,” Smith said. “Justified? Possibly, but it’s such a big number. One of the most troubling lines is the ability to hire staff. It dates back to a conversation we had four years ago. We weren’t comfortable with that back then.”

This will be the first open town meeting in four years. Beginning in 2020, the coronavirus caused a state of emergency requiring both the municipal and education town meeting warrant articles to be decided in a referendum vote. Last year, the state of emergency was lifted. Selectmen still opted for a referendum vote, but state statute requires a public school budget vote. “It’s back to an open town meeting. We had 170 vote by referendum last year, and I hope we have a big turnout. We will be there to debate and defend our budget,” Smith said.

Veteran banners and Schmid Preserve

In other action, selectmen are concerned about hanging veterans’ banners next month. Last year, American Legion Post 36 began a three-year pilot program honoring local veterans in Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport. Banners with veterans’ photographs were placed in prominent positions throughout the four towns. 

But Edgecomb selectmen have concerns with the plan’s logistics. Last fall was the program’s trial run. In May, the banners will be re-hung by Memorial Day and continue until Veterans’ Day. Program organizers asked each town to hang the banners. Smith said he supports the program, but unlike Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb isn’t equipped to hang the banners. He added, Route 27 also made the project especially challenging due to high speeds. “We don’t have a public works department and Southport has Gerry (Gamage, a selectman) who has access to a bucket loader. You really need someone who has a bucket loader to do this,” Smith said.

Selectmen are considering sending a letter to Post 36 asking them to find an outside person or organization better suited to hanging the Edgecomb banners. 

Selectmen agreed to use $6,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to assist the Schmid Preserve Advisory Committee’s bordering project. Lisa McSwain is the preserve’s chairman. She told selectmen the project would begin this fall. Selectmen are also working with the committee on finding a solution to a discontinued road’s condition. The road provides access to the preserve. “We have to fix it. It’s the worst it’s ever been,” McSwain said.

Selectmen appointed two new Schmid Preserve Advisory Committee members. Rebecca Schaffner and Laura Lubelczyk will serve until June 26, 2026.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 in the town hall.