Paul Gibbons had prepared draft articles for the warrant and had drafted a sewer ordinance. Both of these will require a public hearing and they need to be passed at the same time, as one will not be effective without the other

Joan Fortin reviewed the planned schedule whereby it had been agreed the Town would hold public meetings in October in preparation for a vote by secret ballot on November 2. However, because of timing, a secret ballot could not be taken on November 2 and it will be a lengthy process to schedule another Town Meeting with a secret ballot -- 45 days to call and absentee ballots sent out 30 days before the meeting. Significant costs are involved in a secret ballot -- cost of printing the ballot and staffing the polls all day. She said that time was of the essence inasmuch as contracts and commitments had been made. Without the requirement for a secret ballot, a Special Town Meeting could be called with a notice in the newspaper of a public hearing on the TIF to be held 10 days later and then the Special Town Meeting could be held the same night. She said that with public officials supporting the proposal and with consultants present the requirement for the measure should pass

Paul Gibbons said that piggybacking the interlocal agreements for bringing sewer and water lines from Wiscasset with the TIF might be problematical for the voters. Joan Fortin said she was under the impression that the Town had committed to hold several public meetings on the TIF between October 19 and November 2nd; that it was felt the Town should be doing this rather than the developer; and that the issue had not changed from previous meetings. Paul Gibbons said that voting on election day would have been more likely to draw voters than a Special Town Meeting on another day (where the vote may not be representational) but that was now not possible.

Erin Cooperrider gave a brief history of the public meetings held over a period of two months last spring for ordinance revisions which passed, although not by a huge margin. Rodd Hopper said he thought the Town needed time to explore engineering issues, benefit to the Town, etc. Joan Fortin said that Tom Toye had paid $12,500 for consultants to answer all the questions that the Town might have in order that the public hearings could be scheduled between October 19 and November 2.

Tom Toye said he thought everyone felt this plan was a benefit to the Town with no downside, and the Town’s professionals were brought in to approve the developer’s plans. Edgecomb will be receiving $1 million of infrastructure and the benefit of hooking into the lines without spending a cent. The Inn and Restaurant and development of 30 acres will bring in tax revenue. Rodd Hopper said the downside was the agreement between Wiscasset and Edgecomb.

Paul Gibbons said he and two selectmen had met with Wiscasset’s Town Manager, Town Planner and Manager of the sewer plant. Standards have been established for agreements on water and sewer between towns. Advantages of Wiscasset dealing with Edgecomb rather than with the developer are that Edgecomb would be responsible for line, and it is easier for Edgecomb to get insurance for it than it would be for a developer. The agreement would include the method of metering the flow, an agreement on the type of equipment, pumps and maintenance, the fee to connect initially, and user fees which will be billed on a quarterly basis. Wiscasset will treat Edgecomb as it does it customers in Wiscasset -- the same hookup cost, the same impact fee which is $6.40 per gallon. The impact fee will be paid by Tom Toye all at once and will be reimbursed by the TIF.

Frank Perkins had contacted employers and the school system in Edgecomb to determine the number of employees. The engineers calculate on the basis of those numbers that an additional 31,000 gallons might be needed in the future. Wiscasset has approved 31,000 gallons which is 5% of its capacity. Edgecomb will pay impact fees depending on usage and will pay its share for upgrade of the system in the future if needed. Edgecomb can charge higher user fees than it is being charged by Wiscasset if it desires to. Gibbons said the cost is very reasonable in his experience.

Other conditions of the interlocal agreement are:

• Edgecomb will be responsible for maintenance of the line to Wiscasset.
• Wiscasset must approve the equipment that is installed.
• Wiscasset’s engineer will pick the contractor.
• Wiscasset’s engineers will oversee the construction to see that the lines are installed according to the design.
• Wiscasset has hired Woodard and Curran to oversee the construction.
• Wiscasset will specify the type of metering system.
• The meter will be on Wiscasset’s side of the river.
• Edgecomb will pay all costs for the design of the system which Wiscasset will review. If Woodard and Curran approves it, Wiscasset will approve it.
• If there is infiltration of water into the system, Wiscasset would have to shut off the line.
• If the above happened an alternative would have to be designed.

Tom Toye said the lines will be in a channel covered with riprap on the north side of the bridge (toward Alna). The material of the lines is not affected by salt water and is not likely to be damaged

Paul Gibbons said that in discussions with the Wiscasset Town Manager, it was pointed out that a reciprocal sewer ordinance would be needed. Also discussed was the need for flexibility in dealing with problems such as hiring Wiscasset to deal with them, the advantage of dealing with Edgecomb rather than with an individual who might not always be on hand to report problems immediately. He said that if the Selectmen approve the outline, Edgecomb could go ahead and schedule the public hearings.

Wiscasset very much wants to deal with Edgecomb and thinks this arrangement is a good deal. The more users Wiscasset has, the greater its ability will be to get loans. Wiscasset recognizes that with water and sewer on Route 1, Edgecomb will be competing with Wiscasset on commercial development. He said that the negotiations with Wiscasset were easier than any he has had in the past.

In order to meet the notice requirements, the Selectmen voted to hold public informational meetings on the TIF and sewer ordinance at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 23rd and at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 28th. The official public hearing will be held on November 1 at 7:00 p.m. and a vote will be taken at the Town Meeting scheduled for November 4th at 7:00 p.m.