TOWN OF EDGECOMB PUBLIC MEETING
July 16, 2007; 6:00 P.M.

Attended:Jo Cameron; Stuart Smith; John Johnson; Claudia Coffin, Town Treasurer/Clerk; Scott Griffin, Road Commissioner; Byron Johnson, Town Planner; Peter Bathgate, contractor; Barry Hathorne, Northrup Fowler, Janet Blevins, John Markowski, Broadband Committee; Suzanne Carlson, Martha Speed, Troy Hersom, Ruth Davison, Jarryl Larsen, Gretchen Burleigh-Johnson, Eleanor Eide, Roger Bintliff, Jeff Cooper, Barbara Martin, press.

PUBLIC HEARING concerning the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting on July 26:

Stuart will call Ervin Snyder to serve as moderator.

The LD 1 article was explained by Stuart, since the articles in the warrant will increase the Town's budget significantly.

Article 3, appropriating additional funds in the amount $30,000 toward the snow plow contract. Discussion concerned the specific inclusion of a contract to purchase sand and salt. Jo presented material from Lincoln County on the bulk purchase of sand and salt. Peter Bathgate said this was bound to be the lowest price to be found

Martha Speed asked if the Selectmen had chosen a contractor yet, and if a price had been set. John said Edgecomb has been below the contract costs paid by other towns. He reported his talks with the Hagar brothers in Damariscotta.

The Selectmen unanimously voted to accept the following wording for Article 3:

"To see if the Town will vote to use from excise taxes $30,000 for the snow plowing contract, snow removal and road treatment supplies and to contract snow removal for a period of three to five years."

Troy Hersom asked why Articles 4, 5 and 6, concerning the Roads budget, were broken out in separate items. Stuart explained that it was to show clearly where the money was going. In particular, Article 6, to appropriate $20,000 for work on the end of Cross Point Road, was questioned, as to why it was a separate article. The Road Commissioner explained that this work, although for a small distance, would cost easily half the full Roads budget, so that it was better to set it as a separate line item with its own budget.

Article 7 amends the Edgecomb Sewer Ordinance by enabling liens to be placed on delinquent sewer bills. Jarryl Larsen asked if this had been reviewed by a lawyer. Jo explained that the text for this amendment as well as Article 8 for the amendment to the Blasting Ordinance were taken from state statute. It was agreed that the language should stand as is for this meeting. Any improvements needed could be made at the next Annual Town Meeting. MMA's Legal Services department will be consulted as soon as possible, for discussion purposes at the STM.

Concerning Article 9, to appropriate $3,000 for the purchase of mooring markers, Troy Hersom asked if there were public moorings. John and Stuart explained that Edgecomb's mooring fields are private, individually owned.

The members of the Broadband Committee presented Article 10, "To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate up to $45,000 as the Town's financial commitment on an application to the ConnectME Authority for a grant to fund installation of a broadband internet service infrastructure for the entire Town."

The Committee recapped their work over the past two months, interviewing possible vendors and attending the ConnectME meetings in Augusta. John Markowski said that the ConnectME chairman, a Verizon employee, told the Committee that neither Verizon nor Time Warner had any intention to wire the entire Town of Edgecomb for cable TV, etc. The only option for total coverage is to go wireless. Martha Speed asked if the two existing Global Towers could be used to carry wireless signals. Stuart explained that Edgecomb had space on each tower, but that he thought they were not in active service at this time.

The amount $45,000 was generally agreed as too high, but upon discussion, it was pointed out that this was a maximum, and could be reduced during the STM. Further, Edgecomb's space on the towers, and its franchise fees from Time Warner, could be applied to the overall commitment, to show Edgecomb's good faith and serious interest. Although the issue of cost sharing for the whole Town was questioned, as to those residents who might not want internet service, it was generally agreed that in the same way as education costs are assessed across the board, so might internet.

The Selectmen voted, two in favor, one against, accepting Article 10.

The amended version of the STM Warrant was signed by all Selectmen and presented to the Town Clerk for posting. The public hearing was adjourned.