Grant hunting season opens in Edgecomb

Edgecomb selectmen started their meeting on Monday with a lesson in hunting - grant hunting that is. Steve Levy, Executive Director of the Maine Rural Water Association, attended the meeting to discuss options available for the town to get grants and low interest loans to help pay for a sewer pumping station.

Levy characterized the fall and spring seasons as good times to "hunt" for grants and reviewed the best grounds to stake out in their pursuit.

Selectman John Johnson reminded the board that he has been working with the town engineers, Woodward & Curran, on this project. However, it was agreed that discussions with Levy would not be a conflict with any work that is ongoing with the engineers.

Although there are federal programs available to help towns develop or upgrade their water and wastewater infrastructure, Edgecomb's median income, which Levy calculated to be about $41,719, is too high, making the town ineligible.

Levy said that the town could do an income survey and if the median income is determined to be $37,000, their funding options would increase. However, he said that surveys are costly, and he did not believe this effort would have much success.

Because sewer services are available only on Davis Island, Levy suggested that the town look into the Housing Assistance Grant Program. The town may be able to base the median income analysis on that area alone. If the income of renters at the low and moderate income housing apartments is factored in, that could make the town eligible for some programs.

The proposed assisted living project for Davis Island could also open some doors. Levy said that the development of long-term jobs in an area can also help access some alternative grant or low cost loan funding. "However, it helps if the town can demonstrate community interest and participation," Levy said.

Selectmen Jo Cameron said that ten towns were represented at the meeting organized by the Edgecomb Selectmen on October 11, to discuss the proposed gasification plant to be built on land formerly owned by Maine Yankee.

"We plan to draft two resolutions," Cameron said. "They will go to the legislature with one letter highlighting the many concerns of area residents about damage to the Sheepscot River, lowered land values, mercury and more. The other letter will outline concerns about the release of carbon dioxide and will support legislation that Representative Bruce MacDonald is sponsoring aimed at lowering the limit on emissions."

Johnson praised Cameron's efforts in organizing and running the meeting. "Jo did a great job and kept things on track so that the discussion did not become negative," Johnson said. "I'm proud that we did something. Someone had to step forward, and we have to remember that the vote on November 6 is not the end (if the ordinances are changed by Wiscasset voters) but just the beginning."

Selectmen Stuart Smith added, "We have always had good people in this town who'll step up to the plate."

Cameron also told the board that the work party at Fort Edgecomb on October 13 was well attended and raised the question of whether or not the town would dedicate some of the Hammond Funds to the upcoming bicentennial project.

The town is planning to have an all-day event at the Fort on July 14, 2008 commemorating events, military personnel and Native Americans that were involved in the story of the fort since the 16 th century. Friends of Fort Edgecomb plan to arrange for a shuttle to bring guests to the location.

Plans are also being made for a lecture series on local history that will take place at the school or town hall this upcoming year. Anyone that doesn't want to wait for the tri-centennial to get involved should step forward and be counted by contacting Selectman Jo Cameron.

The selectmen also discussed the suggestion previously made by resident Jarryl Larson that the town consider expanding the board to five members or explore employing a town manager. There was little support for a five-member board or a town manager, but they did review how an administrative assistant could add to their services.