Edgecomb Selectmen received some expert advice on how to continue plans to develop public sewer and water services in town from representatives of Woodard & Curran at their Monday night meeting.

James H. Fitch, Jr., senior vice president of the engineering firm stressed the importance of thinking long-term when putting in expensive systems.

"We need to look at infrastructure that will be used far beyond our lifetimes," Fitch said. He explained that the big-ticket item associated in the project is the actual digging of the trenches to install the lines.

"The size of the lines should be considered with reference to the average daily flow numbers that we have already considered when assessing the proposed route that would bring lines down Routes 1 and 27 to the school," Fitch continued. "But lines can be upgraded and pumps are easy to replace so it may not be necessary to over spend on those items at this time. However, it is much harder to reconfigure trenches."

Fitch was joined by environmental engineer Kyle M. Coolidge who participated in bringing the lines across the Sheepscot River and will be the point man for the next phase of development. Their appearance at the selectmen's meeting followed an afternoon session with Selectman John Johnson. Roger Bintliff, owner of the Sheepscot River Inn, also met with the group.

Fitch told the board that money that will be spent to put in the system should be recovered by users' fees. The pumping station next to Bintliff's property has been designed to tie in to a town sewer district and would be subject to fees as well.

The site for another pumping station has not been determined. Bintliff suggested that engineers evaluate the Mostly Maine property that he recently purchased as a possible location.

Bintliff suggested that most of the users on the route will be commercial and if the station is placed in a central location, developers would have to pay the fees to get to the hub.

"Developers may have to pay about $80,000 to connect, but that is not an impossible figure in the context of a large project," Bintliff said. "That way the town does not have to assume all of the cost."

Fitch told the board that the biggest challenge planners face when considering a location for the station is how much ledge is in any one area. "I believe there's a spot that will be identified that is the right location as we proceed," Fitch said.

He also updated the selectmen on grant money that is available for municipal improvements. The town could apply for rural development grants available through the United States Department of Agriculture. "Maine is lucky because the local representatives from USDA are very happy to work closely with communities and know how to put things together at the federal level," Fitch said.

He also explained that every few years a farm bill goes before Congress that includes a number of projects for funding. This year is a farm bill year. The federal government earmarks a certain amount of money for each state but pools any money not used and then reallocates that money where it is needed.

Fitch also said that the D.E.P. has some money that they will make available to match local dollars.

Another major consideration when planning this project is where the state will put the long awaited by-pass, which only underscores the need to commit to a route.

In other business, Johnson recommended that the selectmen request that someone from the Comprehensive Plan Committee join them to provide an update on how they are progressing. He said that the state is putting some pressure on the town to complete the plan, and he would like to see it ready to put before voters by no later than the next annual town meeting.