So What's Going Where? Edgecomb selectmen, left to right, Jack Samarian, Stuart Smith, and John Johnston meet with Codes Enforcement Officer Dabney Lewis, center, resort owner Roger Bintliff, second from right, and contractor, Jim Whorff. (Photo Paula Gibbs)

Edgecomb selectmen decided Tuesday afternoon during a site walk they won't issue a "stop work" order to Roger Bintliff, owner of the Sheepscot Harbour Village & Resort.

They had considered the action at their weekly meeting Monday night, noting several concerns about how far the sewer installation has progressed, the pumping stations, and the capacity level the project is at, but decided to meet with Bintliff to try to resolve the issues. The property, located on Davis Island just across the river from Wiscasset, was originally an inn with 1940s era cabins. Some of the existing structures have been converted to condominiums, and a number of single-family homes are under construction.

The meeting was an apparent success, as selectmen were assured by Bintliff that he understands what he has to do to be in compliance with the town's sewer ordinance. Because Edgecomb has no sewer district, as such, or sewer commission, the selectmen are charged with enforcing the town's sewer ordinance. The town never had public water and sewer until the lines were extended from Wiscasset several years ago in order for the development to go forward.

The selectmen were concerned that extensions to the sewer lines had been installed and covered up before the town had a chance to inspect the work. After looking at plans supplied by the contractor, Jim Whorf, and looking at the street in question, it appeared that the latest extension had been 50 or 60 feet, and had been installed in order to hook up two more houses.

Bintliff said he has only dealt with the planning board up until now, and didn't realize he needed to notify the town whenever a sewer line is extended. The selectmen explained that lines from the street to the houses do not have to be inspected - just the lines in the roadways.

Bintliff agreed to the selectmen's request to notify the town's engineers, Woodard & Curran, whenever a sewer line extension is ready for inspection. He also agreed to attend the selectmen's next weekly meeting on Monday at 6 p.m. at the town hall, and bring with him the latest plans for the development showing proposed sewer line extensions.

Selectman John Johnson said making sure each extension is inspected as it is installed protects the town. Whorf told the selectmen he could "camera the line" to show them the latest extension.

The selectmen also asked if Bintliff had swapped a house site for a clubhouse site. Bintliff said original plans called for the site to have a house, but he changed it to a clubhouse to make the development more attractive to homebuyers in a down market. He said there would also be a smaller facility, more of a spa, down by the shore.

The selectmen briefly discussed with Bintliff the possibility of extending the sewer line at some point to provide access to Fort Road residents, who currently have septic systems. Bintliff said he would be interested in looking into this, since he has recently bought two more properties, both of which are now on septic systems.