Nearly seven months after Edgecomb voters approved a $4.9 million combined school and municipal budget, work begins Dec. 29 on Fiscal Year 22’s finances. The five-person budget committee will meet following the Dec. 13 selectmen’s meeting.

Committee chairman Jack Brennan briefed selectmen on the committee’s 12-meeting schedule which ends March 7. The committee is inviting all municipal department heads to present their funding requests at the first meeting. Brennan reported the only change to this year’s schedule is meeting with Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District officials later in the process. “We met with them earlier last year, but they weren’t ready,” he said. “We think by giving them more time it will be better.”

In other action, Selectman Mike Smith updated the board on preparations for the traditional Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. Smith reported five trees were ready for decorating at the town hall and five others were ready for placement. Town officials will invite Edgecomb Eddy School students to compete. The judging begins at 3:30 p.m. So far, two judges have confirmed their participation. Local postmaster Bruce Hartford and reporter Bill Pearson will return as judges. Contest organizers are still waiting on whether Ramon Warren will return as a judge and if Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent Bob Kahler will serve as a guest judge. 

This year, the contest will award only a “Best in Show” prize. Selectmen considered giving judges a gift card to Winding Market in Edgecomb. In past years, contestants met following the contest with residents to sing holiday carols in the town hall. Last year, there was no caroling due to the coronavirus. There will be no caroling this year either, but selectmen are considering having Santa Claus ride to the tree lighting which begins at 5 p.m. via a fire truck to end the festivities.

Selectmen are also close to completing planning for another community event. Selectmen are hosting an informal community “Meet and Greet” from 8 a.m to 10 a.m. on Dec. 11. Selectman Dawn Murray proposed the event at the town hall so new residents could meet other community members. Murray moved to Edgecomb four years ago and is the event’s main proponent. “So far, I’ve heard from people who are excited about this. Some can’t make it, but told me they hoped this would happen again,” she said. 

Murray expects about 20 residents to attend. Selectmen are considering using road signs to promote the event. “If we can get 20-25 people, I think that is a great start,” she said.

Smith updated the other board members about this month’s Schmid Preserve Committee meeting. Trustees reviewed the recent forest management plan completed by Midcoast Forestry’s Barrie Brasilia. She authored the original plan in 1979 and began work on the updated version in July. “It was a very interesting meeting,” Smith said. “The plan recommends either some cutting or none at all. One section has 150-year-old growth which is unheard of in Maine. They told us, Maine has about 1% of forest which is 100 years old.”

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13 in the town hall.