On Oct. 27, Edgecomb selectmen announced the town had received a $3,000 Maine Municipal Association grant to buy a stand-by generator for the town hall. Selectmen debated whether a 14-kilowatt or 20-kilowatt generator would serve their interest.

Selectmen Forrest Carver and Cara Gaffney decided the 14-kW model was the best fit. Selectmen will now seek a further recommendation from the building committee and an anonymous donor who pledged to provide additional funding.

In other action, selectmen set Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. for a special budget meeting for municipal departments and non-profit groups seeking municipal funding. Each group is directed to deliver a “succinct 10-year budget history” designed to establish clear historical context for developing the next fiscal year budget.

Time will strictly be enforced so there will be no time for questions from the public. Carver added there will be time for questions at a future budget meeting.

Selectmen are considering their options regarding timely municipal audits. The town is still waiting for the FY23 audit. Gaffney reported she had made four attempts at contacting the William Brewer, CPA firm without success.

Carver reported Edgecomb is one of 20 municipalities and townships which are over two years behind in the annual audits. Selectmen considered using another CPA firm for future audits. Town Clerk Claudia Coffin offered to contact the Brewer agency to discover the FY23 audit’s status.

Administrative Assistant Jessica Mague said the building committee found a suitable countertop for a new upstairs service center. The committee purchased a countertop for $300 and plans on using volunteer labor for renovations. The committee has a $6,500 project budget and Mague said the renovations would begin later this fall.

Edgecomb will receive assistance from Midcoast Energy in Damariscotta with the electrical work. Resident Karen Flynn contacted the company on the town’s behalf. Midcoast Energy is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is offering the help as part of the celebration.

Carver and Gaffney would like to establish a deputy clerk position to provide municipal services when the elected Town Clerk Claudia Coffin is not available. Selectmen asked Coffin if she could train a deputy town clerk.

“It's a goal of the selectboard to have fail-safe in mind for every duty in the town office. We don't want to be ‘up the creek without a paddle’ so we’d like to have a system in place such as during early voting or absentee voting. Is it possible to train a deputy?" Carver asked.

Coffin didn’t think it was practical to have a deputy clerk.

Selectmen and Coffin also disagreed about the need for hiring a payroll service. Selectmen thought hiring a private firm would eliminate municipal liability on payroll issues and save time. Coffin is the town's elected treasurer and said payroll is part of the job. “I don’t feel comfortable spending the taxpayer's money on something we don't need. You’re already paying a treasurer who according to state law does payroll.”

Selectmen tabled whether to hire a payroll service.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 in the conference room.