Since 2019, the Edgecomb Building Committee has explored potential upgrades to the town hall. Selectmen created the committee to develop a strategy for the historic town hall's future use.  

Mike Smith, a selectman at the time, led the committee as it investigated ways to improve the historic building’s practical use. He told selectmen July 21 the committee had been on a hiatus in recent months, but was now back together and eager to seek a practical future for the historic building. "The town used ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to explore what could be professionally done with this building, and what it would cost,” Smith said. “We’ve looked at what could be done downstairs and upstairs. Now we are eager to accomplish our goals in making this a community-friendly building.”

Selectmen also sought out resident Joel Morley’s advice. Morley is a former facility manager of Bath Saving Bank properties. He has inventoried Edgecomb’s properties and sees problems on the horizon.

He inspected the fire department’s generator, furnace, roof, siding and parking lot which were all installed in 2012. The fire station was built 15 years ago, and Morley reported all were either at or near their life expectancy.

He recommended the town needed a capital reserve account to maintain all these properties. “The life expectancy for all of these is 15-20 years and we have reached that point,” he said. “Right now, it would cost approximately $650,000 to fix everything now, and if you wait, it’s more likely cost over a million dollars.”

He recommended the town buy a new generator for about $45,000. If the town could spend $100,000, he recommended including new siding for the fire station. “You have a generator which is smaller than the one I use for my house. It doesn’t work and needs repairs. So, you're pouring money into something which you could use to purchase something new,” Morley said.

In other action, Wiscasset District Water Superintendent Chris Cossette discussed the recent sewer rate increase with selectmen. Wiscasset Water District handles Wiscasset Sewer District’s billing. Davis Island is a sewer district customer.

Selectmen scheduled an Aug. 4 public hearing for a sewer rate discussion followed by a vote. Cossette provided three options regarding how Edgecomb could pass those rate increases onto their ratepayers. All options were based on a $52.02 minimum charge and $17.25 overage fees. The new rate would also need to cover billing expenses of $1,800 per year and administrative costs of $1,200 year.

Selectmen preferred option three to present to voters next month. The proposed monthly minimum rate would increase 4.5% to $52.16. Each additional cubic foot over 100 feet would cost $17.29 or a 5.5 percent increase. Sewer connection fees would increase 5% to $369.81. Impact fee per gallon of design flow would increase 11% to $7.60.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 in the conference room.