Edgecomb selectmen on May 26 discussed options for reporting municipal election results more quickly to the public. May 16, the town meeting referendum vote ran from 1 to 7 p.m.; residents voted on the 48 town meeting warrant articles, municipal elections, school budget validation referendum and a special ballot for a proposal regarding joining Wiscasset Water District.

On Election Night, Town Clerk Claudia Coffin reported the results to candidates, but waited until Monday to report official results to the general public. Selectman Forrest Carver suggested the Election Night results also be reported to the municipal webmaster so residents could know sooner than the following Monday.

Selectmen are tentatively planning to have a representative at the town hall for future public reading of results and report those figures to the municipal webmaster for posting.

Selectmen also met with School Committee Chairman Heather Sinclair and Budget Committee Chairman Jack Brennan to consider how to better communicate budget information to residents prior to the vote. Brennan praised Sinclair in how she handled the public forum and school budget town meeting in answering questions, but he was concerned about the lack of information prior to recent town votes.

“You were masterful in fielding and answering questions. You were calm and presented the information in a calm and professional manner, but the budget committee and residents still didn’t have all the necessary information. We need to do better," Brennan said.

Town officials agreed to hold two informational sessions prior to future school budget votes. One would be at the very beginning of budget season. The second would be closer to Election Day.

The sessions would include all members of the school and budget committees and selectboard.

In other action, Carver was elected as the new board chairman. He and new board member Cara Gaffney voted to appoint him. Selectman George Chase was absent.

In recent years, residents have asked town officials for a more patriotic Fourth of July. Carver reported residents requested a greater American flag presence in town through “Fourth of July season."

The board voted to spend $1,875 from the Hammond Fund to purchase 25 American flags from the Boothbay American Legion. The flags would be placed on every other utility pole on McKay Road towards Route One and on Route 27. Gaffney volunteered to contact Central Maine Power and other utility pole owners about placing flags for the July 4 celebration.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 9 in the conference room.