On April 5, Edgecomb Town Hall will again begin hosting municipal meetings. The select board voted unanimously March 22 to hold a combination in-person/Zoom conference for their next meeting. Selectmen also reversed a decision to delay the meeting by a day. Town officials wanted to provide participants an additional travel day for the Easter weekend. But Town Clerk Claudia Coffin advised against mixing “church and state,” so the board decided to keep the regular Monday night schedule. 

In other action, selectmen agreed to assist Cod Cove Farm Road residents in their ConnectME application. The seven homeowners have internet access, but it is unreliable and slow. They hope a state grant will help them upgrade to high-speed broadband capability. Jack Dexter described his neighborhood’s situation as receiving 3 megabits per second (Mbps) when the industry standard for high-speed internet is 25. 

ConnectME has $15 million in taxpayer funds available for upgrading unserved and underserved internet communities. The application deadline is March 26, and Dexter asked selectmen to assist the neighborhood’s application. Dexter requested the town appoint Mary Ellen Barnes of Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission to serve as the town’s outreach provider in providing ConnectME with required emails and a registered letter as part of the application.

Dexter also requested the town agree to accept the grant, if awarded. “One requirement is showing no other provider has plans for upgrading the network in the next 12 months. This must be done by registered letter, and if you appoint Mary Ellen Barnes (outreach provider), she can take care of that,” he said. “Also, the town would receive the grant, so you (selectmen) would need to accept it.” 

Selectmen also discussed another rapidly approaching grant deadline. Selectman Dawn Murray recently met with Efficiency Maine officials who inspected the town hall. Selectmen sought an Efficiency Maine audit for possible heating and lighting upgrades. Murray reported a grant would cover three heat pump costs for the downstairs. There was not much discussion about upgrading the building’s lighting. The grant deadline is March 31, and selectmen were uncertain about seeking a grant at this time. “I’m not sure about the long term planning for the building, and whether now is the right time to seek a grant,” Selectman Mike Smith said.

Selectmen granted a tax abatement for Edward Conlin. Smith reported Conlin did not receive a 2020 homestead tax exemption, so selectmen granted him a $381.18 abatement.

Smith also updated the board about a possible solution to its long-standing dilemma on requirements as part of a 1974 federal grant. Edgecomb received a Land Water Conservation Program Grant for constructing a single tennis court at the former Eddy School’s site on Cross Point Road. In 2004, Edgecomb sold the 5.9-acre property to Elder Care Network of Lincoln County which provides affordable senior citizen housing now known locally as Edgecomb Green. In 2011, a state inspection resulted in determining Edgecomb had violated grant terms. In selling the property, Edgecomb failed to provide required public access and property maintenance.

For years, Edgecomb has sought to find a suitable recreational replacement for the tennis courts. On March 22, Smith reported a resident is offering to donate land to meet federal requirements. “The proposal needs to go to Philadelphia for approval, and that person will either approve or deny the proposal. So we are waiting to hear about that,” he said. 

Selectmen also received a property owner’s request to convey Spring Hill Farm Road to them. The property owners live at 814 River Road and recently discovered their driveway is actually a town road (Spring Hill Farm Road). Smith reported the property owners believed the road was their driveway. Selectmen will seek an opinion from Road Commissioner Scott Griffin prior to making a decision.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, April 5.