Staff Reporter

But Johnson said the addition of another deputy will make it more likely that those positions will have to be funded. "It’s going to come back to bite us," he said.

Johnson said he wants to see how the fire department budget is being spent, line by line. (Town meeting voters approve just the total figure for that budget.)

"I tell you I’m not signing any more of your budget until I know how you’re spending it," Johnson told Potter.

The chief then said the board hasn’t been keeping up with payments. "I’m getting calls from people that haven’t been paid."

"I sign every one you give us," Johnson said.

"No, you’re not," the chief responded.

Then the chairman recalled previously asking for monthly reports from the fire department, "something in writing with the number of fires, accidents, any suppers. And I haven’t seen one," he said of the reports.

"The fire department has become its own fiefdom," Johnson continued.

Selectman Stuart Smith noted that Potter frequently attends selectmen’s meetings, keeping the board up to date on department matters.

In a brief interview in the town hall parking lot after he left the meeting, Potter defended the department’s method of reporting. "We come here to every meeting we can, and give oral reports."

"The fire department as a whole, we’ve come a long way. We’ve kept the selectmen involved in what we’re doing," Potter added. "I’m fed up," he said of the night’s events. Potter said he does plan to attend next week’s board meeting.

Smith and Selectman Jack Sarmanian approved Johnston’s appointment. Johnson voted against it.

"Well, I’m glad to see you back involved with the town," Smith told Johnston. "I know both Barry and Stephanie, and I don’t think there’s going to be any problems there," he said.

In other business Monday, the board unanimously approved a license for Smarty Marty Inc., located at the former Tammy’s restaurant on Route 27, to sell beer and wine, for consumption at the establishment. The state still needs to inspect the restaurant before granting the business the license.

One resident expressed concern that people would be leaving the business after drinking, and going right into an intersection that, she noted, is prone to accidents.

Johnson asked owner Mike Hilgendorf to take an upcoming course for people who have just gotten liquor licenses. Hilgendorf had said he once worked as a bartender.

"I can’t require it, but I strongly urge you to," Johnson said. "You have no one on your staff that’s aware of the law, the pitfalls of serving liquor … I would be very unhappy if I heard you didn’t take it," he said of the course.

Johnson noted that he recently went into the restaurant for a sandwich, and was left alone for several minutes. "I could have grabbed all the beer and wine and run out of the place," he said. (The business currently has a license to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises, although Hilgendorf told the board that he will not seek to renew that "off premises" license next year.)

Also Monday, Sarmanian said he is keeping in touch with the offices of Maine’s Congressional delegation, regarding the town’s efforts to get stimulus funding for a new fire station. He said he wanted to also encourage firefighters to contact the delegation.

Sarmanian said Edgecomb might be helped by the fact that none of the fire station grant money awarded so far has gone to any Maine projects. He also learned from Chief Potter (prior to Potter’s discussion with Johnson on the other matters) that Whitefield’s application is out of the running.

Potter said he heard that directly from Tim Pellerin of EMA director of Lincoln County.

"If anything, that really heightens our possibility," Sarmanian said. "We’re the only live application still," from Lincoln County, he said.

The board discussed possibly creating a committee that would seek an energy efficiency grant. Smith said resident Anne D. Burt told him about the $10,000 grant.

The grant funds could be used to explore ways to make the town hall more energy efficient, Smith said. Plans for the new fire station could also be reviewed for their energy efficiency, he said.