At a special town meeting Jan. 16, Edgecomb voters enacted two moratoriums prohibiting recreational marijuana-related activities and floating structures for a six-month period. Twelve residents attended the meeting, which also included approving emergency funds for the Oct. 30 windstorm and $200 for a soil test.

Residents approved all four articles with no dissent during the 35-minute meeting. Article 2 requested monies from surplus to pay for storm-related damage. The $35,678 appropriation was split between the municipal volunteer fire department and SR Griffin Construction Inc. Local firefighters spent 412 hours in storm damage activities. Road Commissioner Scott Griffin used a crew from his construction company for road debris cleanup in the storm’s aftermath.

Griffin submitted a $22,830 bill. Shore Road resident Mitch Garey questioned how town officials administered the windstorm cleanup. He reported residents on Shore, Cross Point and Mill roads did a considerable amount of cleanup on their roads and wanted a better explanation of overall storm-related expenses.

“I’m curious to see how these numbers were arrived at,” Garey said. “They look pretty arbitrary to me. I’m not saying the work wasn’t done. I’d just like a better explanation.”

Garey also wondered why the cleanup wasn’t put out to bid. Selectmen responded by agreeing a review of emergency procedures and protocols was necessary, but they believed the situation warranted an immediate response.“You presented a question and we should, and will be asking ourselves the same question for future emergencies,” Smith said. “I assumed Scott responded quickly to the emergency situation as the road commissioner, and I’m glad he did.”

Fire Chief Roy Potter explained department-related expenses included paying firefighters $10 per hour and equipment replacement and repair. Potter reported total department expenses were $6,528. Besides firefighter wages and FICA taxes, the department paid for a generator and a service vehicle’s alternator repair.

Island Lane resident Rebecca Gardner thanked town officials for their quick response during the windstorm. “I’d like to comment how much I appreciate and what a great job the fire department did. I can’t thank you enough,” she said.

Article 3 requested $200 from surplus for a soil test on the town-owned Lallis property. The town received a Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission grant last year to survey the property. But  the $1,500 grant didn’t cover costs associated with a soil test. Wiscasset surveyor Karl Olson recommended a soil test for the four-acre parcel. Selectmen contracted with Karl Olson & Associates hoping to prepare the property for sale later this year.

“The test will help define what the property is capable of, and I encourage you to vote for this to resolve something hanging over us even before I became a selectman,” Smith said.

Article 4 requested enacting a moratorium regarding floating structures due to a lack of state and municipal ordinances regarding their existence. This is the second floating structure moratorium approved by voters. In March, residents enacted a six-month one. Selectmen failed to renew it for an additional six months resulting in the planning board and  ordinance review committee requesting another voter-approved moratorium.

The planning board and ORC are also waiting for state officials to provide guidance on drafting a floating structure ordinance. Last year, the planning board received two inquiries regarding house boats. There are no town ordinances or state guidelines regulating floating structures. This led to discussions between the planning board and ORC on handling future house boat or other floating structure requests. Town officials hope to have a proposed ordinance ready for the May town meeting.

Article 5 requested voters place a moratorium on recreational marijuana, marijuana-related retail establishments, social clubs, commercial cultivation, manufacturing and packing of marijuana. The planning board and ORC are waiting for state guidelines prior to crafting a town ordinance.