Edgecomb.org has a new owner. On Jan. 31, Planning Board Chairman Jack French announced he bought the website’s domain name from former Edgecomb selectman Stuart Smith for $1,196. French bought it on the planning board’s behalf.

Selectmen had been negotiating to purchase the domain name in recent weeks. They sent a letter to Smith, who owned it for 16 years, last month indicating a warrant article would be placed on the May town meeting warrant. If voters approved, the town would purchase the domain name for Smith’s asking price by July 2.

The planning board feared the ongoing negotiations would delay its efforts to upgrade the municipal website. The planning board has complained that the current site is inadequate. The domain name’s ownership allows a Wisconsin firm to begin developing a new website, according to the planning board.

“We became tired of waiting to resolve the domain’s name ownership so I wrote Stuart a (personal) check,” French said.

The planning board has complained about the current website’s limits for months. The site doesn’t provide information about state and federal regulations pertaining to land use issues. The town was sued last year for not making these regulations to the public, according to the planning board.

French explained his decision to purchase the domain name in an email message to the planning board members.

“I purchased the domain name with my own funds so that we could move forward as quickly as possible with having all the required laws available online,” wrote French.

The domain name didn’t remain in the planning board’s or French’s possession for long. It was transferred to Town Web Design, a Wisconsin website design firm hired by the selectmen on Jan. 19.

Several planning board members attended the Feb. 1 selectmen’s meeting to discuss the website’s future. According to French, the selectmen were critical of the planning board transferring the domain name’s ownership to a private firm. The planning board had its own concerns. Members were concerned about a possible delayed start due the selectmen not paying the $802 maintenance fee to the website contractor.

French told the planning board on Feb. 4 that he offered to pay the maintenance fee to keep the upgrade on track and avoid paying a higher fee, but the selectmen repeatedly told the planning board representatives they didn’t want to talk about the website.

“It was a bizarre meeting,” French said. “We left because the selectmen said they wouldn’t talk about it until Jack (Sarmanian) returned. We told them it was an agenda item, but they still wouldn’t discuss it any further.”

On Feb. 4, the planning board received a handwritten message from Selectman Mike Smith. The message indicated the selectmen requested the planning board not pursue developing its own website. Smith spoke to a website contractor employee who indicated the town could reclaim the domain name’s ownership in 60 days and no additional fee would be charged for a delayed payment.

Recording secretary Jackie Lowell read Smith’s note to start the Feb. 4 planning board meeting.

“I hope the planning board does not move forward with its own website and waits until Jack Sarmanian returns. Thanks for your time,” wrote Smith.

The planning board unanimously voted to accept Smith’s note as part of the meeting’s official record.

In other action, the planning board continued reviewing revisions to the municipal land use ordinances. The board is seeking an opinion from the Maine Municipal Association on whether the flood plain, shoreland zone, mobile home, antennas and signs should be part of the land use ordinance or stand alone.

Once the board receives an opinion, it will prepare the revised land use ordinance for review at a public hearing.

According to Lowell, the committee hopes the revised land use ordinance is ready for a vote at the May town meeting.

The planning board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18 in the municipal building.