An Edgecomb woman plans on amending her Freedom of Access Act request to the town. On Nov. 9, Jarryl Larson submitted a written request to the Edgecomb selectmen for reviewing six years of the town’s sewer fees billed to Davis Island residents. She also requested town records indicating when selectmen approved adding an alleged surcharge to Davis Island sewer bills.

On Nov. 13, the town provided her with meeting minutes of past selectmen’s meetings involving charges from the Wiscasset Sewer District, but Larson was not provided with access to the sewer bills. Larson contacted the state’s FOAA ombudsman Brenda Kielty, who advised her to clarify the request.

“She told me to be more specific with what you’re expecting for them,” Larson said. “I need to literally request to see the minutes reporting their discussions about the surcharge.”

Larson is not a Davis Island resident. She requested the information after Davis Island resident Jim Lamson sought information about an alleged surcharge on the sewer bills. Lamson wrote a Sept. 15 letter to Edgecomb Town Clerk Claudia Coffin. He wanted to use the surcharge as a tax deduction. Lamson requested the town calculate the alleged surcharge fee because it wasn’t itemized on his bill.

According to Larson, town officials referred him to seek the information from the Wiscasset Sewer District.

“He became frustrated with the process so that’s why I’m requesting the information,” Larson said.

Larson, a frequent attendee at Edgecomb selectmen and planning board meetings, believes the town should have those records available in the municipal office. In November, she told the selectmen the town’s inability to produce those records is a “disturbing situation.”

On Dec. 21, she presented the selectmen with two pieces of information supporting her claim that Davis Island residents are being charged an additional fee. She provided the selectmen and Coffin, who serves as both town clerk and treasurer, with two “proof documents” which she called “Exhibit A-Exhibit B.”

She claims the documents indicate a limited number of Edgecomb property owners are being billed a 25-percent surcharge.

Exhibit A is the Dec. 20, 2010 select board meeting minutes. The selectmen held a public hearing regarding a proposed sewer rate increase. The Wiscasset Sewer District proposed a 25-percent increase to cover administrative costs, insurance and capital improvements, according to the town record.

The minutes also reflect Larson requesting the town adopt a “clear budget” (sewer) with specific criteria for revenue, expenses and future use.

Exhibit B is “proof a phone call was accepted to take billing action on behalf of the town of Edgecomb and Wiscasset Sewer rates page,” according to Larson’s Dec. 17 letter to the select board.

In her amended request, Larson is seeking proof of board authorization for billing the alleged surcharge between 2006 and 2015.

Once she has those documents, Larson may do her own calculations to see how much the alleged surcharge is. Larson may submit her amended FOAA request at the selectmen’s Jan. 4 meeting.