The ownership of a pumping station has become the central issue of a proposed Davis Island condominium project. Land developer Anthony Casella wants to build three condominiums on his land located at the corner of U.S. Route 1 and Eddy Road in Edgecomb.

The Town of Edgecomb Planning Board is likely to approve the proposal based on several conditions — 28 conditions to be exact. The board’s attorney Charles “Chip” Griffin laid out the conditions June 18 during an information session with Casella, Casella’s consultant Karl Olson, and Anthony Constantino, the president of the Sheepscot Harbor Village Association. 

Planning Board Chairman Jack French described the conditions as “suggestions.” According to French, many of the conditions have been met, and Casella only needs to provide proof. One condition is that no further development will occur on the parcel that already houses an office and rental building. Casella already agreed to that provision in his application.

The ownership and maintenance of a pumping station is more problematic for the planning board. The pumping station sends sewage from two previous Casella developments (The Sheepscot Harbor Village and The View associations) and a third, Community Housing of Maine (CHOM) to Wiscasset. Constantino attended the planning board meeting to confirm the SHVA owned the pumping station and had given Casella’s latest venture, The Village at Sheepscot, approval to use the system.

But the planning board wants written proof the SHVA owns the pumping station. The board also wants an agreement between the four housing developments committing to the pump system’s care. The planning board fears that not having an arrangement could lead to an environmental catastrophe.

The board wants the SHVA to enter into an agreement with The View, CHOM, and  The Village at Sheepscot for operating and maintaining the system. The board also wants assurances that the four have adequate insurance. Griffin proposed a $5 million liability policy.

“That is not going to happen,” Casella said. “No company in the world is going to underwrite a policy like that. And I can’t guarantee that the other parties would agree to that.”

Constantino said that SHVA had liability coverage, but he didn’t disclose the amount. He favors the four entities entering into a formal agreement to operate the pumping station. The SHVA owns the pump system and is responsible for the maintenance. A formal agreement would require the other users to contribute financially to the system’s operation.

Currently, The View and CHOM are required to contribute to the pumping station’s operation, but the parties have never set parameters on the financial arrangement.

“This is why I’m here tonight,” Constantino said. “We have been carrying the ball long enough. And the other parties should be responsible for sharing the cost (of) operation.”

Casella believed getting all three parties in agreement would be a lengthy process. But French cautioned if any of the parties balked at taking a larger administrative and financial role, then the answer was simple.

“You have a manhole. Just lift the cover and send someone down there and turn off their access. That should solve any problems,” French said.

Casella plans on providing the requested additional information prior to the public hearing.

The board will hold the hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 in the municipal room.