On Nov. 3, voters will head to the polls electing Maine's state and federal leaders. In Edgecomb, voters will have additional ballot questions regarding their town governance.

On Sept. 29, Edgecomb held a public hearing discussing the four local referendum questions. Two questions regard off-premise liquor sales. Earlier this year, All-In-One Market on Route One requested to sell liquor and wine. This resulted in selectmen's placing two separate liquor sale questions on the ballot. One allows for Monday through Saturday sales. The second allows for Sunday sales.

During the public hearing, no one spoke either for or against the two liquor sale questions. Most of the 38-minute public hearing was spent discussing an amendment to the Edgecomb Fire and Rescue ordinance. Fire Chief Roy Potter requested the amendment to remove confusion caused when the department changed from a volunteer to municipal department.

Potter explained the ordinance, which created Edgecomb Fire Rescue in 1989, wiped out all of the department's bylaws and standard operating procedures. Selectman Cara Gaffney told residents the amendment would “clean up” ordinance section 10.1 which provided “overlapping and confusing language." Selectmen Forrest Carver and Gaffney told residents the entire ordinance would likely need more revisions in the future.

Article 4 would establish a non-lapsing Capital Improvement Reserve Account to pay for repairs or reconstruction of town-owned properties by authorizing the selectboard to spend as it deems appropriate on designated purposes and appropriate $17,000 from the town’s surplus. Budget Committee Chairman Jack Brennan thought it was a great idea. “This is something a lot of other towns already have and I think it makes a lot of sense.”

Following the public hearing, selectmen began their bi-weekly meeting. Selectmen considered changes to the public forum section of their meetings. One proposal was to go from two public forums to one, but selectmen decided to stick with two. The selectboard clarified the public forum's purpose. Carver said it would be limited to agenda items.

Selectmen approved the language of a letter they and the school and budget committees composed. The letter thanked residents for their contributions to the Sept. 20 community forum. It also addressed an adverse action which resulted in a school committee member's resignation.

"Residents talked about affordability, taxes, schools, economic development, community growth, and what they want Edgecomb to become. Conversations were thoughtful, constructive, and the kind of civic engagement our town needs. It is important to always remember that there is a difference between strong disagreement and destructive discourse. Residents have every right to question decisions. They have every right to challenge budgets, taxes, school policies, development decisions, and the actions of their elected officials," wrote the town officials.

During the community forum, residents had numerous questions on municipal and school governance. Selectmen are looking at a potential date to answer those questions. The board is looking at either Oct. 21 or 28.

In other action, selectmen are close to reaching an agreement to dispose of an abandoned sailboat. In May 2025, an abandoned Cape Dory 25 sailboat found its way to Edgecomb. By that August, it had mysteriously disappeared. It reappeared in Woolwich in November. 

The two selectboards are close to a financial agreement for the boat's disposal. Carver reported the town officials have agreed to split the costs. Carver said disposal estimates were $3,500 if the boat floats, $6,500 if it doesn't.

Selectmen meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 in the conference room.