An Edgecomb woman filed a Freedom of Access request on Nov. 9 to the Board of Selectmen. Jarryl Larson submitted a written request to review six years of the town’s sewer fees billed to Davis Island owners.

Larson is not a Davis Island resident. She believes the town billed Davis Island residents for an additional sewer tax, but that charge is not listed on their bills. Larson described the bills as being hard to read. This creates confusion about whether a charged is generated by the town of Edgecomb or the Wiscasset Sewer District.

Larson told the selectmen she was following up a previous request made by a Davis Island resident. The original request was made by Jim Lamson, who is a year-round Davis Island resident. He requested a separate bill separating the charges, but was told by a town official to check with the Wiscasset Sewer District, according to Larson.

She  told selectmen the town’s inability to produce an official record that shows residents are billed correctly is a disturbing situation.

“As a result, all property owners have been denied the ability to submit these charges as tax deductions to the IRS,” she said. “All owners have a right to know the specific amount that is being charged by the town. Mr. Lamson should not be directed to seek Edgecomb tax records in Wiscasset.”

Edgecomb Treasurer Claudia Coffin explained that Edgecomb does not bill residents for sewer services.

“Just to make it clear, the town doesn’t bill anybody. The town is billed by the sewer district,” Coffin said.

Larson contended the town is billing for service and that’s why she wants to review the records. Larson believes the sewer invoices should reference Edgecomb with an specific amount.

“Nobody who receives these bills has an accurate record for what they are being billed for. Some of these charges are tax deductible,” Larson said.  “The bill should say what is being charged separately to Edgecomb, And I want to know that the billing, in fact, is accurate.

The Freedom of Access request was given to the three selectmen, Treasurer Claudia Coffin, board secretary Sherry Tibbetts, and two reporters.

Under Maine law, agencies must make a good faith, timely effort to fully respond to the request.