Edgecomb’s town meeting and municipal election this week promises to settle several lingering issues facing the community. Residents will assemble at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the town hall to vote on the recommended $883,096 municipal and $2,539,182 school budgets.

The 56 article town warrant also includes articles regarding making the fire chief a full-time position, transferring $180,000 from the Woodend Fund into town surplus, and entering into an interlocal agreement to share Wiscasset’s code enforcement officer and licensed plumbing inspector. 

The recommended municipal budget doesn’t include funding for a full-time fire chief. The budget committee made no recommendation. Article 11 asks what the sum the town will vote and raise for a full-time fire chief’s position. The department requested earlier this year to change the fire chief from a part-time, $7,000 per year stipend position to full-time. The department is requesting a $48,000 salary. The benefit package calculated by the selectmen would cost $26,200 in health insurance and vacation payments. If the article passes, the fire chief would become the town’s only full-time employee.

The budget committee did recommend adoption of the fire department’s $72,129 operating budget. The committee also recommends approval for $25,618 in fire department wages. The article includes $7,000 stipend for a part-time fire chief. If the full-time chief is approved, Selectman Stuart Smith said the stipend would be eliminated.

Residents are also being asked to determine the Woodend Fund’s future. The fund was established in the 1970s. A Davis Island property was forfeited to the federal government following the owner's (Woodend) drug conviction. The federal government gave the property to the town who in turn sold it. The proceeds were used to establish a fund for purchasing public boat access along the Sheepscot and Damariscotta rivers.

The selectmen want residents to decide whether to transfer a significant portion of the fund into the town’s surplus account. Article 28 asks the town to raise and appropriate $56,976 and appropriate $180,000 from surplus for the snow plowing contract and other road related work.

The $180,000 would nearly deplete the Woodend Fund, which has over $188,000. The town has not found affordable property around the rivers to purchase. Selectmen also doubt if the town budget could maintain a public boat access landing.

The town budget is also reeling from past decisions to use surplus account monies to offset taxes. An accounting error in fiscal year 2012-13 resulted in a miscalculation in the tax commitment. Over a two-year span, the selectmen used over $437,000 from the surplus account to offset the error. A recent audit showed the account had a negative balance.

Residents will also vote on whether to enter into an interlocal agreement with Wiscasset to share the services of a code enforcement officer and licensed plumbing inspector. If approved, the CEO/LPI would devote an average of four hours per week on Edgecomb projects. Edgecomb would pay $8,800 per year to share the position.

On Friday, Edgecomb will hold their municipal elections from 1 to 7 p.m. at the town hall. There are two contested races. Incumbent Selectman Stuart Smith is facing a challenge from Mike Smith. Karen Potter is challenging incumbent Tax Collector Deb Boucher.

The ballot also includes incumbents Claudia Coffin, town clerk and treasurer; Scott Griffin, road commissioner; Jack French and Patricia Jeremiah, planning board; and Thomas Abello, school committee; all running unopposed for reelection.