There's nothing like an old-fashioned annual town meeting to give contemporary Americans a chance to share in the spirit of self-government that our forefathers cherished.

On Saturday morning about 83 voting members of the town of Edgecomb met at the town hall to exercise their right as a governing body, choosing the direction of the town for the coming year and chatting with neighbors between votes.

Town meeting moderator Ervin Snyder's first order of business was to announce the results of the elections held on Friday.

John Johnson was successful in his attempt to secure a position on the Board of Selectmen by defeating Frank Perkins by a vote of 99 to 71.

Two positions to serve on the Planning Board for three-year terms were filled by Barry Hathorne who returns to his position on the committee with a total of 111 votes. First time member Anne Peaslee will join him on the board, earning 95 votes. Running unopposed, Planning Board Member Bruce Cameron was returned by the town for a two-year term. School Committee Chairman Stephen Ward, unopposed, will serve for another three years. Also running unopposed, Tax Collector Emily Smith and Road Commissioner Scott Griffin were re-elected, and Town Clerk and Treasurer Claudia Coffin was re-elected.

Maine's 2005 Legislature's attempted to cap spending limits (the so-called LD 1) in towns by using an elaborate formula that leans heavily on new growth and prior spending to arrive at a maximum figure quickly came under the gun. Selectman Stuart Smith explained to residents that they were being asked to vote to override the spending cap at the beginning of the meeting to determine if voters would consider any spending beyond the allowed property tax limit of $142,967,

Smith asked voters to approve an override that would allow the town to spend about $318,000 beyond the state cap. Voters expressed concern about giving their ok to a figure at the beginning of the meeting before knowing how the money would be spent.

"This is the total amount asked for if everything is approved," said Smith.

School Committee Chairman Steve Ward added, "We are saying we are agreeing to the override at the beginning of the meeting but the actual amount will not be set until the end when we have voted on each item." The override was approved. Although lawn mowing is of more concern right now than snowplowing, the issue of who will be out clearing roads in next year's blizzards caused a lot of comment.

Article 27 was designed to determine what amount voters would spend on a snowplowing contract. The Budget Committee recommended $110,000.

Smith made a motion to amend the article to read that the town appropriate $165,000 from excise tax and consider returning to a formerly used system where the town leased equipment and had their own road crew available to do the work.

"This year we have heard many reports from individuals who had to plow themselves out," Smith said. "I had to plow Shore Road twice."

Town Clerk and Treasurer Claudia Coffin asked that the amendment be withdrawn and changed to determine if the town would be willing to use up to $165,000 from excise tax for snowplowing and "allow the selectmen to enter into a contract in whatever way they feel is best," she said.

Road Commissioner Scott Griffin addressed the gathering on this proposal. "If we lease the equipment and hire a local road crew, we would be as close to a road department as possible. Yes, it will cost more money, but you'll have a road crew there to do the job," said Griffin.

Troy Hersom asked if part of the $165,000 would be used for ditching and other road work.

"The crew could be used to respond to wash-outs, downed trees and blocked culverts," Griffin said. "There have been a lot of complaints this year. If you live on a side road, good luck."

"I understand that many of the complaints did not go to Bathgate, so they could do something about them," Hersom said. Outgoing Selectman Frank Perkins said, "Peter does well when he gets the complaints."

"You're asking for almost a 50 percent hike above what the budget committee recommended for this service. I oppose it," Hersom said.

Several questioned how the town's excise tax account could cover the additional cost. "We've had some pretty expensive cars move into town recently," Coffin quipped.

A request came from the floor that the article be amended to keep the dollar amount at $110,000, allowing the funding source to stand, with authorization for the selectmen to consider bids.

"The multiply amended article is voted affirmatively," Snyder announced.

Article 17 also sparked debate among voters by questioning if residents would choose to instruct the selectmen to transfer $10,000 from surplus to the Woods End Boat Landing Fund. The purpose of the fund is to purchase a piece of deep-water shore property in the future that would be suitable for a boat landing.

"It's strange that a town with so much water has no access. I am concerned that the fund to purchase property may have been raided. It's not a rainy day fund," said Mark Fowler.

"The fund has not been raided," Perkins said. "We borrowed from it and paid it back."

"With all the town's fiscal responsibilities at this time, possibly we should consider the boat launching resources we have available to us in Boothbay and Damariscotta. Maybe this is just not a necessary expense at this time," said Kitty Norton.

Fire Chief Greg Johnson raised issues of public safety. "If someone is in trouble on the water, we have no access. People were lost in front of my house a few years back," he said.

"I believe we should change the focus from boat launching to simply having access to moorings with an area for dinghy storage," said Ward.

"Water access is very much a part of what we are looking at in the comprehensive plan," said Committee Chairman Sue Carlson; she asked that the moderator call the question.

The town voted down the transfer of funds.

Article 12 that asked voters to approve a total of $86,885 for general town expenses and town officials' salaries appeared to be moving quickly to approval when Selectman Jo Cameron and Coffin motioned for an unusual, if not unprecedented, amendment.

Cameron asked that the salary for the chairman of the board of selectmen be reduced by $500, from $4,000 to $3,500, and Coffin asking for a $500 reduction, from $4,500 to $4,000 for the Treasurer's salary.

"If you were paid by an hourly wage, wouldn't that mean that you were getting about 35 cents per hour?" asked Chris Riser.

"Probably less," could be heard echoed throughout the hall.

"I don't know why Jo is choosing to do this," former Chairman Frank Perkins said. "She will most likely be the next chairman and will be losing the money."

"I have no intentions of using public office to step up; I just want to cover my property tax," said Cameron. "Then the town will get it back. I know we have a lean budget and every dollar counts."

Coffin explained that she believes her work as Town Clerk this year has been more demanding than her Treasurer's duties, and should garner a higher wage.

Several asked that they raise the clerk's salary. Snyder instructed voters that figures can not be amended up. However, given that Coffin's total salary would not be changed, the amendment passed.

As the town considered road articles 26-29, Smith informed voters that the local road maintenance account did not make the town warrant. It was agreed that a special town meeting will be scheduled to address this question.

Article 43 asked voters to appropriate $25,000 to purchase two acres of land bordering the present site of the salt shed on Parsons Point Road.

"What's the purpose of this?" asked Martin Achilles. "It already looks bad enough with Bathgate's broken down equipment lying around,"

"We'd like to keep the salt shed and town trucks together and not on different sides of the town," Fire Chief Johnson said.

"Land banking for future use is critical," said Sue Carlson. "It would be to the town's benefit." The article was approved.

Article 37 asked voters to enact an ordinance entitled Town of Edgecomb Sewer Ordinance. Steve Levy from the Maine Rural Water Association spoke in favor of the article.

"I have worked this year with Frank Perkins to revise and expand the sewer ordinance," Levy said. "At a future time, voters will be asked to enact a sewer district. At present, the governance remains with the selectman." The article was approved.

School issues that always carry a steep price tag were discussed towards the end of the meeting. School Committee Chairman Stephen Ward answered questions for voters.

The town was asked to exceed the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) formula, that sets spending limits for each town, by $320,785.

The town agreed and also authorized the school committee to spend $2.5 million to fund Edgecomb's public education needs.

The meeting ended with a well-received tribute to outgoing Principal of the Edgecomb Eddy School Joanne Krawic, who is retiring after 17 years. The annual town report is dedicated to her work with Edgecomb's children.

"She has not only been a wonderful leader, but she helped us build a school," Ward said. She received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Also recognized were Erin Cooperrider and Lisa McSwain who are retiring from their positions on the Planning Board this year.

After four hours of voting, chatting and a little agonizing over dollars and cents, the meeting adjourned.