Edgecomb Selectmen are doing their homework before making a final recommendation to the town for a site to locate their new fire station. At a previous meeting, the board had agreed to continue to investigate the two acres owned by Randy Wanser located next to the fire station.

Fire Chief Barry Johnston told selectmen at their meeting Monday night that David Tonry has done some soil testing to determine if the land would be able to sustain a septic system large enough to service the station.

"He saw no problems with the site when testing," Johnston said. "But we are waiting for the final results." Johnston explained that they are also looking into a new concept in wastewater management that may be less expensive and easier to install.

"I think that we and the town are in favor of this project," Selectman John Johnson said. "We need to take the lead in this and make every effort to get every bit of grant money available."

Johnson also asked the Fire Chief if he had any design features that he would like to see used.

"I would like to have a three bay station with a door in the back so that we can drive through," Chief Johnston said. "I would also like to have a water system placed under the floor allowing us to fill trucks in the station."

Chief Johnston also stressed that the town needs to think regionally when planning how to equip the station. "Because of the mutual aid pact between towns in the region, we should try to complement what other towns have or need around us."

He explained that at the present time Edgecomb has a large pump truck that can bring water to the fire site. The town relies on Wiscasset for their ladder truck, and Boothbay and Wiscasset both have Jaws of Life for assistance at the site of accidents.

Another plus to a regional mind- set is that federal and state grants are offered more readily to towns that work cooperatively.

Selectman Johnson also questioned the Fire Chief about tapping into money available through the homeland security act.

"Money from that source would not be available for the building itself but could be tapped into for training and equipment," Chief Johnston said.

Johnston also presented the board with a written request that the selectmen formally accept the establishment of the National Incident Management System. This system is a federal, state and local plan that consolidates and standardizes how emergency personnel respond and react to any crisis.

"We have been training in the system, and most towns in Lincoln County have adopted the program," Chief Johnston said. "It is important that we are all on the same page when we are facing a crisis." He also explained that grant money would not be available to towns that have not bought into the system.

The board unanimously adopted the program and signed the necessary acceptance document.

The selectmen also questioned the Chief on how plans to develop the elementary school as an emergency shelter are progressing.

Chief Johnston has asked the Red Cross to give local emergency personnel a course on how a shelter should be run. However, he told the board that the town should plan to be self-sufficient.

"If there is a major disaster, it will be up to us to handle the town's needs," Johnston added. He also hopes to set up the new fire station as an additional shelter site that could house a small group of residents.

In other matters, the selectmen voted unanimously to deny Susan Carfizzi's request to skid logs from her property that abuts the Schmid Preserve over the preserve's trails to Old County Road. The Schmid Preserve Committee had advised against allowing the request due to concerns about damage to the trails.

The selectmen also announced that they would not be meeting on December 24 and 30, which both fall on a Monday this calendar year.