The Wiscasset Budget Committee has recommended the passage of almost every article on the warrant for a special town meeting in Wiscasset, set for Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.
Meeting at the town office Sept. 26, the budget committee recommended the voters approve an article seeking $67,340 for the severance pay the town is contractually obligated to pay former assesssor’s agent Sue Varney. The committee also recommended the article seeking $16,000 for the assessing budget.
The budget committee recommended $0 dollars on the warrant article asking for $20,000 for legal fees in addition to $34,000 Wiscasset voters previously approved.
This article was put on the warrant in the event the town is forced into litigation regarding the Varney’s severance pay. If the article asking for the severance pay is rejected at the special town meeting, the town could find itself in a legal battle with the union, according to a statement made by Selectman Ed Polewarczyk at a recent board of selectmen’s meeting.
Budget Committee Chairman Robert Blagden said the full budget committee met to made the recommendations and the eight-member board voted unanimously to recommend the severance pay article be approved.
The assessing budget recommendation of $16,000 was approved with a 7-1 vote, and the question asking for the additional $20,000 in legal fees was opposed with an unanimous vote.
Wiscasset’s special town meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Wiscasset Middle School, beginning at 7 p.m.