The Wiscasset Board of Selectmen voted to amend the proposed language to a warrant article on the November ballot regarding the town’s withdrawal from RSU 12 at their regular meeting Sept. 6.
The warrant, which previously read, “Shall the Town of Wiscasset vote to begin the process of withdrawal from RSU 12, beginning January 1, 2012?” was amended to say, “Shall the Town of Wiscasset vote to begin evaluating the process of withdrawing from RSU 12?”
Both readings note that the Selectmen “may seek legal advice regarding the process and procedures for RSU withdrawal.”
Article 3 is considered a “non-binding survey question” to gauge public support for a withdrawal from RSU 12.
The semantics of the warrant sparked a heated debate at Tuesday’s meeting, with many in attendance favoring stronger language. Wiscasset High School alum Chet Grover said if the article is deemed merely a “survey,” RSU 12 administration will choose to ignore the message.
“They don’t care what a survey says,” Grover said. He said that a non-binding resolution was soft enough without adding even softer language.
Selectman Pam Dunning strongly disagreed. “I don’t care if they discount it or not. This is for Wiscasset,” she said.
Dunning said that the survey was a message for the Town and the Selectmen.
The final language, proposed by Selectmen Ed Polewarczyk, was chosen to reflect the legal hurdles required to officially withdraw from an RSU and concerns from the public over the definitive nature of the original questions.
One resident expressed his concern that in the original language, people who were uncertain as to the final cost of withdrawing Wiscasset from RSU 12 would be forced to vote “no.” “People want to know what it means to them,” he said.
The selectmen said it would be premature to determine a total cost of withdrawing from RSU 12.
Dunning said that taking the time and effort to determine every possible cost scenario of withdrawal would be foolish as long as the possibility of the Town voting to stay in the school unit still existed.
On January 1, 2012, Wiscasset residents can begin forming a petition to withdraw from RSU 12. If enough signatures are gathered on the petition and it passes during a town referendum, a committee could then be created to negotiate with RSU 12 over the means of withdrawal.
A 2007 state law requiring school consolidation statewide mandated that towns entering into newly formed Regional School Units must stay in the union for at least three years before they can seek to withdraw. A new law passed in the most recent legislative session reduced the mandate by six months.
Wiscasset has been a member of RSU 12 since July 2009.
All selectmen present strongly encouraged residents to show up and vote on election day. Polewarczyk said that it was very important to the Town and the school system for everyone to come and state their position.
Board of Selectmen Chair Judy Colby concurred.
“I think this is an important question…I hope people go out to vote, “she said.
The election will be held on Tues., Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Wiscasset Community Center.
According to Time Warner, customers can get as many digital adapters as they need free of charge. Beginning January 2014, however, Time Warner will begin charging 99 cents per adapter.
The next selectmen’s meeting will be held on Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.
