Wiscasset selectmen were harshly criticized by several Wiscasset residents during the public comment portion of the Board of Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday evening.
Former Selectman Ben Rines, told the selectmen they were defying the wishes of the town people. “Why? “Your position is not defendable,” he said.
Rines reminded the board they have taken an oath when sworn in as a selectman to do the will of the people.
“In a vote in 2005, the citizens voted 786-501 in favor of a referendum vote, I consider that a landslide. Respect the wishes of the people,” Rines said.
Budget Committee member Robert Blagden said, “It is your duty to uphold that vote.”
Town Clerk Christine Wolfe was asked what was the percentage of absentee ballots in recent elections, and said, “about 35 percent.”
Rines told the selectmen they were denying those people the right to vote.
George Green suggested the town meeting will only bring out about 5 percent of the town’s 2,800 voters. “I don’t like 5 percent of the people making the decisions for the other 95 percent of the people, and taking the absentee ballots away is denying them the right to vote.
After closing the public comment portion of the meeting, Selectman Judy Colby made a motion to revisit the vote to hold an open town meeting.
Colby said, “These people are right; we are going against the wishes of the people. We are denying those who vote absentee the right to have their voices heard.
Selectman Tim Merry said, “I also feel badly that 35 percent of our voters may not be able to vote, but that leaves 65 percent of our taxpayers that could make an effort to attend the town meeting.
Selectman Jefferson Slack, said he was in favor of an open town meeting because he wants to know how the people feel about an issue. He wants them to be able to decrease an article, and to discuss an article before they have to vote on an issue.
“In a referendum vote they have to vote an article up or down – that is their only choice. In an open town meeting they can discuss it.”
Selectmen Ed Polewarczyk, and Pam Dunning also agreed with Merry and Slack. The motion to revisit the decision to have an open town meeting failed 4-1.
The Wiscasset Board of Selectmen approved a permit for the Two Bridges Regional Jail Industries program as a vendor on the Main Street Pier. Naomi Bonang, industries supervisor, presented samples of articles made by the inmates at TBRJ. This is the first year the TBRJ Industries Program will be a vendor on the pier.
Other vendor permits were issued to Frank Sprague, Pamela Shockley the Maine Craft Shack.
The town received three bids for the fire department washer extractor ranging from $5,207.50 to $6,788.75. The selectmen move to authorize the town manager and Fire Chief T.J. Merry to award the bid to the lowest most qualified bidder.
The selectmen gave approval for Healthy Kids to put Pinwheels for Prevention on the lawn in front of the town office again this year for Child Abuse Prevention month.
The selectmen were given an update on the Sewer and Water District joint project by Buck Rines, superintendent of the Wiscasset Wastewater Treatment plant, and Chris Cossette, superintendent of the Wiscasset Water District.
The selectmen accepted, with regret, the resignation of Conrad Schilke from the Ordinance Review Committee, and appointed Peter Todd Travis to replace Schilke for the balance of his term through Dec. 31.
The next selectmen’s meeting will be held April 15.
