OTISFIELD – The selectmen and the Comprehensive Plan Committee seemed to work out their differences during a meeting Wednesday night.

During a executive session Monday night, the committee composed a letter to the board rejecting recommendations selectmen made during a joint meeting last week. They presented the letter to the board.

“I don’t know why we are here because they have made their decision already,” Selectman Tom Nurmi said after reading the letter Wednesday night.

“I think it’s a misunderstanding,” Selectman Lenny Adler said. “The Board of Selectmen directs committees, it’s not the other way around.”

“This is the way we feel,” Committee Chairman Jim Bishop said.

“It seems this committee can’t follow directions so we need to dissolve this committee,” Adler said. The motion was not approved.

Discussion turned to resolving the four issues outlined in the letter from the committee. The committee noted a voter survey about the comprehensive plan is not required. The panels agreed it is too late in the process for a survey and agreed it was not required.

They debated the lack of growth management in the plan and agreed adding wording to the plan outlining why it was left out. They discussed wording along the lines that growth management was left out of the plan because the topography in the community does not require it.

The committee agreed to change the makeup of the town government study committee to limit ineligibility to paid elected officials.

The final issue was the exclusion of a Capital Improvement Plan. They told the selectmen it was accidentally left out of the plan. Both groups agreed after reviewing the Capital Improvement portion that with minor changes it could be added to the plan.

The one issue not outlined in the letter that resulted in raised voices was when the plan will be acted on by voters. The committee pushed to include the plan on the November general election. The selectmen said they would not support voting the plan other than during an annual town meeting.

When push came to shove, Adler said there is no compromise on when the plan will be voted.

Bishop asked if the committee could hold a public hearing on the plan once a clean draft is finalized. Board members agreed it is a good idea because any concerns raised by residents that may require a rewrite could be completed well before town meeting in March.

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