WEST PARIS – Selectmen are trying to decide whether to hold the 2004 annual town meeting on the first Saturday of March or if they move it back to its traditional date of the first Tuesday in March.

Selectman Howard Gurney, who served on the board when West Paris became a chartered municipality in 1958, said it was voted to hold the annual town meeting on the first Tuesday of March. In 1996, however, meeting day was changed to the first Saturday of March because a statewide referendum interfered with the normal date.

“Since that time it has continued to be scheduled for the first Saturday,” Gurney said.

The issue of which day to hold the meeting surfaced last summer when some people who celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday asked that the meeting be changed back to an evening during the week.

Selectmen voted then to change the meeting day back to Tuesday and include a warrant article asking voters their preference.

However, the current board decided 2-1 last month to reverse the previous board’s decision, to return this year’s meeting to the first Saturday in March and to include an article concerning the issue at that time.

Selectman Jim Johnston opposed the reversal.

Then, earlier this month, selectmen authorized Town Clerk Cheryl Shattenberg to mail a questionnaire to voters asking their preference. Chairman Wade Rainey said he’s willing to move the meeting day if the survey shows that’s what people want.

The questionnaires are due back in the town office by Feb. 2. Results will be tallied then the date for the 2004 town meeting will be announced.