MEXICO – Nearly two dozen people left the town office conference room after selectmen Chairman Arthur Bordeau said several issues listed on the agenda would not be raised Wednesday night. And some of those people weren’t happy.

“We made specific plans to be at that meeting to discuss reorganization,” said Wellness Center director Tina Sirois on Thursday.

One of the items canceled Wednesday and rescheduled for next week was the reorganization of the Mexico Recreation Department to possibly include the Wellness Center, which is housed in the town’s recreation building.

Bordeau said the board didn’t have enough information to discuss the matter.

Sirois said she had submitted all the information the board had asked for well in advance of Wednesday’s meeting.

“I was disappointed. I thought they’d be prepared. We had to drop everything and had to reschedule people and find coverage so we could be there,” she said.

Referring to a comment made by one of the selectmen last month suggesting closure of the Wellness Center, Sirois said the postponement was upsetting.

“The issue is continuing and we don’t know what’s going to happen,” she said.

Selectmen have set a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4.

In other business, selectmen say they are ready to join with SAD 43 for the purchase of diesel fuel.

SAD 43 Superintendent James Hodgkin met with selectmen on Wednesday to discuss educational and other matters, some of which were brought up a month or so ago.

Although no official vote was taken, the board thought helping the district with its tentative plans to build a 10,000-gallon diesel fuel tank on Mountain Valley Middle School grounds was a good idea.

Buying such fuel in large quantities lowers the cost. So far, the town of Mexico, Region 9 and SAD 43 are thinking of cooperatively buying diesel. Hodgkin said the plan to build the tank will go before the school board on Monday. If approved, it would also be subject to Department of Environmental Protection review.

Hodgkin also answered questions from Selectman Monique Aniel about special education numbers and the state’s Essential Programs and Services requirement and its cost to tax payers.

SAD 43 has a more special education students than average, he said. That could be because the area offers many other supportive services as well as the district’s “quality special education program.”

“We’re not trying to attract special education students, but we are trying to offer the best education we can.” he said.

Aniel believes Question 1 that passed last month will take effect within a year. The measure calls for the state to pay 55 percent of education costs. Hodgkin believes it will be a four- to five-year process.

David Errington, the road commissioner and assistant to the town manager, was nominated to serve on the East-West Highway Committee, which town officials believe is crucial to the development of the area.

“The Route 2 Corridor Committee pushed for an east-west highway years ago. We need to have someone represent us,” said Derouche, who said the area wants the exit for such a highway to come through western Maine along Route 2.

Errington would be required to attend East-West Highway Committee meetings one day a month in Bangor.

Selectmen also approved the installation of “Children Playing” signs on Backkingdom Road and Leavitt Street.

A $7,000 grant given by the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation enables the hiring of two part-time people over a two-year period at Mexico Public Library.

The board approved borrowing up to $240,000 at 2.76 percent for a tax anticipation note to cover municipal expenses until property taxes start coming in this fall. Derouche said the town only borrows from the approved amount as needed.

Selectmen granted hawkers and peddlers licenses for several businesses that have set up shop in the town’s weekly Farmers Market. Some had argued that the $25 fee should be waived because the vendors were invited to participate. But others felt it would be unfair to waive the fee for one group of vendors and not for another.

The Paleski tax cap issue was tabled until the Aug. 4 meeting.