HARTFORD – The Board of Selectmen decided Thursday night to drop the idea of holding a secret-ballot referendum instead of an open town meeting this month after a resident advised it would be illegal.

Instead of going to the Town Hall individually to cast ballots on at least six warrant articles Nov. 20, residents will meet together at 9 a.m. at the hall to decide on the articles as they have traditionally done.

The board’s decision came late in the evening after Anita Pottle left the meeting to get information from the Citizens Guide to Town Meetings from the Maine Municipal Association on the Internet and returned. The information stated that if a town is an “open meeting” town, the town-meeting format cannot be changed without a town vote at an open meeting. The board cannot make a change, according to the material.

Chairman Scott Swain and fellow Selectman Laura Marston said their reason for wanting secret-ballot referendum was to get more people to vote by not having to sit through long discussions.

Though the warrant is still to be set, items to be voted on include:

• accepting the state’s hazard mitigation plan;

• approving an overdraft needed to cover expenses;

• training new people in the office;

• making the Comprehensive Plan Committee a standing committee;

• funding trash pickup for Pine Shores subdivision; and

• funding monthly town suppers.

The approximately 14 residents at Thursday’s meeting strongly favored the traditional open town meeting. Some confronted the selectmen about their reasons for changing the voting method.

Swain said he polled several residents, and they favored the change. Marston also said she polled people with the same result.

Selectman Lee Holman said she didn’t ask anyone because she didn’t know the other selectmen were polling people about a change.

Resident Arlene Nason said if all three selectmen had worked together, there would be no controversy.

Resident Kevin Ridge asked why those who supported the change were not present.

Residents also took issue with the town fire warden, Norm St. Pierre. Jason Rowe said he was having trouble getting a fire permit to burn severely damaged wood from a recent fire at the home of his mother, Linda Porter. A long letter was read from Porter, who has suffered a stroke.

The board voted to go with Community Dynamics Corp. for a sand-salt shed plan..000