POLAND – After nearly 50 years of receiving legal advice from the same firm, town officials are considering a switch.

Seeking more guidance about Maine’s Right to Know laws, economic development issues and utilities contracts, selectmen are expected to choose from among three legal firms at Tuesday’s regular meeting. The board meets at 7 p.m. at the town office.

Selectmen listened to presentations from two local firms and a Portland firm on Jan. 13. According to Tuesday’s agenda, officials are scheduled to make a selection in open session.

The town law advisor now, Linnell Choate & Webber of Auburn believes it has provided excellent service over the years, most of it in the area of personnel and zoning ordinances, said Curtis Webber, lead attorney for Poland services.

“We have accumulated an institutional memory,” said Webber, referring to the long relationship with the town. “That’s something that no other firm can match. We don’t have to spend the town’s money reinventing the wheel.”

However, Webber and partner Jack Conway answered when asked by selectmen that their firm was unable to provide expertise in the areas of municipal bonds, cable television contracts, or tax increment financing districts.

Board Chairman Glenn Peterson also asked about the potential conflicts of interest. Conway sits on the town school committee. Peterson also asked about Conway having possible conflicts as a town resident and as a real estate attorney with local clients.

Conway replied that he makes full disclosures on all relevant issues and recuses himself when necessary.

Webber admitted that a recent inquiry questioning the legality of a school committee practice did trouble him and that he may have given the town a superficial answer.

Another resident and attorney made a pitch to selectmen Thursday. Brian Dench, who routinely is chosen by voters to serve as moderator at town meetings, made a presentation on behalf of Skelton Taintor & Abbot.

Dench stressed the ability of his firm to provide a full range of legal services with experts in house on cable television and other public utilities, on municipal bonds, and development and land uses.

As a resident and a courtesy to town officials, Dench recently provided the board with an update in Maine’s Right To Know laws regarding executive sessions. Dench offered to provide the town with regular updates and workshops involving public access to information and public procedures.

Webber noted that he and Conway recently had provided a workshop on Right to Know laws. However, that workshop was initiated by Peterson at the Sun Journal’s invitation.

Another firm that briefly dealt with town officials last year when it came to a lack of board bylaws and questions of procedure was Jensen Baird Garner & Henry of Portland.

Attorney William Dale of the Portland firm had given his opinion to selectmen when they wrangled over an appointment to the town’s Planning Board. The controversy stemmed from former board member Sue Ellis’s effort toward reappointment.

The controversy exposed the town’s lack of bylaws, which raised questions of who can call for reconsideration of past votes and when that can be done. Since then, selectmen have held several informal meetings to develop rules for themselves.

The Portland firm also pointed out that it can provide all the services a municipality would need with its 25 lawyers. Dale said he routinely provides updates and workshops for officials in all towns and cities he represents.

As for rates, Dale said the cost for legal service would be $140 an hour. Webber charges Poland $175 an hour. Dench said he could negotiate a flat or blended rate, but would rather charge according to the experience of the attorney handling each issue.

Dench noted that some issues can easily be handled by a younger associate while other matters may require a more experienced partner. The bill would be figured accordingly, said Dench.

Webber said his firm would match any other firm’s rate if it were lower than his.