BUCKFIELD – Selectmen approved a petition Tuesday night that calls for eliminating the centuries-old annual town meeting in favor of voting on all warrant articles by secret ballot at the polls.
Since the town was incorporated in 1793, the town has decided on officers, the budget and other government issues at an annual meeting.
In 1982, the meeting was switched from March to June to coincide with the town’s new fiscal year of July 1 to June 30, former Town Manager Cindy Dunn said.
And for decades, the first three warrant articles to elect a moderator and town officials have been decided by secret ballot at the polls in early June, and the remaining warrant articles voted on at an open meeting later that month, she said.
Town Manager Glen Holmes said Judy Berg’s petition will be included on the June 22 warrant.
The petition calls for:
• Polling hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Two public hearings at least three weeks before balloting, one on a weeknight and the other on a Saturday
• The warrant’s being available a week before the town meeting or special town meeting for posting and through mailing to each taxpayer.
Berg said the two hearings would give residents the opportunity to discuss articles.
Five Maine towns, she said, vote on their warrants by secret ballot at the polls instead of at open meetings, and voter participation has increased.
Berg contends changing to an all-day referendum ballot will allow greater participation in the decision-making process.
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