By Winslow Durgin,Special to the Sun Journal

MECHANIC FALLS – Dismal voter turnout at the recent town meeting fresh in their mind, town councilors Monday night agreed that the time is ripe to consider altering how the town conducts business.

Fewer than 50 townspeople showed up May 20 on a sunny Saturday morning to vote on how much money the town should raise for its annual budget and how that money should be spent.

Just 42 people exercised their right to have a say in the $4.6 million school budget.

The council decided to ask voters who come to the June 13 primary election whether they would prefer deciding warrant articles at a referendum at the polls.

Unlike the town meeting scenario, polls would be open all day as they are for regular elections and residents would be able to show up and vote at a time of their choosing. That avoids having people commit the better part of a day to conduct town business.

If the June 13 questionnaires show significant interest in change, the next step is to elect a charter commission. That could take place in conjunction with November’s gubernatorial election and, provided townspeople favor it, the town could vote next spring at its town meeting whether to abandon the traditional meeting in favor of voting at the polls.

The council also accepted an offer from Poland Spring Water Co. giving the town $56,000 to be put toward a secondary water tank on Pigeon Hill.

The tank on Pigeon Hill, with a capacity of 50,000 gallons, would serve as a backup if the primary tank on Standpipe Hill needs to be shut down.

The council approved a management transition plan, effective July 1, to soften the effect of Town Manager Dana Lee’s resignation.

The council will host an open house for Lee from 5 to 7 p.m., June 14, at the municipal building to give townspeople an opportunity to wish him well.

According to the agreement, Lee will be available for consultation for six months.

Copy the Story Link