WATERFORD – William “Whizzer” Wheeler pounded on the table as he engaged in a shouting match with a business owner during an open meeting Monday. The meeting adjourned abruptly, and he ignored people’s questions as he walked out.

In an interview after the meeting, he called town residents liars who unjustly pummeled selectmen with criticism.

“This town is a small group of ingrates who come in, make their money and leave,” he said, later adding: “Why waste my time when I didn’t lie or do anything.”

This was his last meeting of his term, and he is not seeking re-election.

Residents vote March 2, and there is one name, John Bell, on the ballot to replace him. The annual town meeting is the day after.

This was not the first time Wheeler has announced it was his last meeting.

He had resigned from the board last summer under pressure from a group named Take Back Our Waterford.

Three people vied for his seat, and write-in votes for Wheeler trumped all of them. He was back in office.

Now, he insists that he has no interest in continuing as a selectman, even if he was re-elected by write-in votes.

Town Clerk Brenda Bigonski opened Monday’s selectmen’s meeting by criticizing regular meeting-goers for being too harsh on Wheeler.

“The town is going to miss him…,” she said. “He has done nothing to harm the town of Waterford in any way.”

Wheeler is renowned for his abrasive demeanor. Bigonski admitted it was difficult to work with him the first year, but during the most recent year they had a good working relationship.

During parts of Bigonski’s speech, Wheeler sat with his face covered, and avoided eye contact with residents, many of whom were shaking their heads.

The town’s tax assessing policies have been an extensive topic of debate. While residents, including former Selectman Les Gammon, say Wheeler developed the tax program that is hurting the town, Wheeler contends that the tax system was in place before he became selectman.

Over the last six months, Wheeler has been engaged in a tax abatement case with the owners of the Bear Mountain Inn. The inn owners claim they were assessed unfairly.

Wheeler said if they were to get their way, it would triple the property taxes for waterfront property owners.

Oxford County commissioners recently handed down a decision ruling in favor of the inn. Now, Wheeler is threatening that if they don’t reverse it or dismiss it, the town will sue the commission.

The situation heated up again Monday night as inn owners Rickie Hall and Lorraine Blais called Wheeler a liar.

Wheeler addressed the Advertiser-Democrat reporter.

“I would appreciate that you put in the paper ‘Whizzer didn’t lie, the girls did’,” he demanded.

“We want fairness,” the inn owners eventually snapped back.

Bell would not comment on Monday night’s drama. He said he decided he wanted to serve the town partially because he was unhappy with some of the things going on.

“One goal is to restore civility to town government,” he said.

He said he plans to look at what surrounding towns are doing in terms of taxation, and form a tax committee, something Wheeler vehemently opposed.

Bell, a land surveyor, has lived in Waterford for 15 years, but his roots date back for six generations.

Wheeler listed a number of considerations for the new selectman during Monday’s meeting.

He acknowledged the need for a new method of taxation. Residents needed to be educated about their taxes. The town needs to take advantage of computer technologies more. They need to attract young people for the volunteer fire station. The roads need to be looked at, he said.

“One of our biggest flaws is that we don’t have enough interaction with school committee members,” he said.

He concluded his speech and a few people clapped. Others continued to ask him about taxation.

“Don’t talk to me, I’m done,” he told someone.

Board Chairman Norman Rust interrupted.

“If there are people in this room that can come up with a better tax policy, I’d love to see it,” he said. “We’re doing the best we can.”