MEXICO – Selectmen and Town Manager John Madigan continue to struggle in drafting the first referendum-style annual warrant.

At Wednesday night’s board meeting, they tried to decide what yes and no would mean on articles where the Budget Committee and the board disagreed on monetary recommendations.

After much discussion, board Chairman Barbara Laramee finally asked Madigan to check with the Maine Municipal Association and bring the advice to the board’s last budget meeting with the committee at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the town hall.

For the first time, residents in June will vote on the municipal budget by referendum ballot at the polls instead of at a traditional open meeting. A majority approved the change last year.

Reading annual meeting warrants from other towns that have successfully switched to referendums, Madigan said Wednesday night that a no vote in York meant voters went with the budget committee recommendation. Other styles got rather detailed and confusing.

According to the MMA, Madigan said a ballot question must have a distinct choice between two clear options. In Mexico’s first draft, there are only four articles in which both the committee and selectmen disagree on the amount to be raised.

“We should take the selectmen vote only and make it yes or no. Why make it confusing?” Selectman Peter Merrill asked.

Selectman Reggie Arsenault said he believes Madigan’s first draft is fine as is.

“One, keep it as simple as possible, and, two, we’re the ones who put this out. For some reason, the Budget Committee thinks they have sole power over what goes on the warrant,” Arsenault said.

No one from the committee attended the meeting.

“The Budget Committee has to realize that they’re just an advisory committee. Enough is enough. Let the selectmen do the jobs we’ve been elected to do. Let the town manager do the job he was hired to do,” Arsenault added.

Madigan again stressed they had to keep the ballot as simple as possible so as not to confuse voters. That’s when Arsenault said the board would hold required informational meetings prior to the actual vote to explain the articles and what voting yes or no would mean.

“I don’t like the idea of using one figure for selectmen and one figure for the Budget Committee,” Merrill said.

Selectman George Byam disagreed, saying Madigan should keep both recommendations in as a courtesy to voters.

“The Budget Committee does try to do what they think is right. If we just say they voted no, it doesn’t inform voters,” Byam said.

“If any one of the articles are voted no, selectmen have the option to call another town meeting by ballot for one article or two, or whatever the case is, but, in the meantime, we can continue to operate on last year’s budget,” Madigan said.

“I just don’t want to spend $4,000 on another town meeting when we’re only quibbling over $200,” Merrill responded.

“In no way do they vote the Budget Committee recommendation. They can only vote yes or no on the selectmen recommendation,” Madigan said.

That’s when Laramee asked Madigan to get another opinion from MMA.

“Then, we will still make our own decision,” she added.