MECHANIC FALLS — A proposal to end the traditional annual town meeting drew limited interest at Tuesday’s public hearing that unveiled the Town Charter Commission’s recommendations.

Town Manager John Hawley explained that the proposed change is intended to encourage greater citizen involvement in town affairs.

“Nobody shows up at the public hearing on the budget. Fewer and fewer are attending town meeting,” Hawley said.

Under the commission’s proposal, Hawley, working with department heads, would still prepare a town budget, and the town council and the town budget committee would maintain their traditional roles refining and making changes and recommendations as they see fit. A public hearing would be held allowing townspeople to express their opinions on the budget before it goes to a secret ballot vote.

The budget would be broken out in the same format as the existing warrant articles for voter approval.

“The process would stay the same prior to the vote. All that’s really eliminated is the debate on town meeting floor,” Hawley said.

Resident Nancy Guptill objected to loss of the debate on town meeting floor.

“This would take power away from people,” Guptill said.

Resident Arthur Montana noted that as few as 30 or 40 people are now making decisions for the whole town.

“The ballot should make more people aware. It would be a good thing for the town,” Montana said.

Erics Petersons noted that efforts have been made to encourage greater participation but to no avail.

“This debate has been going on for years. It’s a statement of what’s happening today. Perhaps this move will motivate townspeople to become more aware,” Petersons said.

The Charter Commission’s recommendations will go before voters at the Nov. 2 election.

At a second public hearing, amending the town’s ordinance governing mobile vendors, provisions to hike license fees and regulating the distance between vendors drew heavy fire, and the council decided to table action. Councilors directed Hawley to work with interested parties in an effort to devise an ordinance all are comfortable with.

In other business, the council approved a request to accept Dostie Drive as a town way, agreed to move the deeded right of way between the town tennis courts and Wayne Hackett’s garage closer to the courts, eliminating a split in Hackett’s lot.

The council also awarded Quality Concrete Floor the contract to construct a 100- by 60-foot concrete pad at the town transfer station for $24,750. It was the lowest bid.

In response to a complaint from resident Mike Needham concerning the quality of the paving undertaken in this year’s summer paving program, Hawley said that the firm of S. W. Cole has been hired for core testing the roads, which he acknowledged were a little rough.

“They ride terrible,” Needham said.