MECHANIC FALLS — Voters here want to end their annual town meeting.

By a 2-1 margin —  816 to 398 — people approved a new charter that replaces the town meeting with a town-wide referendum to be held on primary election day in June.

According to the new charter, Town Manager John Hawley, working with department heads, would still prepare a town budget. The Town Council and  Budget Committee would maintain their traditional roles of refining and making changes and recommendations. A public hearing would be held, allowing townspeople to express their opinions before the budget goes to a secret ballot.

The Charter Commission also eliminated from the charter all references to a municipal school district, now that the town has joined Minot and Poland in Regional School Unit 16.