NEW GLOUCESTER — More than two dozen residents on Monday urged New Gloucester Selectmen to hold a third town meeting on a weekday night to revote on the Upper Gloucester public water system approval, which passed by a majority on Feb. 16 by a show of hands.

The board took comment during the public participation portion of the regular board meeting for nearly an hour.

Debbie May told the board that she and others objected to the political process whereby selectmen held the special town meeting on a Saturday during a holiday weekend — the beginning of a school vacation week.

She turned in a petition with about 180 signatures. “Most are names that voted you into office,” she said.

“A weekday is normal for the town meeting date, and we want you to bring it back and get the support from all the people,” May said. “People are upset with the political system and want a new town meeting. We do not want to lose our reasonable right to vote. A weekday meeting for a normal town meeting date would bring back the support for all the people. I’m trying to get a fair vote.” 

Others said they expected a paper ballot in lieu of a show of hands, especially when they failed to realize the vote had already been taken. The meeting concluded in less than 15 minutes.

Others questioned if there was a legal vote to conclude the special town meeting.

Many said they couldn’t hear from the back of the room, though no one questioned the moderator on the sound quality, which often happens when voters are unable to hear.

No one questioned holding a voter checklist ballot or a paper ballot vote when moderator Donald Libby called the vote, which was determined by a show of hands.

Board Chairman Steve Libby gave a detailed timeline on the many meetings and timetables that the board had held after the first special meeting vote failed. Residents raised questions that brought the board, residents and New Gloucester Water District back to the drawing board in order to address the public’s concerns after the failed January 14 vote.

The timetable to hold the second special town meeting was delayed due to having to wait for approval from funding agencies regarding the changes.

In addition, two public forums were held for Upper Gloucester residents, as well as another for the entire community. Every mailbox holder in the town was notified about the second special town meeting date.

“We followed all the legal notices required by state law, including postings and process,” said Libby who noted that Feb. 11 was the preferred date for the special town meeting.

Town Manager Sumner Field III said a petition requires 10 percent of voters at the last gubernatorial election, or 260 signatures from verified legal voters.

There is no indication of gross negligence or fraud, or that the board operated outside of legal requirements for the special town meetings, Field said.

Libby said more than 200 people attended the second town meeting when the vote was approved.

Voters on Jan. 14 defeated the $2.3 million public water system for Upper Gloucester, which required mandatory hook-ups for those whose wells had not been contaminated at their own expense.

The changed ordinance allows for those with clean wells to use the water for swimming pools, gardens and agriculture. An interlocal agreement allows the town to give land rights to the New Gloucester Water District to install the infrastructure for the system. It also approves the funding that includes $1 million as the local share, which will be paid for in up to 40 years.

Libby said the town worked hard not to lose the funding for the project.

Selectmen went back to the drawing board, incorporating the changes voters said were necessary to make the ordinance acceptable.

Martha Bartlett said, “We are looking for a good-faith answer of our questions. Things went so fast, we weren’t given time to vote.”

“We’re asking that we, the people, want a fair vote,” resident Ryan Tripp said. “We didn’t have a piece of paper or a ballot. This is America.”

Resident Roger Hicks said, “There is a lot of contention of what comes out of Washington these days.” He mentioned recalling the board. “Everyone I spoke to felt disrespected.”

Board member Josh McHenry said no one at the meeting asked for a paper ballot. If that had occurred, the vote would have been handled by ballot.

The board agreed to review the public petition and discuss the legality of a revote by contacting the town attorney.