POLAND — Town officials are seeking to change the annual town meeting format from a traditional in-person vote in April to voting at the polls on the second Tuesday in June from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The first step took place Wednesday night at a public hearing by the town’s Charter Commission.

At the meeting, Deputy Town Manager Nikki Pratt said it has been difficult in recent years getting the required 100 voters to attend on a Saturday morning in April. While Maine was under a declared civil emergency during the pandemic, town officials switched to voting by referendum ballot, she added.

Turnout was over 300 at the polls the first year in August 2020. Last year, over 400 voters cast ballots on the annual warrant articles.

This year, when public meeting requirements due to COVID were relaxed, the number of attendees just broke the minimum 100.

Pratt added that a referendum ballot also allows absentee ballots to be cast as well.

The referendum ballot “is an open and honest vote,” Pratt said, and more people tend to participate.

Pratt said it isn’t unusual for a block of residents to come together at a town meeting to vote on a particular warrant item.

A referendum ballot makes that more difficult, she said.

Under the proposal, people would have the chance to speak about the proposed referendum warrant articles before they are officially signed by the Select Board. At least two public hearings would be held prior to the signing, one 15 days before the signing and the second seven days before.

If the referendum ballot was in June, the town manager would have until April 15 to submit the municipal budget proposal to the Select Board instead of the current date of Feb. 15.

Election of town officials would also occur on that June date.

The town is also seeking to require nomination papers for elected office be filed by 60 days before the election, instead of the current 45.

Residents Chris Bithers and Fred Barlow spoke against the proposed referendum format.

Bithers said the chance to ask questions at town meeting would be lost, while Barlow said he felt it was important for the town to be “consistent to remain the same.”

Selectpersons Jane Penetheny and Stan Tetenman spoke in favor of the change.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to vote,” said Penetheny, while Tetenman said many people are left out of the town meeting process while the referendum “gives everybody the access to vote.”

The Charter Commission was formed June 14 when the townspeople voted via referendum to open the charter for amendments.

According to Pratt, “The Charter Commission can add, delete or change anything in the charter that it wishes. The previous vote on June 14 gives them that authorization. The changes they make will then go before the townspeople at a referendum vote to determine whether or not to adopt the changes. So the townspeople have final say, but only to what the commission decides to put before them for vote.”

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