RUMFORD – Residents will have a chance Wednesday night to learn the impacts of switching from voting on the municipal budget at a traditional town meeting to a referendum at the polls.

The hearing begins at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium.

The possible elimination of the annual town meeting – and its traditional show of hands to decide issues – began a few months ago when Seth Carey and others circulated a petition that gathered 1,200 signatures asking that the question be put on the June ballot.

Instead, selectmen gave voters a choice of four options, ranging from retaining the traditional town meeting, to continuing the town meeting but holding secret ballots at that meeting, to voting for the budget at the polls with a secret ballot. Because of the confusion, with some people voting for more than one option on the advisory question, selectmen decided to hold a yes or no vote on going to secret ballot in November. If passed, the traditional town meeting would be eliminated next June.

Neighboring Peru and Mexico have already gone to secret ballot and annual town meetings.

Those attending Wednesday’s hearing will also learn of possible procedures if articles fail during a referendum on the budget.

It is expected that the soon-to-be-formed Charter Commission will deal with other referendum-related questions when it begins meeting within the next few weeks.

Residents will vote on the secret ballot question during Nov. 7’s statewide election.