Despite the allure of one of the most beautiful spring evenings this year, Woolwich residents filled the Woolwich Central School on Wednesday, May 7 for the annual town meeting.

In two hours of discussion, voters approved all articles, except a proposed $6,660 stipend for the upkeep of veterans’ graves in private cemeteries.

The evening’s first extended discussion concerned article 17.

Greg Doak, who is associated with Riverside Association, asked for clarification of the $400 request for cemeteries. Selectman Allison Hepler explained the $400 was for veterans’ grave flags, and was not a new expense, just one that had been broken out as a separate line item for the first time this year.

Doak then asked that the $6,660 proposed stipend for private cemeteries be struck from the article. “My feeling is that this is a government intrusion on private property,” Doak said.

Chairman David King explained the stipend proposal had been developed with local cemetery associations and was in response to a new state law.

“The town is not actually under any obligation to provide money. The law says we have to work with these groups,” King said. “We don’t have a public works department, so we offered a stipend. But I agree with everything Greg has said.

“The government is involved in our lives so much, I don’t think it has to be involved in our deaths.”

Fred Karhl asked to hear the opinion of fellow veteran, Selectman Lloyd Coombs. “My feeling is this is a state law and we have to do this,” Coombs said. “I vote to uphold the state law.”

When striking the $6,660 was called to a verbal vote, Moderator John Chapman called in favor of the ayes. Karhl asked for a count. The ayes had it, 75 to 28, and the $6,660 was removed.

The evening’s other large discussion concerned article 31, which directs the solid waste committee study to develop a pay-as-you-throw proposal for voters’ consideration at a future meeting. Ben Tipton said 110 signatures had been collected to bring this article before the voters. Tipton said PAYT could lower the town’s rising disposal costs and was warranted from both an environmental and fairness standpoint.

“But this article doesn’t say we’re going to do this,” Tipton said. “It directs the committee to research it and look at other towns.”

Three audience members spoke to have the article removed, citing concerns for those on fixed incomes. Others spoke up for the measure, citing disparity in waste disposal and the need to make decisions on good information. At times, Chapman reread the question so voters were clear that they were not voting on PAYT but on a study of it.

“I think it would be wise to let the committee study this and bring it back to us,” King said. “I think we should explore the option.”

The article passed overwhelmingly.

 Article 18, a proposed appropriation of $49,203 for the Patten Free Library also stimulated a lengthy discussion. After David Miller and two students spoke in favor of article 18, Karhl said his concerns about the article had nothing to do with the library itself.

“I think this is a marvelous asset,” Kahrl said. “The issue I have is the funding formula is completely arbitrary and there is no negotiating. I have never seen the Patten Free Library undertake an aggressive fundraising drive so this money request passed out to towns can be diminished.”

The article passed 86 to 25.

The board of selectmen also honored retiring Woolwich Central School Principal Tom Soule for his 16 years of service to the community. King presented Soule with a Red Sox sweatshirt, which Soule donned before the night was over, and Selectman Jason Shaw presented him with an over-sized certificate of appreciation.