Wiscasset's school committee declined Monday night to hire an independent investigator to, as Vice Chair Jonathan Barnes put it in his motion, "investigate a complaint received by the board."

No one seconded Barnes' motion. "The motion dies," Chair Tracey Whitney declared.

The public outcome followed an about two and a half hour executive, or closed-door session. Stating its purpose under state law before the committee entered the session, Whitney read it was for "Discussion or consideration of the employment, appointment, assignment, duties, promotion, demotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplining, resignation or dismissal of an individual or group of public officials, appointees or employees of the body or agency or the investigation or hearing of charges or complaints against a person or persons ..." 

Responding to questions post-meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson said she cannot state what the complaint was or who it involved. 

Monday night, when the executive session was proposed to be added to the agenda, Barnes said he had not planned for that and was not prepared to be there that long.

"I don't mind waiting," member Doug Merrill said. "We need to do this sooner than later," he said.

Andersson said she had emailed all the members about the possibility of including the executive session and she heard back from all except Barnes, so she did not include it. But Monday, Whitney instructed her to add the session, Andersson said. 

Whitney nodded and then told the committee she was "happy to table it, and we can figure out another time."

"I fully expected to have it this evening," member Christopher Hart said.

The committee voted 3-1, Barnes opposed, to move into the executive session.