Worries over the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Wiscasset select board on March 31 to indefinitely postpone the June 9 election and town meeting. For now the board is stopping work on the 2020-21 budget and delaying the printing of the annual town report.

The unanimous decision came when the board met remotely for a teleconference. Selectmen will continue meeting remotely until social distancing recommendations are lifted. This meeting and future ones will be posted on YouTube.

Town Manager John O’Connell felt it would be difficult to move ahead on the budget not knowing the financial impact the pandemic will have on town finances and the community as a whole. “There are still too many unknowns,” he said leaving the board to decide its next course of action. O’Connell reminded the board recently enacted legislation gave town officials authority to continue operating at the same budget levels approved for the previous year. The town’s fiscal year ends June 30.

“We might be able to hold a town meeting in July but August might be more realistic,” he continued, saying the problem wasn’t unique to Wiscasset; many Maine communities were delaying work on their budgets.

Selectman Ben Rines Jr. felt the board should also postpone the town election. “I’m not comfortable knocking on doors asking people to sign my nomination papers,” said Rines, who’s running for re-election. Kim Andersson said collecting signatures wasn’t keeping with recommendations for social distancing. Andersson is also seeking another term on the board. A new deadline for returning nomination papers for town offices wasn’t set. On a motion from Jeff Slack, the board voted to postpone both the election and work on next year’s budget.

Administrative Assistant Kathy Onorato noted if the pandemic were to continue into September, the state would permit town officials to assess property taxes based on the previous year’s numbers.

Chairman Judy Colby said the board will continue meeting remotely on the first and third Tuesday of each month. It will convene to sign the town warrant and payroll and carry out other essential town business.

The board meets next remotely at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. O’Connell said he was still arranging for other town committees to meet remotely.

The deadline for the second payment of property taxes is April 24.