It took Wiscasset voters under five minutes to approve a $829,889 parks and recreation budget that includes funding Wiscasset Community Center. A special town meeting was held Thursday night, Sept. 17 to reconsider the expenditure, due to a printing error on the ballot of the Sept. 8 town election.

The start of the meeting was delayed 15 minutes to allow people more time to sign in; 156 did so, although seating inside the community center gymnasium was limited to 50 due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. Extra seating was placed on the lawn outside the gym.

After the article was moved and seconded, moderator Susan Blagden asked for comment; there was none and the article passed nearly unanimously in a show of hands inside and outside the building.

It was the second time in 10 days voters passed the department’s budget. The problem was the word “raise” was missing from the original referendum ballot. The article should have stated, “raise and appropriate.” It was printed correctly on the warrant appearing in the annual town report.

After a resident brought the error to town officials’ attention, two separate legal opinions were sought. Both recommended holding a special town meeting to reconsider the parks and recreation budget with the correct wording. The select board took $9,000 from its $30,000 contingency fund to cover the park and recreation payroll until the meeting could be held.

Town Manager Dennis Simmons said the ballot printing company, Election Systems & Software, has acknowledged the printing error and the town plans to seek compensation from the company.