Edgecomb selectmen want an explanation why the municipal audit isn’t complete.

With less than two weeks before the May 16 town meeting, town auditor Fred Brewer hasn’t submitted the final results. A preliminary report showed that the town’s surplus had an undisclosed negative balance.

The selectmen hoped to include the audit in the town reports mailed this week. Instead, the selectmen will recommend residents view the audit at the town office when it’s ready. The selectmen also plan on making the audit available at the town meeting.

But they still don’t know when that will be.

In conversations with town officials, Brewer indicated the delay was due to the use of new computer software.

Selectman Stuart Smith said it may be time for a new auditor. Smith said the delay put both the selectmen and town treasurer Claudia Coffin in a bad position. He wants an immediate explanation why the audit isn’t complete.

“We should consider a different auditor regardless of the problem. It’s a good idea to change every few years, anyway,” Smith said. “From a consulting point of view, I don’t understand why an accounting firm would change software in the middle of tax season.”

The selectmen directed Smith to contact Brewer for a better defined reason why the audit isn’t complete. The selectmen also want Brewer to submit a cover letter with the final audit explaining the delay. The selectmen plan on distributing the cover letter during the town meeting.

In other action, the selectmen finalized two additions to the town warrant. The selectmen added article 55, which asks residents to authorize the board to sell the school’s 2002 John Deere tractor and use proceeds to pay the new tractor’s principal cost. Article 56 asks residents to appropriate $98,000 out of the Woodend Fund and apply it to the town’s surplus account. The article also authorizes the funds to pay for snow plowing and related road work.

The Woodend Fund was created over 40 years ago to purchase boat launch access to the Damariscotta and Sheepscot rivers. The fund has $188,000. The selectmen have grappled in previous weeks to propose borrowing from the account or eliminating it. The selectmen believe the $98,000 request is “taking a middle of the road” approach.

Selectman Jack Sarmanian proposed borrowing from the Woodend Fund last month to replenish the town’s surplus account. On April 20, the selectmen proposed a warrant article to see what sum the residents want to use from the Woodend Fund for town surplus. The selectmen believed they shouldn’t make a recommendation on the fund’s use.

But on May 4, Sarmanian had a change of heart. He advocated residents appropriate $98,000 from the Woodend Fund, and transfer it into surplus. Sarmanian decided to publicly support the proposal because several residents asked his opinion.

“Two weeks ago, I said the board should have a neutral position and not comment about it,” he said. “I have an obligation to be responsive to the public. So I’m going to actively support this goal and encourage people to come and debate the issue on the 16th.”

The selectmen will meet next at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 18 in the municipal building.