The Wiscasset Withdrawal Committee will hold a public informational meeting Thursday, Dec. 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the town office meeting room, to inform Wiscasset residents the estimated cost of operating a stand alone school system for the town. This announcement was made at its Thursday, Nov. 29 meeting.

The withdrawal committee has been meeting with consultants for several months to determine the best route for the town to take in withdrawing from RSU 12. The committee was formed and appointed by the selectmen following a citizens’ petition that put the question on the June 12 ballot.

According to Withdrawal Committee Chairman Mary Myers, the meeting of December 6 will give the voters an opportunity to receive information and to ask questions of the committee and the consultants.

The withdrawal committee submitted its draft withdrawal agreement to the RSU around October 22. On Monday, November 19, Myers received an email from the chairman of the RSU Ad-hoc committee, Malinda Caron, informing her copy of the proposed plan had been given to their attorney Bill Stockmeyer for him to look over.

“We are scheduled to meet with him (Stockmeyer) on December 10, at Whitefield Elementary School at 6 p.m.,” Caron wrote. “We would like to invite your committee to this meeting. This will be an information meeting to assist with the work ahead.”

Myers said it appears the invitation is for withdrawal committee members to observe only, and the committee would like involvement in the meeting. Therefore, the committee has not accepted the invitation yet. According to Myers, the  decision to attend will be made at the December meeting.

The withdrawal committee will have legal representation at the negotiations with the RSU Ad-hoc committee. They are being represented by Geoffrey H. Hole from the Bernstein Shur Counselors, a Portland law firm.

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 207-844-4532 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.