A small but vocal group of citizens was on hand in the Wiscasset municipal building’s hearing room Sept. 8 to share thoughts for changing the town’s form of government. A number of opinions were shared, most agreeing the current system isn’t working.

Tim Merry, a former selectman and fire chief, arranged and chaired the meeting. In a recent interview, Merry complained property taxes continue to rise while town services, roads and infrastructure get worse.

The meeting came two days after selectmen postponed setting the 2016-17 mil rate. At their Tuesday, Sept. 6 meeting, selectmen voted 3-2 to take $1 million from the undesignated fund balance to lower an anticipated 14.1-percent hike in property taxes.

Taxes proved to be the hot topic during Merry’s meeting.

Steve Mehrl, a former budget committee chairman, explained that the town manager and selectmen only propose the budget. The voters decide what articles pass or fail. He said people should make a better effort to understand how the budget process works, including how big ticket items impact taxes.

Marita Fairfield said the town manager isn’t a Wiscasset resident and “not on the hook for property taxes” the way she and other residents are.

“Our public officials are better off then we are because they don’t live here,” commented Carl Amirault of Lowelltown Road. Longtime residents have become frustrated, he continued. “We vote against buying a new SUV police cruiser and selectmen go out and buy one anyway.”

Amirault added, some homeowners would be in “really tough shape” over this year’s tax increase.

Former selectman Bob Blagden didn’t think changing the form of town government would make any difference. “What matters is what articles are passed,” he said.

Bill Sutter of Federal Street suggested changing to a council form of government. Councilors would represent different precincts, with a manager working with the council, he explained.

Richard Grondin felt better communication was needed. He said selectmen did a poor job explaining this year’s budget and what the impact would be on the tax rate. As an example, Grondin used the increase in the EMS budget and its impact on the tax rate.

Several times, Merry steered the conversation back to what form of government people preferred. Unlike a town manager, an administrator doesn’t have oversight over department heads. Selectmen oversee an administrator, he explained.

“We could hire a town administrator for about half of what it costs to hire a town manager,” he said.

Blagden responded that other towns have nothing other than a board of selectmen. “They seem to be getting along fine. Why is it so complicated here,” he said.

Selectman Ben Rines Jr. said a major reason for this year’s tax increase was $240,000 needed to pay on the loan for leaving Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12. “We have to live with that for 10 years.”

If Wiscasset hired an administrator, selectmen would be in charge of all the hiring and firing. “The way it is now, by statute the town manager is in charge of all hiring and firing. I think it would be better if selectmen were in charge of hiring and firing,” added Rines.

Rines said he’d never be in favor of going back to a town meeting. “For all its good points, it doesn’t give everyone the opportunity to vote. Some people just can’t be there and what happens at town meeting impacts everybody’s taxes.”

Merry said he plans to hold another meeting in the near future. He hopes to have an administrator from another town attend.