Wiscasset voters will have the final say on Election Day whether firefighters will be permitted to wash their personal vehicles at the fire station. A public hearing was held on the referendum question Tuesday night. There was no comment. Selectmen did not make a recommendation on the article which will be decided by a ballot vote.

The controversy was brought to a head after members of the Wiscasset Fire Department etitioned to have the issue decided by voters.

The petition turned over to the town clerk last month contained over 200 signatures. It came after firefighters and selectmen were unable to work out a compromise. Selectmen took multiple votes on the issue, each time denying the firefighters’ request to continue the longtime practice.

Separate opinions from the town attorney and Maine Municipal Association, the town’s insurance carrier, advised against allowing the car-washing due to a liability issue regardless of whether firefighters signed a waiver.

Prior to Tuesday night’s discussion, Board Chairman Judy Colby said the legal opinions were clear and consistent. “If we allow the car-washing, it puts the liability on the town. I realize it’s something they’ve done for 30 or more years but the attorneys are telling us if someone were to be injured the responsibility lies with the town.”

Selectmen Jefferson Slack and Ben Rines Jr. have consistently voted in favor of allowing the car-washing. Selectmen David Cherry, Judy Flanagan and Colby have voted against it.

At the board’s Sept. 20 meeting, Slack suggested his peers consider allowing the car-washing and avoid the expense of the referendum question. Because of the timing, the referendum ballots can’t be electronically scanned and will need to be hand-counted by ballot clerks. At the same meeting Slack said he was pretty sure voters would support the firefighters’ request at the polls.