Alna selectmen Oct. 27 set a 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15 public hearing at the fire station for the questions voters face in a referendum-style special town meeting Dec. 14. With residents’ input, the board tweaked and approved the warrant. Two of its questions stem from citizens’ petitions.

Some attendees questioned the legality of Tom Aldrich and Katie Papagiannis’s, that would change how selectmen are elected and serve. So that warrant article should be reviewed, Jeff Spinney said. It already was, by town counsel and Maine Municipal Association, Third Selectman Charles Culbertson said. Doug Baston – whose petition led to a Dec. 14 warrant article for the annual March town meeting to pick a committee to look at town government, if the Dec. 14 Aldrich-Papagiannis question fails – asked selectmen their opinion of the Aldrich-Papagiannis one.

Selectmen said it should go to voters, and they want to find out more at the hearing. Les Fossel commented, the Dec. 14 vote is by secret ballot, so one person’s opinion is no one else’s business.

Jeff Philbrick wondered, if Baston’s proposal passes Dec. 14 to empanel the committee in March, would that force an open town meeting in March even if COVID runs high. Selectmen said they will address that if it happens.

Selectmen said another Dec. 14 warrant article proposes tapping surplus for $25,000 for contingency to cover overruns including computers and animal control. And in the meeting at the town office and carried over Zoom, former selectman David Abbott noted, warrants historically include any elections. Selectmen added to the warrant the recently announced Dec. 14 election to fill the first selectman’s seat vacant since spring.

Also Oct. 27, the board named Honor Sage constable.