Alna’s December decision day nears with absentee voting, new questions about one ballot question, and details on how one resident missed making the ballot for selectman.

At the fire station Dec. 14, voters will elect a first selectman for a seat good until March, consider tapping surplus to cover overruns, and consider changing how selectmen are elected and serve, or having March town meeting voters pick a committee to study the selectboard form of government. Nov. 10, in an email and at the selectmen’s meeting, a past selectman who got the committee question on the ballot raised new questions about the ballot question that precedes his.

For a legal opinion, Doug Baston hired attorney Kristin Collins, a familiar name and voice to planning and appeals board Zoom meeting goers for representing Jeff Spinney in his shoreland requests. Baston’s email called Collins Maine’s preeminent municipal attorney and, he added, “she also knows Alna.”

Collins’ letter maintains the petition that sought the vote altering how selectmen are elected and serve has “two clear problems (that) require the entire petition to be refused.” It does not propose an ordinance to make the changes permanent, and it could impact selectmen elected before the changes, according to the letter.

Baston said the proposal is better left to the annual town meeting, does not accomplish the petition’s aim and poses legal issues.

Town counsel disagrees, as does he, Third Selectman Charles Culbertson said. Legal opinions can run the gamut, he added.

Past selectman Ed Pentaleri will be the lone candidate on the ballot for selectman; town officials were already reporting that, since Nov. 5, but according to selectmen in the Nov. 10 meeting and afterward, Don Lyons also turned in nomination papers. Deputy Town Clerk Linda Verney notarized them Nov. 5 but the filing deadline had passed, selectmen said. The deadline was noon because the town office closes at noon Fridays, Culbertson said.

At the Nov. 10 meeting, Verney said she notarized Lyons’ papers after hours and left them at the town office, and she explained to Lyons the papers “might not go through.” 

Lyons could run as a write-in candidate, selectmen said. In a phone interview Nov. 5, Lyons confirmed turning in the papers and Verney having notarized them. Wiscasset Newspaper has since sought comment from Lyons on his plans, if any, this election. He did not immediately return messages.

Ralph Hilton recalled the town once accepting his papers for school committee after he could not get them there. Beth Whitney said the different outcomes for Hilton and Lyons show “this town has gone from being a little town that we loved to being a great big mess ... following big city rules.” The town is going by Maine Municipal Association’s statement that the clerk has no discretion, Second Selectman Linda Kristan said.

A public hearing on the Dec. 14 vote is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15 at the fire station.

Also Nov. 10, selectmen announced they had accepted Verney’s resignation. Culbertson later explained via email after Wiscasset Newspaper requested Verney’s resignation letter, “Apparently she gave a verbal notice to (Town Clerk) Lisa Arsenault a couple of weeks ago. Lisa asked her to stay on through (the Nov. 2) election week.”

In the board meeting at the town office and over Zoom, selectmen thanked Verney for her service. Kristan said Verney warmly welcomed her as a new selectman and was always helpful and energetic, delightful to have at the office and will be missed.

Absentee ballots were to be available for the Dec. 14 vote starting Nov. 12, according to town emails. Effective Nov. 30, town office hours will change to Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon.