By a show of hands, 56 to 29, Wiscasset voters passed a $66,764 municipal planning budget including restoring the town planner’s position. The article was the only item of business at a special town meeting Thursday night, Aug. 24, at Wiscasset Elementary School.

The action reversed a vote at the polls in June when voters rejected the planning article, 464-256. The special town meeting took 40 minutes.

Moderator Susan Blagden cautioned voters multiple times to speak directly to the article after several speakers brought the previous town planner’s performance into the discussion.

“You are here tonight to speak only and directly to the article before you,” she said after interrupting one speaker.

Selectman Ben Rines Jr. opened the discussion by telling the audience the planning article had been overwhelmingly defeated two months ago. Three select board members had recommended passing the planning budget, while two were against it.

“We can get along without a town planner,” said Rines.

Selectman Katharine Martin-Savage disagreed. “The town of Wiscasset needs economic development. No one in the town office has the expertise to do this work or the time to take on the additional responsibilities.”

Sherri Dunbar, one of the residents who circulated the petition calling for the special town meeting, said many of the signers had told her they didn’t realize voting down the planning article eliminated the town planner position.

Her comment drew a response from Selectman Bob Blagden. “Not too many years ago, this planning budget was voted down twice in one year, and won once in another by just one vote. Other than newcomers in town that maybe don’t know the history there’s no way anyone can make the argument people didn’t know what they were voting on when this article was defeated.”

Dick Grondin said he understood the need for a town planner and supported hiring one, but not the process being followed. “I’m very disappointed in the board of selectmen to allow this town meeting to happen when we voted as a community that all monetary articles were to be put to a referendum vote. I support planning but I’m voting against this tonight.”

Speaking in favor of the article’s passage, John Reinhardt said, “If we want our community to move forward and into the future, we have to have the professionals that know what they’re doing working for us.”