Wiscasset selectmen on March 18 held to their decision to have the town decide its next budget at an open town meeting, despite residents' latest urgings for them to change back to voting at the polls.

Selectman Judy Colby remained the lone opponent on the board to the switch to town meeting. She voted against the board's new decisions Tuesday night, to set the meeting for 9 a.m., May 31, at the Wiscasset Community Center.

During the board meeting's public comment period, several residents took the podium one by one, to call on the board to reconsider. They said voting at the polls allows for absentee voting, which has become popular and enables voting by senior citizens and others who might not be able to sit through town meeting, or get to it, due to their work schedules.

The board's decision also goes against a non-binding vote residents took years ago to decide the budget at the polls, speakers said.

“Some things are legal, but they're not right,” Budget Committee member Bob Blagden said in opposing the switch to town meeting.

Selectman Tim Merry said the comments made Tuesday night were the first complaints he had heard since the board's decision two weeks earlier.

Board Chairman Ed Polewarczyk said a town meeting is the only way he knew of to ensure that residents understand what they're voting on. He maintained that many voters did not, when they rejected parts of last year's budget.

“We almost shut this town down ...,” Polewarczyk said.

Yes to flag project

The board on Tuesday gave the American Legion the green light to raise money to buy as many as 100 American flags to put on utility poles in town. Selectmen have agreed to up the cost of the town's insurance by $500 in connection with the project, Interim Town Manager Don Gerrish said.