The Wiscasset Board of Selectmen's decision to bring the question of town employees' health insurance before the taxpayers in a referendum vote is welcome news.

It's no secret that politicians never want to be responsible for laying town employees off, cutting their pay, or cutting back on their benefits. But when Budget Committee member Dick Grondin argued in a widely circulated letter to the editor last week that Selectmen had a responsibility to follow the dictates of voters at the last town meeting -- initiating a co-pay system for benefits, he must have found a great deal of support around town.

The Selectmen could have interpreted the vote strictly, which called for a lesser amount to be spent on this line item while not specifically calling for a change in the co-pay policy. But clearly the intent of voters was to have town employees start picking up a portion of these costs.

Wiscasset's town employees presently have full medical and dental coverage, in addition to other benefits. Very few workplaces can offer full dental coverage anymore because the cost has become so high.

In a time when the town is looking for ways to cut spending, voters should have the opportunity to say how much of the benefits package for town employees they are willing to support.

- Paula Gibbs