1.0 Background. Since its first meeting, in June 2000, the Wiscasset Charter Commission has discussed numerous issues. On most issues, the discussions have been informative for both the members of the Commission and the general public.

1.1 During the course of the Charter Commission deliberations, two citizen petitions were initiated which called for votes on two key issues: Whether Wiscasset should adopt the State Statutory Town Manager Plan Whether Wiscasset should increase the size of the Board of Selectmen from three to five members.

On March 23, 2001, the voters voted as follows: Town Manager. Yes 531 No 279 Five-Man Board of Selectmen. Yes 486 No 331

1.2 On May 8, 2001, the Charter Commission voted for a five-man Board of Selectmen but against a town manager. The five members of theCommissionwho voted against a town manager were: George Flanders. Appointed by the Selectmen. Former Selectman. Suzanne Rankin. Appointed. Paul Stover, Chairman. Appointed. Bob Blagden. Elected. Former First Selectman. Diane Hathorne. Elected. Former Tax Collector.

The three members voting in favor of a town manager form of government were: Charles Applebee. Elected. Richard Grondin. Elected. Karl Tarbox. Elected.

One member abstained from voting on the town manager issue: Peter Rines. Elected. Brother of First Selectman.

2.0 Justification for minority report. Wechose to write aminority Commission report in order to endorse a town manager for the town of Wiscasset, for the following reasons:

1. The preponderance of evidence (details below) presented to the Commission, and presented to members on their field trips to other towns, favors a town manager form of government. We had no outside expert testimony against a town manager form of government,given Wiscasset's current economic and demographic situation.

2. The will of 65% of the people, as evidenced by the March 23, referendum vote, is in favor of a town manager. Part of the mission statement of the Commission is to "take input from the community". There can be no clearer reflection of community input than a secret ballot referendum. We can only conclude that five members of the Commission had no intention to take input from the community even though it was part of our mission statement.

1. Preponderance of evidence (elaboration). Roundtable discussion, November 2000. Officials from Windsor, Farmington, and West Bath. Windsor has recently hired a town manager. The chairman (of the selectmen), who is in his 70's, was putting in 40 hours a week, and things were falling through the cracks, Gerald Nault, Windsor advisory committee member, said, We felt we've got to find another way to govern the Town of Windsor. Our method of governing just wasn't working.

Another speaker at the roundtable was Pamela Corrigan, town manager of Farmington, who told about her experience as both an administrative assistant and town manager for Naples, as well as her present position. One advantage she cited to the town manager system is there is a separation of powers and people can appeal to the Board of Selectmen for any grievance. Also, a town manager by the very nature of the title carries more weight with people.

First Selectman Ralph Merry of West Bath advised Wiscasset to go for a town manager form of government and have a proper contract drawn up. He said there is an advantage to not having someone from the community. Field trips. Members of the Commission visited numerous towns. Most experts advised in favor of either a town manager or an administrative assistant. One manager said we were locked in 1960 style government. Another said Wiscasset reminded him of a small, remote Maine island without ferry service. Don Willard, at the time the town manager of Rockport, said that the town manager form of government is very responsive to the needs of the town.

Several members of the Windsor study committee explained to us their reasons for supporting a town manager. People at the Maine Municipal Association told us that 80% of the towns in Maine our size have town managers. 90 to 95% of towns and cities with budgets of $11 million or more have a town manager, according to Mike Starn of MMA. Events in the news. Since the formation of the Charter Commission in 2000, Maine newspapers have been full of stories about other towns making the switch to a town manager. Windsor was discussed earlier. Recently, a committee appointed by the Selectmen of Manchester voted 6-1 to recommend a town manager for that town, comparable in size to Wiscasset. Over80 Maine towns and cities now have a town manager, and there is no longer a town with a population of over 7,000 in the State of Maine, which does not have either a town manager or an administrative assistant.

3.0 Conclusion. By recommending against a manager form of government, the Commission is bucking the tide of history, the available outside expert testimony, and the clear will of the voters of Wiscasset.

If this Charter passes, the people will be forced to petition again for that which 65% of them have already voted, a town manager. In addition, if the people vote for this proposed Charter, it will be, practically, difficult to attain a town manager form of government, as the petition process to change a Charter is time-consuming and legally involved.

This Charter preserves the Wiscasset tradition of a strong First Selectman, while specifying few duties for the position.There are many good provisions in the Charter, butthe failure of the Commission to recommend a town manager form of government is inexcusable in light of both the evidence and the will of the people. The provisions which we like in the proposed Charter can all be implemented as ordinances by a progressive-thinking Board of Selectmen.

In order to implement the will of the people of Wiscasset on the town manager issue, we recommend a NO vote on this proposed Charter.