Wiscasset's board of selectmen and budget committee will meet Thursday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the town office to discuss a petition that asks voters to come up with enough money to pay for the assessor's position through June 30.

A petition was presented to the selectmen on January 7 asking that slightly over $30,000 be appropriated to pay the salary for the town's assessing agent, Sue Varney, through the end of the fiscal year.

Last fall selectmen decided to cut the assessing budget, favoring an elimination of the assessing position, and replacing the function by using Tyler Technology to update the data each year. Tyler completed a town wide revaluation last summer.

However, Varney also carries out other duties not related to assessing, which involve human resources. Selectmen have not said who would pick up these duties. Moreover, Varney is protected by a union contract, which provides her with a settlement if she loses her job. That cost would be about $72,000.

State law requires the selectmen to act on any petition by putting a warrant article before the voters at the next scheduled town meeting, or within 60 days, which ever comes first.