Wiscasset selectmen's public comment section of their Tuesday night meeting lasted longer than the few agenda items, and contentious comments about the road commissioner position prompted the chairman to cut off comments.

The meeting began with a public hearing on a liquor license for Mark Anthony's restaurant, which lasted only a few minutes, since there were no comments. After disposing of an update on Oest Associates and the announcement of the receipt of a $30,000 grant, the public comment session began with questions about overdrafts in three accounts, and the status of the road commissioner's job, now held by Bob Blagden, a former selectman.

Ben Rines, Jr., who has served on the board of selectmen several times, had raised the issue of the three overdraft accounts at the selectmen's meeting last week. At that meeting Selectman David Nichols said "We will research that and find out where it [the money] went and why it went."

Although the issue was not on the agenda, newly elected chairman Phil DiVece brought it up under "other board business."

"I looked into the three accounts that were overdrafted, and I met with the treasurer for over an hour," DiVece said. He said he learned from treasurer Jim George that the overdraft shown in the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, by RHR Smith, showed that the overdraft in the public safety account was caused by an overrun in the police budget.

"The treasurer was not able to determine why there was an overdraft in the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) account. As for the third account - overlay - DiVece said he

couldn't "offer an explanation."

Rines told DiVece, "I appreciate you looking into the three overdrafts," which Rines said last week amounted to $5,900 in the public safety account; $42,000, TIF; and $45,000, in the overlay account

"But my questions last week were directed to Duane (Goud), David Nichols and Arthur Faucher (the town manager).

"I'm just speculating here," Goud said. "But I think the TIF account was overspent because we had to pay the bill, so there would be no fees. The overlay account, I'll look into." He said the public safety account was overdrawn because of money paid to outgoing chief Mike Emmons.

"It doesn't matter where it went," Rines said. Rines criticized the board for not coming to the voters to request money for the overdrafts, which has been the practice in the past.

"It would have been better for you to come before the voters," he said. "This has been swept under the rug."

"I don't think it was - it's right there in black and white," Goud said, referring to the annual report that Rines was holding.

Rines switched topics then, asking, "Are you going after the benefits of the road commissioner?"

"I will recommend that the position be appointed," Goud said.

Rines asked why, noting that voters in the past have twice voted to keep it an elected position.

Goud said it relates to the "chain of command."

"Are you unhappy with the roads?" Rines asked.

"No," Goud answered.

Rines asked if the chain of command is working.

"I've seen a few holes in it," Goud answered.

"You are showing a lot of disrespect for someone who has done a lot for this town," Rines said, referring to Bob Blagden.

Faucher said he had a great many things to take care of when he began work for the town in January of 2006.

"What has happened to the overlay account, not even the treasurer knew," Faucher said. "Perhaps the payment was late on the TIF account." After the meeting, Faucher confirmed that the TIF is the one given to Point East. Selectman Nicole Viele said the town didn't get payment in time from Point East, so the town had to pay it to avoid fees.

Faucher asked, "Is it possible some of the overlay was used to subsidize the mill rate?"

Rines said it was not possible.

"It bothers me that you don't understand such basic stuff…"

"Give me a break," Faucher said. "I had only been here six months when this happened; I asked the treasurer, and he doesn't know."

"You were a town manager for 17 years," Rines said. "If you don't know how overlay works, this town is in trouble."

Bob Blagden then rose and asked, "I would like you to elaborate on the holes in the chain of command."

"It's just things I've heard," Goud said. He said he wanted to talk to Blagden privately.

"If you don't talk about it here tonight, I probably won't hear about it," Blagden said. "Somebody needs to communicate with me.

Former selectman Bill Barnes said, "If this board tries to go back to an appointed position on this, there's going to be a big uproar in this town, and we'll be looking at a different board."

Dick Hanson said a decision to change the position "would be going against the citizens of Wiscasset who said they want an elected road commissioner. You should be concentrating on more important issues, like this overlay account.

Goud decided to cut off further comment on the topic after several more minutes, saying it was nothing personal against Blagden.