The Woolwich annual town meeting will be held Wednesday, May 7, at the Woolwich Central School beginning at 6 p.m. with some "hot ticket" items put on the warrant, by the selectmen, at the last minute.

An article donating $43,696 to the Patten Free Library, competing against an article for $20,000 for reimbursement to Woolwich residents to participate in the library of their choice, was added to the warrant at the April 22, selectmen's meeting.

Woolwich selectmen previously had put the article requesting $20,000 for library membership on the warrant. However, they were under pressure at their meeting last week from several Patten Free Library supporters to allow the voters a choice.

After what at times became a heated discussion, and a presentation of a petition with 107 signatures to put the Patten Free Library request on the warrant for the town meeting, the selectmen agreed in a 3-2 vote to add it to the warrant.

The issue of the selectmen leasing the airboat that belongs to the Woolwich Firefighters' Association, at a cost of about $3,000 for the insurance on the boat, is being put on the warrant at the request of William Longley, a Woolwich firefighter, and the town's code enforcement officer.

Longley asked the selectmen to let the voters decide whether they want to lease the airboat from the association.

The selectmen had been reluctant to put the request on the warrant because of the needed repairs on the boat.

Longley told the selectmen that any repairs to put the boat back in service would be paid for by the association.

An article asking for $5,000 for Woolwich Junior Athletics was also a last minute decision of the selectmen when representatives from the program presented a petition also.

There will be no article to buy a new generator on the warrant at next week's town meeting.

A motion was made in the selectmen's meeting to put an article on the warrant to purchase a new generator, but the motion failed 1-4.

According to the selectmen, the town's generator has been malfunctioning, creating concern that when it is needed, it will not start.

In an effort to keep expenses down the town reports will not be mailed. They are available at the town office. Residents and taxpayers are asked to pick them up at the town office before the town meeting.

In past years Woolwich has held their town meeting two nights, one night the municipal articles were decided on, and the second night the school articles.

With school consolidation, the school budget is now in the hands of the Regional School Unit, and two nights of town meeting may not be necessary, according to town Clerk Jeanne Bernard.

In a press release written to the taxpayers of Woolwich, Bernard said, "If you choose not to attend the town meeting, and any number of articles is voted in which raises your taxes, then who do you blame for the raise in property taxes which will be reflected on your tax bill?"

"What you have read in the newspapers and in some letters to the editor does not offer the complete insight into the situation. You need to attend town meeting to be better informed," she said.

"The New England town meeting is probably the purest form of democracy in existence today," Bernard said. "Please help preserve it by attending town meeting."