BUXTON – A battle is brewing in Buxton over a referendum question that would, after 238 years, shift the structure of town government.

A question on the Nov. 2 ballot asks voters if they favor changing the charter to hire a town manager.

A Board of Selectmen has governed Buxton since it was incorporated in 1772.

The town’s charter commission, which had five elected and four appointed members, in a 5-4 vote favored a referendum measure to revise the town charter to a town manager-selectman form of government.

Andy Townsend, who chaired the charter commission, said this week there’s a mixed reaction in town about the proposal.

“It’s going to be close,” Townsend, a native of Buxton and a captain at the town’s Bar Mills Fire Station, said about the outcome of the referendum.

The ballot question, Article 2, reads: “Shall the municipality approve the charter revision recommended by the charter commission?”

The wording on the ballot does not mention a town manager.

Dan Collomy, a member of the charter commission and a former selectman, said he’s worried that some citizens might not be aware of what they’re voting for.

“It’s a blind draw,” Collomy said.

But Townsend said the ballot wording is what state law required.

Collomy said the proposed change would erode authority of the selectmen, who are elected, and burden taxpayers in a struggling economy with additional costs. He has mounted a campaign to rally opposition to the referendum question.

A public hearing about the referendum was scheduled for Wednesday night at the selectmen’s meeting, after the American Journal deadline.

Collomy, who was one of the dissenting votes on the charter commission, planned to bring copies of the Buxton Charter Commission Minority Report to Wednesday’s public hearing. His was the lone signature on the minority report dated Oct. 18 and submitted to the office of Town Clerk John Myers.

“I won’t give up the fight,” said Collomy, a Buxton resident for 70 years.

But, Townsend said, the charter commission did not approve the minority report.

“It’s not an official minority report,” he said.

The minority report said 62 percent of 338 residents responding to a survey said the present form of government is adequate and 57 percent of speakers at an earlier public hearing “favored not now” about charter changes.

“We, the undersigned, believe it is unethical for the commission to refuse to consider these opinions and the results of the surveys and hearings,” the minority report said. “The commission has time and time again asked for the public to come forward and give their input only to be ignored.”

Townsend refuted the claim.

“The commission used all information provided to us and all decisions were made on a majority rules basis,” he said. “Danny Collomy is entitled to his opinion, but at this time we have to say it’s just his opinion.”

Townsend said a hired town manager would be responsible for handling the town’s day-by-day business and would be the person available in Town Hall to answer questions asked by residents.

The town’s five selectmen collectively now shoulder that responsibility as a board.

“I think it’s an added layer of government,” Selectman Bob Libby said Tuesday about changing to a town manager form.

“I don’t have a problem with that provision per se,” said Jean Harmon, who chairs the Board of Selectmen.

As for daily availability for the public, Harmon said she’s in Town Hall daily and typically Libby and Selectwoman Dianne Senechal are also.

According to an information sheet about the referendum question, the Board of Selectmen anticipated a town manager would cost $120,000 annually for salary and benefits. It also said existing office space is available at Town Hall to accommodate a town manager.

But besides salary and benefits, Collomy said, there would likely be other expenses. He said a town manager would need clerical help. He also wondered whether a town manager would receive transportation mileage reimbursement.

Another proposed charter change would modify the town’s budget process. It would require a town manager to produce the annual budget and submit it to both the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Committee, which now develops and recommends a budget.

The annual town meeting and voting on warrant items would stay in place. But, Townsend said, one of the highlights of the charter revisions would add a public hearing for input before the budget is finalized.

Harmon said she is opposed to the revision that added a public information hearing as another step in the budget process during “crunch time” leading up to the town meeting when voters discuss it.

Libby said the proposed charter changes are more than a revision.

“It’s a complete, thorough makeover of the charter,” Libby said. “I don’t see a need for it at all.”

Buxton now has little indebtedness. Libby cited the quality of services now provided to residents and he said the town has excellent employees.

The Buxton tax rate is $9.90 per $1,000 of valuation, Libby said, and has remained unchanged for three consecutive years.

The minority report says the proposed charter would have a “very detrimental effect on the average taxpayer to withstand the added cost to the taxpayer during these trying times.”

“So many people are just getting by,” Collomy said.