A long-time form of government in Buxton faces a change, as petitioners believe time has come to hire a town manager.

Andy Townsend, a town firefighter who served as an interim fire chief, is circulating a petition calling for Buxton to hire a town manager by Nov. 1. But what action the five-person board selectmen might take on the petition was unclear this week.

Two selectmen, Bob Libby and Dan Collomy, say that a change in the town’s charter is necessary to allow hiring a town manager. Libby said the town charter defines what type of government the town has.

“This petition doesn’t specify that,” Libby said last week about changing the charter. “You can’t take action on a petition that isn’t legally correct.”

So, the board has asked its lawyer, William Plouffe, to weigh in.

Jean Harmon, chairwoman, Tuesday declined comment until the town receives a letter from Plouffe.

Townsend, who wants action at the annual town meeting on Saturday, June 14, said the town has grown and someone is needed in the town office to make decisions on a day-to-day basis.

“I want a straw poll in June and a vote on a charter change in November,” Townsend said last week.

Collomy opposes the manager form of government for now, and said timely decisions are being made in town hall.

“I don’t agree with it,” Collomy said Tuesday. “I can see it coming in the future, when the population gets up around 10,000.”

The town’s population was estimated at 8,171 in 2006, up from 7,452, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

Collomy said he would like an article on the town warrant in June asking people how they feel. But he doesn’t believe time would allow it because the warrant for the meeting would go to printers in a couple of weeks.

Collomy also said a charter commission would have to form in the process to change the charter. He said selectmen would be required to appoint three members of a commission, while six others would have to be elected to the panel.

Candidates for the commission would be required to take out nomination papers. Collomy felt the November election would be the earliest date to elect members of the commission. He said a charter change could take up to two years.

Libby advocated a non-binding referendum in November to see if the town voters wished a study. He said a large number of people would turn out to vote in the presidential election and results would reflect wishes of the town’s voters.

“I don’t see any big clamor out there for this,” Libby said.

Townsend said other towns similar in size to Buxton have hired managers. “We’re playing catch-up here,” Townsend said.

He said voters in June could put his proposal on the November ballot. Townsend said the deadline for turning in the petition is April 15. Town Clerk John Myers said last week a citizens’ petition for a charter change would require 664 signatures. That number represents 20 percent of those who voted in the gubernatorial election in 2006.

Townsend said last week 220 had signed the petition, which is available at four places, including three convenience stores in Buxton. Townsend also said he’s receiving “quite a few calls.”

Under a shift to town manager, selectmen’s powers would be eroded to some degree, Townsend said. Collomy agreed that some selectmen’s duties in town hall would be lost.

“We’d have to change the whole system,” Collomy said.

Townsend’s petition sets a manager’s salary at $60,000 to $80,000. But with an eye on taxes, Collomy said, it would cost “upwards” of $100,000, counting benefits.

Townsend said he has a good working relationship with selectman. “I don’t want to turn this into a fight,” he said.