Has the time come for Buxton to hire a professional manager to run the town, instead of relying on selectmen?

Buxton residents will get to weigh in on that question after the Board of Selectmen voted last week to put it on the November ballot in a non-binding referendum.

Such a referendum would enable selectmen to gauge the public interest in hiring a town manager, said board Chairwoman Jean Harmon.

“The best way to do that is by putting the question on the ballot in November,” Harmon said. “We expect high voter turnout because of the presidential election.”

The question will read: “Do you favor changing Buxton selectmen form of government to a town manager-selectmen form of government?”

Currently, the five-person Board of Selectmen meet weekly to administer town business.

If voters favor the change, it could take more than a year before a town manager is in place, Harmon said.

Selectmen would need to vote to change the town charter and then form a commission to formulate the changes. Selectmen would appoint three members to the commission, while six others would have to be elected. Residents would also need to approve a salary for the town manager.

Andy Townsend, a town firefighter who served as an interim fire chief, has initiated a petition, still circulating, calling for Buxton to hire a town manager by Nov. 1.

He said he is disappointed that the November question will be a non-binding referendum.

“I think (the board) is wasting (its) time,” he said. “This is just my opinion, that they are just trying to appease the people and they could be moving ahead a lot more quickly.”

Both Harmon and Townsend said they favor a town manager because the town has grown. Buxton’s current population is estimated to be 8,500, according to the town Web site. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town’s population was 7,452 in 2000.

“This town is too big, and it’s a business that can’t be run with part-time people,” Townsend said.

The petition for a town manager recommends a salary between $60,000 and $80,000.

Buxton has also seen its share of controversial issues in the past six months, including the departure of a recreation director, who is under police investigation for mishandling town funds; the sudden departure of a fire chief; and the departure of Police Chief Jody Thomas, whose $46,000 severance package has been questioned by many residents.

“There are issues that need to be dealt with more than once a week when the selectmen meet,” Harmon said. “Whether it’s dealing with personnel,policies or making sure we’re in compliance, there is just a lot more to the government than there used to be.”