FREEPORT – Town Manager Peter Joseph expects a good deal of discussion on Freeport’s possible withdrawal from Regional School Unit 5 during the Sept. 2 meeting of the Town Council.

The first portion of the meeting, which will take place at the big white Mallett Barn on 625 Wolfe’s Neck Road, will be a District 2 workshop, beginning at 6:30 p.m. There is no set agenda for the workshop, when councilors field remarks and questions from District 2 residents. Last year, Joseph said, traffic and road conditions comprised most of the conversation.

Sarah Tracy, who lives on Flying Point Road, is the District 2 councilor.

Following the workshop, the Town Council will begin its regular business. The meeting will take place exactly a week following a public hearing, conducted by RSU 5 at the Freeport Community Center, on the proposed withdrawal plan.

Education Commissioner Jim Rier has approved a withdrawal agreement between the Freeport Withdrawal Committee and the RSU 5 Working Group. A Nov. 4 Freeport vote on withdrawal is expected.

“We expect lots of comments on the RSU hearing from Aug. 26,” Joseph said. “I think the hot-button issue will be the school issue.”

Joseph said that a stand-alone Freeport school department would be run by the town, but budget approval might be different from what it was prior to 2009, when RSU 5 was formed. Then, the Town Council had final say on the annual school budget, which was formulated by the school committee and the superintendent.

Joseph added that a second public hearing on withdrawal – this one to be run by the Town Council – will take place at least 10 days prior to the November vote.