The Town Council is poised to approve funding a study to delve into the complex process of withdrawing from Regional School Unit 5.

The vote will take place during next Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting.

Councilors expressed general agreement Tuesday in putting the study on the July 16 agenda — and passing it. Town officials have expressed a desire to put the study first, ahead of any petition for withdrawal that might or might not occur.

The idea of withdrawal from RSU 5 — which also includes Durham and Pownal — stems from unrest among Freeport residents unhappy that RSU 5 residents defeated the June 11 budget referendum.

The $16.9 million budget would have funded enlargement and renovations at Freeport High School. Freeport residents supported the budget by a wide margin, but the plan went down by 174 votes due to opposition in the other two towns.

Councilor Andy Wellen said many of his constituents have told them they support a withdrawal study. Vice Chairwoman

Kristina Egan said that facts from such a study are needed to make an informed decision, and Councilor D. Scott Gleeson agreed.

“I think it will strengthen any position moving forward,” Councilor Melanie Sachs said.

Public commentary supported the notion of a study, as well.

Alan Tracy said he spoke not to address the merits of leaving RSU 5, adding that an “objective third party” would be useful.

“My opinion is, the money for this type of study is as important as anything you could decide,” Tracy said.

John Egan said that voting results within the district “speak volumes” for the dramatic difference in viewpoints across the school unit. Withdrawal from RSU 5 might not be an easy process, but could be a “welcome bur- den,” he said.

“I encourage you to look at those numbers,” Egan continued, referring to the voting differences. “This is about our schools. This is about what we are doing for our children and the next batch of children.”

Beth Parker, a Freeport member of the RSU 5 Board of Directors, urged caution.

“I don’t want emotions to run crazy,” Parker said.

Parker added that RSU 5 residents have passed budgets in previous years. She vouched for the effectiveness of the RSU.

“Since we’ve become an RSU,” Parker said, “we’ve been able to do more things. Withdrawal would mean smaller numbers in our schools”.

Parker said that “if push comes to shove,” a withdrawal study might work, but only if it’s done in a quick and expedient manner.

Kristen Dorsey reminded the council that the concept of leaving RSU 5 is not simply one of emotion.

“There are lots of people in town who never thought consolidation was a good thing,” Dorsey said.

The council provided a nine-page document, outlining the lengthy procedure for withdrawal from an RSU.

Wiscasset residents, in fact, have learned just how lengthy a process it can be.

They agreed last summer to study withdrawal from Regional School Unit 12, and the townwide vote on the issue will not take place until November.

To begin, a petition requesting withdrawal must be signed by at least 10 percent of residents who voted in the last gubernatorial election. Town officials then would call a special election, and the withdrawal article would specify a dollar amount to support legal and other costs.

The state Commissioner of Education then becomes involved in what would be a 22-step deliberation.

lgrard@timesrecord.com