WILMINGTON- In a 150 to 124 vote at Tuesday evening’s special Town Meeting, voters approved a measure to vote on any future question on the removal of the Bank Park pergola by Australian ballot.

More than 275 people packed the Twin Valley High School cafeteria Tuesday night, some spilling out into the hallway, to weigh in on the question. But those expecting a lengthy debate on the issue may have been surprised when, after only two speakers were heard on the matter, Wilmington resident Arthur Bailey rose to call the question. With more than the two-thirds majority of those assembled in agreement with Bailey’s call, debate was cut off, and a paper ballot was held on the question.

Skip Morrow called for the paper ballot in his remarks. Morrow, who circulated the petition that prompted the special Town Meeting, said the issue was one of voters’ rights and of reaching a conclusive decision on the pergola.

Although Vermonters traditionally debate and vote on public questions on the floor at Town Meeting, critics say fewer and fewer voters are able to attend Town Meeting every year. As a result, decisions on budgets and other vital issues are left to only a few voters. An Australian ballot is, as its name suggests, a printed ballot that voters mark at the polls, rather than on the floor of Town Meeting. Not only can voters cast their ballots during polling hours (usually 10 am to 7 pm) on the day of the vote, absentee balloting is available before the day of the vote. Morrow noted that, at last year’s Town Meeting, more than twice as many people voted at the polls than were present during a floor vote on funding the final phase of the Bank Park.

“It’s about the right to be heard without taking a day off from work, and the right to be heard even if you cannot be in town the day of the vote,” Morrow said. “It’s also your right to be heard if you simply would prefer to be spared the arguing at Town Meeting.”

In his remarks, Morrow said there would be “ample opportunity for discussion ad nauseam” before any vote on the pergola. But proponents of the Town Meeting floor vote say the Australian ballot limits debate. Although towns generally hold a “pre Town Meeting” to discuss most Australian ballot issues, the vote isn’t immediately preceded by a moderated debate.

Andy Schindel said it would be inappropriate to decide any proposition to remove the pergola by Australian ballot. He reeled off a long list of questions he said remain unanswered. “How much of the pergola should be removed? The railing is attached to the pergola; would it be removed? Would the decking be damaged? Would a crane be used or would it be taken apart? Would the town have to hire a Vermont-licensed engineer? Should a different structure replace the pergola? Who will design it? Who will decide? Who will object?”

Schindel was interrupted in his list of questions when Wilmington resident Jack Dolan called for a “point of order,” suggesting that Schindel’s remarks didn’t address the issue at hand. “The question is, if there is a vote, do we have it by Australian ballot,” said moderator Frank Spencer. “At this point, (Schindel’s remarks) are still germane, but it’s getting close.”

“These are questions that we wouldn’t be able to raise if we had an Australian ballot,” Schindel said, “and they haven’t been answered to date. If you vote tonight to allow an Australian ballot, these questions may never be discussed, answered, or even raised. I prefer they be addressed at Town Meeting.”

Thanks to the number of voters packed into the small room, casting and counting the ballots took nearly as long as the discussion. Voters lined up, row by row, to vote in the cafeteria, and election officials carried a separate ballot box back to voters in the hallway and lobby.

In the final tally, voters chose the Australian ballot by a comfortable margin.