PALMYRA — When, if and how annual tax billing will be completed in Palmyra appears to be undecided.

The subject of tax assessing and bill preparation was the focus of this week’s debate at the meeting of the Board of Selectmen. In contrast to most meetings, the board moved through most routine items — including emergency agenda items — with little debate. Tax billing provided the stumbling block to the weekly session.

The board initially could not agree to allow Town Clerk Joan Bradley and treasurer Valerie Sprague to update tax records with changes of names and addresses and property transfers.

Selectman Mathys Van Dam proposed a split schedule for the board to take on assessing duties with the help of former Administrative Assistant Pat White. Van Dam explained White was familiar with the process and tax assessing. His suggestion was misunderstood by Selectman Carlton Preble, who assumed White was to do the assessing. Preble attempted to resign as a tax assessor only to have his resignation refused by Chairman Victor Kimball. Preble cited working with White among his objections.

Kimball said any resignation would have to be for all duties, not just one. He reminded Preble he was elected as selectman, tax assessor and overseer of the poor.

Selectman Priscilla McWilliams reminded Van Dam that voters authorized $1 for tax assessing at the annual town meeting. She asked if White would be volunteering his services. Both she and Preble said they would not be working on updating records for tax assessing.

Van Dam characterized McWilliams’ and Preble’s attitude on the assessing duties as “boneheaded.”

“If you’re not willing to work for the good of the town, why are you serving at all?” he asked.

The issue was temporarily resolved when three members of the board voted to allow the clerk and treasurer to proceed with updating records.

McWilliams will be meeting with computer consultants this week to review a tax billing program. The board hopes to begin training the office staff to complete the computer entry to proceed with tax billing. The question of assessing duties remained unresolved.

Frank Robinson urged the board to pursue bonding insurance to recoup the costs of additional audit expenses ordered by the state two years ago. He asked why auditor Edward McInnis should not be held accountable, if he had found the town’s books acceptable for years, but the state found the books too “messed up” to track discrepancies. Payment of McInnis’ auditing bill appears on the warrant for the special town meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17, at the Palmyra school.

In other business, the board awarded contractor Maynard Parker the job of shingling the town hall roof for $3,960.