DOVER-FOXCROFT – After listening to a handful of residents vent their frustrations Monday about increasing property taxes, selectmen voted 6-1 to sign a resolution opposing the Palesky tax cap proposal.

“I believe we should have tax reform in this state but I believe the Palesky thing is not the answer,” board Chairman Lynn Vernon said Monday.

The tax cap referendum was initiated by a citizen petition and will be on the Nov. 2 state ballot. If it passes, it would cap property taxes at 1 percent of their assessed value in 1996-97.

Selectman Joyce Perry, who voted against the resolution, took the board to task for signing an endorsement against the citizen’s initiative. While the board of selectmen has an obligation to educate citizens about issues affecting their community, they should not be in the business of telling people how to vote, she said. Nor should the board be spending community tax dollars and using manpower to either support or oppose citizen initiatives, she added.

Support for the resolution did not necessarily mean that selectmen did not support property tax relief. “I don’t want to lose control to the state because I don’t think the state will spend our dollars any wiser than we are,” Selectman Elwood Edgerly remarked.

Selectman Tom Sands said he too, did not want to lose “home rule.”

“Then work with us,” resident Hilda Mulherin said. “At least try to come up with some kind of creative solution.” She said she does not support the Palesky tax cap proposal but will vote for it because the town and state will not do anything to bring relief until they are forced to. “I need something now,” she said.

Under the Palesky tax cap, Town Manager Jack Clukey estimated the town would have a loss in revenue of about $1.85 million.

“Quit worrying about the numbers and think about the people,” resident Richard Stites said. “Think about the town and the people.”