POLAND — Selectmen last week sent a letter to RSU 16 committee members asking for David Griffiths to resign his position as chairman of the RSU 16 Board of Directors.

In the letter, selectmen take issue with the comments Griffiths made about fixed-income residents at a May 11 hearing on the school budget, the so-called “town meeting” portion of the budget process at which residents of Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland debated and later voted on the district’s 2011-12 budget.

The letter, in part, states:

“We found Mr. Griffiths’ comments to be terribly offensive and insulting. His demeanor and arrogance are not welcomed by this Board or the community we represent.”

The letter, with a copy sent to Regional School Unit 16 Superintendent Dennis Duquette, concludes with the request that Griffiths resign his chairmanship immediately.

Selectman Larry Moreau said Thursday that his motion to prepare and send the letter passed with the unanimous support of the board.

Moreau explained that he made the motion because of comments Griffiths made during a 5-minute speech in which he downplayed the effect of the $1 million increase in the proposed budget on property taxes and the people paying them.

“(Griffiths) said elderly people didn’t own property and don’t have to worry about property taxes,” Moreau said. “I found that statement insulting.”

Griffiths responded Thursday, saying he didn’t want to get into a back and forth with the Poland selectmen.

“I don’t plan to resign,” Griffiths said.

In a letter to the editor, published in the Sun Journal just prior to the May 17 budget validation vote, Griffiths apologized for offending anyone at the May 11 meeting with his remarks about fixed-income residents not owning their homes.

“I was trying to make the point that the ‘we-have-citizens-on-fixed-incomes’ argument is often used to justify rejecting any tax increase,” Griffiths wrote. “… I left the unfortunate impression that I don’t appreciate the plight of many residents struggling to meet expenses in this lengthy economic downturn. I should have chosen my words more carefully.”

Duquette noted that the letter from the Poland Board of Selectmen was not discussed at Monday’s RSU 16 School Committee meeting because he didn’t believe the matter was worth a confrontation.

“Dave has the full support of the administrators and of the School Committee,” Superintendent Duquette said.