NEW GLOUCESTER — Prior to the regular board meeting, New Gloucester selectmen on Monday were schooled on Maine’s Freedom of Access Act by attorney James N. Katsiaficas of Perkins/Thompson of Portland.

The training included the New Gloucester Water District Trustees and department heads for the town and the five-member Board of Selectmen.

The training included public proceedings and public records for governmental entities.

Highlighted in the workshop was the requirement for public notification for emergency, regular and special meetings. Included were matters that are open to the public and the public’s right to record or film public proceedings, meetings and workshops. However, no meetings are allowed by email, telephone or otherwise not in-person. The rules governing all aspects of executive sessions were reviewed.

Public records include agendas and minutes. Confidential records that are not subject to public inspection and copying were clarified.

Following the workshop, the board heard from RSU 15 Superintendent Bruce Beasley on the upcoming $7.3 million bond referendum on school renovations and improvements. The vote is set for Nov. 4 at Gray and New Gloucester polls.

The $7.3 million proposal calls for upgrades and renovations to academic buildings at a cost of $2.86 million and $4.49 million for athletic field improvements at Gray-New Gloucester High School.

Chairman Steve Libby said a conversation between the district and Seacoast United Soccer of New Hampshire needed clarification. Beasley said that is not tied to the bond issue. A separate vote to any partnership would be required in the future if anything materializes, he said.

“There is no formal partnership at this point,” Beasley said. “I hope the public knows it’s a separate question to this vote,” he said.

Selectman Nathaniel Berry IV said, “I want to make sure the top priority is for our students and not for a private entity.”

Selectman Laura Sturgis said, “I’m embarrassed by what we have in deferred maintenance. This is a big piece of education. Our kids deserve that, too, but I’m not happy about the numbers.”

Town Manager Paul First questioned the cost of annual maintenance of the new fields that is forthcoming.

Selectmen Josh McHenry said he’s struggling with the costs and the terms of the bonds and needs a cost-benefit analysis. Facing turf replacement every 10 to 12 years is costly over the years of repayment of the bond that could go up to 25 years.

The final information on the bond and its impact on Gray and New Gloucester taxpayers are being developed, Beasley said.

Resident Steve Hathorne said people in New Gloucester got tax bills three weeks ago. “We should be beating you up at the podium to run you out of town. You are way out of the mark. It felt like this was crammed down my throat.” He asked if theschools and fields projects could be separated in the bond question rather than combined.

Sean Chayer said, “You don’t have all the information for the public at this meeting, it’s unbelievable at $7.3 million.

“How much does it cost to do mailings? There is no transparency by this school board,” he said.

School board chairman Tina Martell said to change the board’s 9 to 1 vote at this time may not be possible legally to meet notification deadlines.

Melanie Craig of New Gloucester said, “I can’t afford the luxury of high-cost athletic fields. I am in fear of being taxed out of the community I love.”

She questioned why the proposed turf field not available in the plan for field hockey. “I know of no other schools of turf being excluded from field hockey. Please do research.”

Beverly Cadigan was told the reports from Sevee & Maher Engineers Inc. of Cumberland on the fields was completed before summer. “How come we didn’t know that sooner? Our tax dollars paid for those reports. It is very sad this is lumped into one proposal. $4.9 million for athletic fields is ludicrous.”

Community forums on the referendum are planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, at Memorial School in New Gloucester; Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Gray-New Gloucester High School library; and Thursday, Oct. 23, at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School.