WATERFORD — Town officials will ask voters at Saturday’s annual town meeting to change the style of government from a board of selectmen to a town manager format.

The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Waterford Municipal Building at 366 Valley Road.

According to the Maine Municipal Association, as a town grows and faces the complexities of state and federal regulations, a professional town manager can be hired to administer the day-to-day operations.

“The board of selectman continue to serve as the town’s executive body; the only difference is that they now can attend more to issues of policy, now that they have an administrator to oversee the daily operations of the municipality,” according to the MMA’s forms of government.

Those operations are getting more and more complex, longtime Selectman Randy Lessard said.

He added that the town has considered adding a town manager for few years, but this is the first time they are asking the voters to weigh in.

If the article is approved, the process begins by defining the town manager’s role and holding further discussion with residents.

According to Lessard, the town will need to vote at next year’s town meeting to accept that form of government before it can begin the process to hire a town manager.

In the interim, voters will be asked Saturday to authorize selectmen to hire an interim administrative assistant.

The 64-article warrant keeps the $1.8 million municipal budget relatively flat, according to town officials,.

Polls were open Friday to elect a selectman and Maine School Administrative District 17 director. Selectman Todd Sawyer is retiring after serving two three-year terms.