More than 70 people stopped by Town Hall Saturday afternoon to hear about the 91 articles on tap for the October 25 Town Meeting.

Hosted by Town Moderator Claire Smith in conjunction with the Onset Protective League, the event was an effort to provide voters with information about the articles before the big meeting occurs.

Smith stressed that no debate would be allowed. Proponents of each article explained their purpose during the meeting, and a question-and-answer period followed.

"I really hope that when we go to Town Meeting, [voters] will be informed enough to make decisions that [they] are comfortable with," Smith said.

Less than a dozen questions were asked. Most were in regards to articles submitted by the Charter Review Committee. (The Town Meeting warrant features 31 proposals from that committee.)

Donna Bronk, chair of the Finance Committee, expressed concern with an article that, if approved by voters, would change the date that newly-elected officials begin their terms to July 1. Currently, new officials take office immediately following the April election.

"If we vote somebody out because we don't like what they're doing, they still can stay there and do their business until July?" Bronk asked.

Charter Review Committee Chair Alan Slavin noted that another proposal by the committee gives voters the option to change the date of the Town election to the first Tuesday in May, which would shorten the period that an exiting official would remain in office.

"We do it right now. We have elections in November and people don't take office until January," Slavin noted regarding state and federal elections.

Due to the the long agenda, Town Meeting could end up taking several weeks to complete. Smith said pushing some of the similar articles, such as the package of proposals submitted by the Charter Review Committee, to Saturday, November 13, will be an option.

But Michael Jones, Charter Review Committee member, was concerned about what would happen to postponed articles if Town Meeting adjourns before that date.

"All of the articles that would have been heard [on that date] disappear because the meeting is adjourned and they would not have been acted upon," confirmed attorney Richard Bowen, Town Counsel.

Voters would have to approve such a change in the schedule of Town Meeting.

The first night of Town Meeting is scheduled for October 25 at 7 p.m. in the Wareham High School auditorium.