In its third appearance before Town Meeting voters, an effort to establish an unpaid, elected Board of Sewer Commissioners was approved on Tuesday.

The state legislature now must OK the measure, as it is a change to the Town Charter.

If this all sounds familiar, that's because a similar proposal was approved by Town Meeting in 2010. However, on its way through the legislative process, there was an issue with the wording of the bill.

By the time the town found out, state officials felt that the bill had become "stale," and asked that the measure go back to Town Meeting for approval again, Dorothy Heath, a proponent of the article, explained on Tuesday.

But when the proposal appeared before Town Meeting voters again last fall, it was sent to further study because voters thought it needed a thorough review. Voters did not designate a committee to review it, though, so the Selectmen were charged with determining what to do. The Selectmen ultimately decided not to partake in discussion of legislation that would create the Board of Sewer Commissioners.

The latest proposal was added to the Town Meeting agenda by a group of citizen petitioners.

Currently, the Selectmen serve as Sewer Commissioners. Supporters of a separate Board of Sewer Commissioners have steadfastly argued that the dual role is too much work for the part-time, volunteer Selectmen.

"Water pollution control is an approximately $6.5 million concern," Heath told voters. "It needs focused attention."

The change puts the oversight of the Sewer Department (Water Pollution Control Facility) under a Sewer Superintendent, who answers to the Board of Sewer Commissioners. The Sewer Commissioners will be elected to three-year terms.

Currently, the Water Pollution Control Facility director reports to the Municipal Maintenance director, who reports to the town administrator.

Resident Ed Pacewicz was worried about that chain of command.

"The way this is set up, the superintendent who's in charge of the day-to-day activities reports to the Sewer Commissioners. As such, the town administrator has no jurisdiction," he said.

Pacewicz proposed an amendment that would keep the department the same as it is now, though with the Board of Sewer Commissioners.

Voters weren't convinced that that was the way to go, however.

"Your Sewer Commission needs to have some control over the superintendent. I don't like these split jurisdictional affairs where you have a town employee who serves somewhat at the pleasure of a board" and then to the town administrator, said Selectman Peter Teitelbaum in arguing against Pacewicz's amendment, noting that that type of setup "creates friction."

Pacewicz's proposal ultimately failed.

In other Town Meeting business:

• Voters OK'd the reorganization of the town's Finance Department, which puts the oversight of the town's financial departments under a new "finance director," which will be an "upgrade" of the current treasurer/collector position. The move will save the town money, as it eliminates the assistant town accountant position and lowers the salary of the town accountant's position. Town Administrator Derek Sullivan said the move will provide an "additional layer of security" over the town's finances.
• A one-year moratorium on the operation of medical marijuana treatment centers, or marijuana dispensaries, was also approved, so town officials can consider how to regulate such centers. The state Department of Public Health is continuing to fine-tune its own regulations.