It's July but getting the snow off the roads is the topic at the forefront of many people's minds.

Residents packed the Selectmen's meeting Tuesday, looking for an answer about what will be done about private roads in Wareham, after the town learned that it has been illegally plowing 89 miles of road.

Town officials made the discovery in recent weeks when researching their obligations to private roads. Using public funds to plow private roads could result in the state Inspector General’s office taking action against the town.

It was an informational meeting to which Charlie Rowley, and engineer and surveyor who advises the Planning Board, was invited to discuss the situation.

"We're basically trying to go back to square one to find out how we got here," said Selectman Alan Slavin.  "I'm trying to make sure we have all the information we need."

Slavin added that he expects the process of gathering information and figuring out where the town stands to take four to six weeks. There will be a chance for the public to participate at a later date.

One resident said from the audience that he couldn't find an accurate list of public versus private roads, noting that he'd found three different lists. The crowd broke into applause twice, when Selectman Patrick Tropeano said it was "crap" that the town couldn't find a way to get the roads plowed.

"There has to be a law out there that would allow us to plow these folks' roads," said Selectman Patrick Tropeano.

One of the concerns that have been raised was how emergency vehicles would reach people on snow-covered roads.

"If it's an emergency, you plow it," said Town Attorney Rich Bowen. "We figure out the financial end later," he said, adding that clearly that's not a long term solution: "You don't want regular emergencies."

According to Bowen, the town has a number of options at its disposal with regard to plowing private roads.

"The issue here I think is how do you make plowing private roads legal and there's a bunch of ways," said Bowen.

Bowen said that the two most likely solutions at the towns disposal would be to accept the roads one by one, or to put a ballot question to voters asking them to accept a Massachusetts law that allows for the appropriation of money to plow private ways that are open to public use.

"If it is accepted then it becomes legal," said Bowen. "The tools are there."

The Selectmen will continue to address the issue in the weeks ahead.