By FRANK TUTALO
Sun Staff

WILMINGTON -- Anyone planning to attend the annual Town Meeting on April 22 should pack wisely.

Perhaps a well-padded seat cushion, a snack and some strong coffee is in order, as the session features 57 articles this year. Granted, the ongoing MBTA controversy isn't one of the items, but several others could easily turn the session into hours of debate.

Adding fluoride to the town's water, studies to replace the public library, which was built in 1969, and a $95,000 initiative to add lights to the high school's football field are among the key issues facing residents.

Meanwhile, school spending is increasing by nearly 9 percent, to roughly $20 million, the highest hike in recent history. And, as if those issues aren't enough, residents will also be asked to approve a townwide smoking ban for all restaurants and, separately, a rezoning request by developer Joseph Langone.

In all, the town is asking residents to approve $900,000 in new spending measures.

"It is a larger warrant than usual," said Town Manager Michael Caira. "I believe it'll only last one day, but well into the evening."

Last year, the annual meeting -- which had 48 articles -- spanned nearly five hours. Most of that time was filled with contentious discussion swirling around the MBTA, but a fluoride study also drew some concerns.

Caira said the increased school spending reflects a new middle school coming on line, and also more students. Meanwhile, on the town side of the budget, a public-safety building -- which will house police and fire personnel as well as a centralized dispatch -- will start hitting the budget also, he noted.

"We hope to have that building up and running in November," he said.

In addition, the town is seeking $20,000 to implement a feasibility study for building a new public library. The present facility is inadequate and lacking, town officials say.

In all, the annual meeting will feature 22 petition warrant articles, more than anyone can recall in recent years.

Half of those articles are being requested by repeat selectman candidate Mark Nelson. Among Nelson's proposed articles are a request to implement term limits and for all board chairpersons, residency requirements for town officials, and an article seeking to elect the town's Finance Committee.

While many are balking at electing the Finance Committee, some are said to be seriously weighing the residency requirements for Town Meeting voters as twice this year, the issue has cropped up. Selectman James Rooney aired concerns about town attorney Alan Altman's power to vote at Town Meeting, despite the fact that he lives in Lexington. Altman has a place of business in town and has voted here since legal voting age.

Other selectmen raised questions about the residency of a person being appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Another petition article that could draw interest -- though it's an expensive measure -- is one submitted by resident Gerry O'Reilly, who seeks to have the town pay $400,000 to test all public and private wells within the next year for hazardous waste.

Furthermore, O'Reilly is requesting that any contamination discovered be made public so that the source of the contamination can be found. Within the last six months, town water officials have discovered one private resident's water to have high levels of nitrites, and two others to be slightly elevated.

Water officials note that the town's water supplies are safe to drink and always have been.