I do believe that the statutes provide for the opportunity for voters to vote
by Australian ballot in three separate categories:  1.Elect officers 2.
Approve budget/budget items and 3. Public questions.  Because the statutes
has these three separated, to vote "public questions" by Australian ballot
would cover budgets or officers.  Public questions are everything else
requiring a vote EXCEPT officers and budgets.  (For instance, Shall the taxes
be collected in four installments or Shall the Elks be exempt for five years.
 Hope this helps.  Also, though I don't mean to chide, Moderators do a lot of
work for very little pay--the moderator should have done his/her homework
before town m eeting.
Cheers,
Marianne in Windsor