Local

You may be aware that Harpswell will vote on whether to have a study group look into improving town government.  Those of us who favor such a move have begun the process of informing the voters about charters and charter commissions.  
Last Friday on Harpswell TV (Channel 14) there was a panel discussion & call-in program.  The discussion involved two towns with different experiences on charters.  Panelists were:

• Current Selectman Dan Collomy of Buxton  - town developed a charter and adopted it

• Current Charter Comm. Chair Mike Huston of Lisbon - town developing a charter now

• Moderated by Jim Henderson, State Archivist, Harpswell resident.

Former Selectman Karl Tarbox of Wiscasset was slated to appear but could not attend due to a death in his family. Wiscasset is a town that developed a charter and rejected it

Each guest describes their experiences developing a charter.  What was good?  What was bad?  What advice for Harpswell?

General Information

• 10/04 Town of Kennebunk, Maine -- Charter Commission
  This site has some good information such as the purpose of a charter, the  5 forms of town government in Maine, some good questions, and how the Commission worked

News

• 1/21/05 Resident takes issue with 2-party system

• 12/26 Rockport's charter commission convenes; seeks one more

Towns

• 11/29/04 Town of Freeport -- Charter

• 11/29/04 Sipayik Passamaquoddy Sipayik - Constitution

• 10/04 Town of Dexter - rewriting the Town Charter

• 10/04 Council-Manager Charter -- Town of Falmouth Town Council

• 10/04Town of Frye Island - Town Charter

• 10/04 Kennebunk Charter
  1984 version: Includes Text of the Charter,  Report of the Charter Commission, Report of Counsel to the Charter Commission

• 10/04 Town of Waterboro
  Charter

State

• 10/04 Maine State Government Internship Program - Welcome Page
  The Maine Town and City Management Association is a professional association of municipal administrators in the state of Maine. As such, MTCMA has a particular interest in the development and implementation to the manager plan in Maine.

• 10/04 Governor Baldacci News Full Story
  Governor Baldacci’s Fiscal Reform Package Background

Editorials relating to Charters

• 10/04 Charter Commission Minority Report Vote No On Charter

• 10/04 ...But Charter Group Continues Work
  Wiscasset

• 10/4 Sorting Out The Charter, Town Manager Puzzle
  Will Wiscasset's form of government change, and if so, when?

• 10/04 Charter Commission candidates speak out
  Candidates for Charter Commission explain why people should elect them for the Charter Commission