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Cumberland County Charter Commission
On Election Day, November 4, 2008, voters in Cumberland County will choose six members, two from each Commissioner District, to be on a charter commission. The charter commission will spend over a year creating a proposed charter which will then be adopted or turned down by voters, most likely in the Spring or Fall election of 2010.
A charter is the defining document of how a body of government organizes itself, select officers, officials and employees, and established departments, agencies and boards.
Currently, two counties in Maine, Aroostook and Kennebec, have charters, and the remainder draw their structure directly from state law. A charter commission creates the opportunity to inspect and propose changes to the current structure.
Counties in Maine do not have “home rule”, meaning they do no have the same broad legislative powers that municipalities have. There are limitations by state law as to what changes can be made to the structure of the county. For example, state law requires that:
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The positions of Commissioners, Sheriff, Judge and Register of Probate, and District Attorney remain elected positions.
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The number of commissioners be 3, 5, or 7.
