ARUNDEL – Voters here will decide a slew of amendments to the town charter when they go to the polls Nov. 8.
The amendments range from changing the term board of selectmen to select board and adopting gender neutral language throughout the document, and amending the select board’s purchasing policy .
Proposed amendments include establishing a competitive bid process and revising the school board section to reflect Regional School Unit 21.
Other proposed changes include adding school board directors to the list of elected town officials who may be recalled and an outline of the process for initiating recall of any elected Arundel official.
Another proposed amendment calls for a change in the composition of several boards and committees – the budget board for example, currently consists of seven to nine members, six of whom are elected. The proposed amendment calls for seven members – three elected and the remainder appointed. A further proposed change addresses the timeline for initial budget board meetings each fiscal year and the procedure for replacing appointed members, if needed.
Compensation for appointed officers, officials and board members would be proposed by the town manager and select board, with final approval at town meeting.
Other proposed amendments clarify language and definitions.
In all, voters will decide on 13 charter amendments. Arundel ‘s charter was adopted Nov. 6, 1990, and amended in 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005 and in 2011.
Municipal officials have asked residents to get out and vote on Nov. 8. Charter amendments proposed in the June 14 election passed overwhelmingly, but did not go into effect because not enough people turned out to vote.
Following the June vote, Town Manager Keith Trefethen said 30 percent of those who voted in the last gubernatorial election – or 622 registered voters – would have had to cast ballots for the measures to take effect. In the end, 414 did so. At that time, Arundel had 3,688 registered voters.
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