The Town Council has initiated plans to develop a policy for removing elected town officials from office for improper behavior.
The council voted unanimously Feb. 11 to ask Town Manager Tim Pellerin to investigate recall ordinances adopted by area towns for the councilors’ review as they put together a policy for South Berwick.
Council Chair John James, who presented the measure, noted that while the State of Maine does have a statute on recalls of elected officials, “I don’t like always relying on the State for how we operate in town business.”
While there is no problem in South Berwick right now, James said, if one were to arise “we really have no way of removing somebody from their seat, and I would like to have something in our ordinances to do it.”
Vice Chair Mallory Cook agreed that the town developing its own ordinance would be a good, proactive measure, noting “some towns in Maine have had one individual wreak havoc on a community or board.”
Maine statutes lay out comprehensive guidelines for recall vote procedures at the municipal level but stipulate that local ordinances, where they exist, take precedence.
“Except as otherwise provided by the municipality’s ordinances or charter, an elected official of a municipality may be recalled from office pursuant to this section,” according to section 2505, Recall of municipal officers, in full, here.
The recall issue was first raised at the Jan. 27 Town Council meeting, when former councilor Melissa Costella suggested the council put in place “a legal framework permitting the recall of elected officials when…standards of public office are not met.”
