Town of Wells, ME Article XI Nominations, Elections, and Town Meetings

Sec. 11.01 Elected officials.

The elected officials of the Town of Wells shall include the Town Clerk and the Board of Selectmen and do not include those quasi-municipal officials governed by charters and/or bylaws other than the Charter of the Town of Wells.

Sec. 11.02 Municipal elections.

The regular election for all elected municipal and quasi-municipal officials for the Town of Wells shall be held at the Annual Town Meeting in conjunction with the Annual Budget Referendum.

Sec. 11.03 Nominations.

Any qualified resident voter, subject to the provisions of eligibility found in Section 2.02, may be nominated for elected office in accordance with Maine law. [State law reference: Nomination by Petition, 21-A M.R.S.A. § 351 et seq.; Choice and Qualifications of Town Officials, 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2526(3).]

Sec. 11.03 Conduct of elections.

The provisions of the statutes of the State of Maine relating to the qualifications of voters, the registration of voters, the nominations for any office, the manner of voting, absentee voting, the duties of election officers and all other particulars relative to preparation for, conducting and management of elections, so far as they may be applicable, shall govern all elections, except as otherwise provided in this Charter. (Elections generally, see 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1 et seq.; Town Meetings and Elections, 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2521 et seq.)

Sec. 11.04 Election officials.

(1) The Board of Selectmen shall annually, or at least 10 days before any election, appoint a Warden, Deputy Warden and Clerks, in addition to the regular ballot clerks, for each voting place.

(2) There shall be a Registrar of Voters, who shall be appointed as provided in this Charter, and shall have such powers and perform such duties as provided by law.

Sec. 11.05 Town Meeting.

(1) Purpose. The voters of the Town of Wells reserve to themselves the right to approve certain actions as specified in this Charter. To that end, this Charter establishes a Town Meeting, by secret ballot referendum, as provided herein.

(2) Governing statute. The Town Meeting is governed by the provisions of Titles 30-A and 21-A of the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, except as otherwise provided in this Charter.

(3) Subjects requiring Town Meeting approval. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Charter or required by law, only the following matters are subject to Town Meeting disposition:

(a) Amendment, change, revision or repeal of the Comprehensive Plan, or adoption of a new Comprehensive Plan.

(b) Adoption, amendment, revision or repeal of land use ordinances, except as provided in Section 2.12(4).

(c) Sale, lease, or management control of real property excepting property acquired for nonpayment of taxes.

(d) 

Unless fully funded by bond issue under Section 7.09, or by a dedicated reserve account, any expenditure greater than $100,000, per item, project, or an aggregate of same, for:

(1) Acquisition of real property;

(2) Acquisition of motor vehicles or equipment; or

(3) Repair, renovation, or new construction of buildings or structures.

(e) 

Unless an emergency appropriation under Section 7.11(2), any appropriation greater than $100,000:

(1) From the unencumbered surplus; or

(2) is supplemental to the current annual budget.

(4) Annual Town Meeting. The Annual Town Meeting shall be held on the second Tuesday in June. In addition to any other issue properly before the Town Meeting, voting on the Annual Budget Referendum and the regular election of all municipal officials shall be conducted at the Annual Town Meeting.

(5) Voter information. The Town Clerk must make provision for the warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, to be mailed to all legal mailing addresses within the Town of Wells at least 14 days prior to the Annual Town Meeting.