City of Biddeford, ME RECALL

Sec. 1 Applicability.

The Mayor, or any member of the City Council or School Committee may be recalled and removed from office by the qualified voters of the City of Biddeford as hereinafter provided.

Sec. 2 Petition for recall.

[Amended 11-8-2016]

In the case of the Mayor, Councilor-at-Large and School Committee Member, the recall must be signed by not less than 15% of registered voters from the City who voted in the previous Gubernatorial Election. In the case of a Ward Councilor, who has been elected as such by the registered voters of said ward, the petition must be signed by not less than 15% of the qualified voters in that ward at the time of the previous municipal election.

Sec. 3 Verification of recall petition.

Within seven days of the receipt of the petitions, the City Clerk shall ascertain whether or not the petitions have been signed by the requisite number of qualified voters. If there are insufficient signatures, the City Clerk will notify in writing by certified mail those responsible for the petition who shall have an additional five days from receipt of the notice to obtain a sufficient number of signatures.

Sec. 4 Calling of recall election.

If the City Clerk's certification should show that the petitions are sufficient, the petitions and the Clerk's certification shall be submitted by the City Clerk to the City Council at its next regular meeting following certification and shall also notify the person or persons whose removal is sought. The City Council shall, within 14 days of receipt of the City Clerk's certification, direct the City Clerk to issue a warrant for a municipal election within 60 days.

Sec. 5 Count of ballot.

[Amended 11-6-2012[1]]

In case of a majority voting for and against the recall for any official shall vote in favor of the recall, such official shall be thereby removed and the City Council shall declare a vacancy in that office in accordance with Article II, Section 5 of this Charter in the case of the Mayor; Article III, Section 4 of this Charter in the case of a City Councilor; or Article V, Section 5 of this Charter in the case of a School Committee Member.

[1]

Editor’s Note: This referendum vote also repealed former Sec. 5, Election to be ordered, and renumbered former Sec. 6 as Sec. 5.