A.
The Select Board, hereinafter called the "Select Board,"
shall be and constitute the municipal officers of the Town of Bethel,
hereinafter called the "Town." The Select Board shall also constitute
the governing body, or trustees, of the Wastewater Treatment Department
and operate in the same manner specified herein.
B.
The Select Board shall be composed of five members,
each of whom shall be elected by secret ballot in June for three-year
staggered terms by the registered voters of the entire Town. The candidate
receiving the greatest number of votes for a given seat on the Board
shall be considered a member of the Board upon taking an oath of office.
Each member shall be a registered voter of the Town of Bethel throughout
his/her tenure on the Board.
C.
The Board shall exercise all powers, and assume all
responsibilities, now or hereafter given by law to municipal officers.
The specific mention of particular powers or responsibilities in this
chapter or other ordinances shall not be construed as limiting, in
any way, the powers and responsibilities of municipal officers given
by law.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 5-4D, regarding gender-neutral
references to the terms "Selectmen" and "Board of Selectmen," which
immediately followed, was repealed 6-12-2024 ATM by Art. 12.
Each member of the Board shall take an oath of office, pursuant to § 5-52.
A.
The Select Board shall appoint the Town Manager, whose
terms of employment shall be governed by an employment agreement approved
by the Select Board and Town Manager. The Select Board shall have
the authority to remove the Town Manager at any time in accordance
with provisions of the employment agreement.
B.
An interim Town Manager may be appointed for a period
not to exceed 180 days by the Select Board without an employment agreement.
This period may be extended beyond 180 days with Town Meeting approval.
A.
The Select Board shall appoint all members of the
following boards, committees, commissions or authorities as listed
below and for terms and qualifications as described elsewhere in this
chapter:
(1)
Planning Board.
(2)
Board of Appeals.
(3)
Budget Committee.
(4)
Bethel Area Recreation Board.
[Amended 6-12-2024 ATM
by Art. 12]
(5)
Conservation Commission.
(6)
Airport Authority.
(7)
Channel II Commission.
[Amended 6-14-2006]
(8)
Bethel Water District Board of Trustees.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
(11)
Ad hoc or temporary committees.
B.
Interim appointments of individuals to vacancies on
the Select Board, Board of Assessors and the Board of Directors of
Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 44 shall be made in accordance
with state law. Said appointments shall be effective until the next
regular election of Select Board.
C.
Discussion of appointments by the Select Board may
occur in executive session, provided that the executive session complies
with statute. However, voting on appointments by Select Board must
occur in open session.
D.
The Town Clerk shall be responsible for the maintenance
and custody of all records pertaining to applications, appointments,
resignations, elections and advertising related to the various boards,
committees and authorities of the Town.
The Select Board shall be the sole authority
for the appointment of any and all attorneys who may represent the
Town or provide counsel to its officials.
The Select Board shall provide for an annual
audit of the financial records, transactions and practices of the
Town by an independent certified public accountant, said audit to
be conducted in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The Select Board shall approve a Personnel Policy
for the employees of the Town and amend this policy from time to time
as may be needed.
A.
The Select Board shall approve separate rules of procedure
for each board, committee, commission or authority as listed below:
B.
Rules of procedure shall provide for the calling and
conduct of meetings such that business is conducted in a timely, fair
and reasonable manner.
C.
Ad hoc committees appointed by the Select Board for
specific, temporary purposes may operate with or without rules of
procedure but shall operate with such rules if so approved by the
Select Board.
The Select Board shall approve separate standard
operating procedures (or equivalent) for the Town's Fire Department,
Ambulance Department, and Police Department,[1] respectively. Standard operating procedures shall provide
for the safe and efficient operation of the department, to the benefit
of the public.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Bethel Police Department was abolished
on July 1, 2010. Police services are provided to the Town by the Oxford
County Sheriff's Department.
[Amended 6-12-2024 ATM
by Art. 7]
The Select Board shall serve as the approval
authority for the Wastewater Treatment Department budget in accordance
with provisions outlined in this chapter.
A.
The Select Board shall meet a minimum of once per
month, and a quorum must be present in order to conduct business.
Three or more Select Board present at any meeting shall constitute
a quorum. Public notice of all regular, special and emergency meetings
shall be made.
B.
At the first meeting of the Board following the June
elections, the Select Board shall choose a Chair and Vice Chair from
among its members. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the
Select Board. The Vice Chair shall preside at meetings in the absence
of the Chair. The Chair and Vice Chair shall be entitled to vote on
all questions.
C.
Not later than July 15 of each year, the Select Board
shall determine a regular meeting schedule for the remaining period
through December 31. Not later than January 15 of each year, the Select
Board shall determine a regular meeting schedule for the remaining
period through June 30.
[Amended 6-14-2006]
D.
Meetings may be canceled by order of the Chair or
by lack of quorum. Special meetings may be called by the Chair or
at the request of at least two members of the Select Board, when such
requests are filed with the Town Clerk.
E.
Any action, approval, authorization, resolution, appointment,
amendment, etc., considered by the Select Board shall require an affirmative
vote by a majority of those members present in order for that item
to be valid, binding, and in effect.
F.
All members present at any meeting shall vote either
in the affirmative or negative on all matters brought to a vote, unless
a conflict of interest exists as defined by law. Members seeking to
abstain from a vote must so state this reason for abstention.
G.
All meetings shall have a published agenda. Matters
and business not listed on the agenda may be added to the agenda and
acted upon by the Select Board upon unanimous consent of those Board
members present and voting.
H.
The Town Clerk shall serve as the Secretary to the
Board and maintain a permanent written record of all Board proceedings,
to include a record of votes taken by the Board.
Each member of the Select Board, and the Board
collectively, shall be prohibited from issuing orders or directives
to employees of the Town, with the exception of the Town Manager.
