A.
The Board of Selectmen, hereinafter called the "Selectmen,"
shall be and constitute the municipal officers of the Town of Bethel,
hereinafter called the "Town." The Selectmen shall also constitute
the governing body, or trustees, of the Wastewater Treatment Department
and operate in the same manner specified herein.
B.
The Board of Selectmen 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.
D.
Any reference to "Selectmen" or "Board of Selectmen"
shall be considered gender neutral and may be interchanged with the
term "Selectperson" or "Board of Selectpersons" by any party.
Each member of the Board shall take an oath of office, pursuant to § 5-52.
A.
The Selectmen shall appoint the Town Manager, whose
terms of employment shall be governed by an employment agreement approved
by the Selectmen and Town Manager. The Selectmen 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 Selectmen without an employment agreement.
This period may be extended beyond 180 days with Town Meeting approval.
A.
The Selectmen 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:
B.
Interim appointments of individuals to vacancies on
the Board of Selectmen, 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 Selectmen.
C.
Discussion of appointments by the Selectmen may occur
in executive session, provided that the executive session complies
with statute. However, voting on appointments by Selectmen 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 Selectmen 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 Selectmen 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 Selectmen 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 Selectmen 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 Selectmen for specific,
temporary purposes may operate with or without rules of procedure
but shall operate with such rules if so approved by the Selectmen.
The Selectmen shall approve separate standard
operating procedures (or equivalent) for the Town's Fire Department,
Ambulance Department, and Police Department, respectively. Standard
operating procedures shall provide for the safe and efficient operation
of the department, to the benefit of the public.
The Selectmen shall serve as the approval authority
for the Wastewater Treatment Department and Airport Department budgets
in accordance with provisions outlined in this chapter.
A.
The Selectmen shall meet a minimum of once per month,
and a quorum must be present in order to conduct business. Three or
more Selectmen 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 Board of Selectmen shall choose a Chairman and Vice
Chairman from among its members. The Chair shall preside at all meetings
of the Selectmen. 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 Board of
Selectmen shall determine a regular meeting schedule for the remaining
period through December 31. Not later than January 15 of each year,
the Board of Selectmen 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 Chairman
or by lack of quorum. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman
or at the request of at least two members of the Board of Selectmen,
when such requests are filed with the Town Clerk.
E.
Any action, approval, authorization, resolution, appointment,
amendment, etc., considered by the Selectmen 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 Selectmen 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 Board of Selectmen, and the
Board collectively, shall be prohibited from issuing orders or directives
to employees of the Town, with the exception of the Town Manager.
