A. 
The local government shall be generally organized into departments for the purpose of meeting the Town's goals and providing community services.
B. 
The Town Manager shall be charged with overall supervision and coordination of the departments, for the benefit of the community.
C. 
The Town Manager shall have the power to appoint, and remove as necessary, the various department heads and all Town employees in accordance with provisions of the Personnel Policy.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
D. 
The Personnel Policy, and respective standard operating procedures of the Fire and Ambulance Departments, shall contain provisions for the removal of the heads and all other members of the Fire and Ambulance Departments by the Town Manager.
A. 
There shall be an Assessing Department represented by the Board of Assessors.
B. 
The Assessors shall assume all statutory responsibilities associated with municipal assessors and may appoint agents to meet these responsibilities. Said agents shall be qualified as certified Maine assessors, duly recognized by the State of Maine.
C. 
The Town Manager shall designate one or more Town employees for the support of this Department.
D. 
Appeals and challenges to actions of the Board of Assessors shall be heard by the Oxford County Commissioners.
E. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department.
[Added 6-15-2022]
A. 
There shall be a Town Clerk's Department, headed by the Town Clerk.
B. 
The Department shall assume all statutory responsibilities associated with the office of Town Clerk. In addition, the Department shall perform all normal duties required by various agencies of the State of Maine with regard to vehicle licensing, registration, hunting/fishing licenses and so forth.
C. 
Pursuant to procedures issued by the Finance Officer, the Department shall be responsible for the collection of excise taxes, real and personal property taxes and other revenues payable to the Town.
D. 
The Town Clerk shall be the custodian of permanent records of all actions of the Select Board, to include but not be limited to minutes of meetings, video and audio recordings of meetings, records of votes, appointments, authorizations and so forth.
E. 
The Town Clerk shall be the custodian of the Town of Bethel Fee Schedule.
[Added 6-13-2001]
F. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
A. 
There shall be a Finance Department, headed by the Finance Officer.
B. 
The Department shall be custodian of all Town funds and responsible for the proper receipt, management and disbursement of these funds. The Department's activity shall occur in a manner that is consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, statute, local ordinance and established policies of the Town.
C. 
The Department shall establish and issue, to the various Town departments, boards, committees and authorities, those procedures which are necessary to meet its responsibilities outlined in Subsection B above.
D. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
A. 
There shall be a Planning and Development Department, headed by the Code Enforcement Officer.
B. 
The Department shall assume statutory responsibilities associated with the offices of code enforcement, plumbing inspection, electrical inspection and health inspection.
C. 
The Department shall be responsible for proper administration of ordinances and local regulations governing land use, land development and building construction.
D. 
The Department shall provide necessary staff support to the Planning Board and Board of Appeals, such that these Boards may fulfill their responsibilities to the Town.
E. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
A. 
There may, upon vote at a Town Meeting, be a Police Department, headed by a Police Chief.
[Amended 6-9-2010]
B. 
The Department shall assume statutory responsibilities associated with law enforcement and animal control. In addition, the Department shall represent the Town in dealings with the Oxford County Sheriff's Department, Maine State Police and other state and federal agencies in matters of law enforcement.
C. 
The Department shall be responsible for the administration of ordinances and local regulations which are related to peace and order and the public health, safety and welfare.
D. 
The Department shall operate in accordance with standard operating procedures approved by the Select Board.
E. 
The Department shall be authorized to support other law enforcement agencies and enter into mutual aid agreements, subject to approval by the Select Board.
F. 
The Chief of Police is authorized to represent the Town of Bethel in District Court in the prosecution of alleged violations of those ordinances which the Police Department is empowered to enforce, if duly certified in accordance with 25 M.R.S.A. § 2803-A, Subdivision 3, or successor statute. The Chief of Police may designate any officer under his command, if so certified, to perform this prosecutorial function.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
G. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
[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.
A. 
There shall be a Fire Department, headed by the Fire Chief. Selection of the Chief and other officers of the Department shall be governed by standard operating procedures approved by the Select Board.
B. 
The Department shall assume statutory responsibilities associated with fire protection and civil emergency management. In addition, the Department shall represent the Town in dealings with the State Fire Marshal's Office and other state and federal agencies in matters of fire protection.
C. 
The Department shall be responsible for the administration of ordinances and local regulations which are related to fire protection and the public health, safety and welfare.
D. 
The Department shall operate in accordance with standard operating procedures approved by the Select Board.
E. 
The Department shall be authorized to support other fire protection agencies and enter into mutual aid agreements, subject to approval by the Select Board.
F. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
A. 
There shall be an Ambulance Department, headed by the Director. Selection of the Director and other officers of the Department shall be governed by standard operating procedures approved by the Select Board.
B. 
The Department shall assume statutory responsibilities associated with emergency medical services. In addition, the Department shall represent the Town in dealings with Maine Emergency Medical Services and other state and federal agencies in matters of emergency medical services.
C. 
The Department shall be responsible for the administration of ordinances and local regulations which are related to emergency medical services and the public health, safety and welfare.
D. 
The Department shall operate in accordance with standard operating procedures approved by the Select Board.
E. 
The Department shall be authorized to support other medical agencies and enter into mutual aid agreements, subject to approval by the Select Board.
F. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
A. 
There shall be Public Works Department, headed by the Public Works Director.
B. 
The Department shall be responsible for proper construction and maintenance of the Town's infrastructure, to include but not be limited to streets, roads, sidewalks, signs, drainage systems, traffic systems, outdoor lighting, parking facilities, recreation areas, parks and cemeteries and other publicly owned facilities whose maintenance is deemed essential to the common good.[1]
[Amended 6-13-2001]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 5-29C, regarding the Public Works Department's responsibilities for solid waste and recyclables, which immediately followed, was repealed 6-12-2024 ATM by Art. 12.
C. 
The Department shall be responsible for the administration of ordinances and local regulations which are related to the protection and maintenance of the public infrastructure.
D. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
A. 
There shall be a Department of Solid Waste and Recycling, headed by the Public Works Director.
B. 
The Department shall be responsible for the disposal and removal of solid waste and recyclables, as well as for the maintenance of related facilities, in accordance with applicable Town policies, Town ordinances, and laws.
[Amended 6-12-2024 ATM by Art. 12]
A. 
There shall be a General Assistance Department, headed by the Town Manager. The Town Manager may designate one or more individuals to serve as deputies within this Department.
B. 
The Department shall assume statutory responsibilities associated with the provision of general assistance. In addition, the Department shall represent the Town in dealings with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, other state agencies, federal agencies, school units, and private organizations in matters of welfare and general assistance.
C. 
The Department shall be responsible for the administration of ordinances and local regulations which are related to general assistance.
[Amended 6-9-2021]
A. 
There shall be a Recreation Department, headed by the Recreation Director.
B. 
The Department shall be responsible for the planning and implementation of programs whose purpose shall be the provision of recreational opportunities for both the youth and general population of the greater Bethel area as deemed appropriate by the Board.
C. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
[Added 6-15-2022]
[Amended 6-13-2001; 6-11-2003; 6-14-2006; 6-12-2024 ATM by Art. 7]
A. 
There shall be an Airport Department which shall be responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the Bethel Regional Airport. Oversight of this Department shall be accomplished by the Town Manager, in accordance with policies and long-term plans established by the Airport Authority.
B. 
Operational, maintenance, and capital costs of the airport shall be considered general fund expenditures. Revenues received from airport-related activities shall be considered general fund revenues.
C. 
The acceptance of all airport-related grants, to include grants which may be offered by the Federal Aviation Administration, State of Maine or County of Oxford, shall be subject to Town Meeting approval.
D. 
All real property, personal property, easements and other deeded instruments acquired by donation or through expenditure of the airport fund shall be considered to be property of the Town of Bethel.
A. 
There shall be a Wastewater Treatment Department, headed by the Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
B. 
The Department shall be responsible for the proper handling and disposal of wastewater and septage materials generated within Bethel and for the proper construction and maintenance of the Town's wastewater infrastructure, to include but not be limited to pipes, mains, manholes, pump stations, conduits, easements, treatment plant, spreading fields and other wastewater-related facilities whose maintenance is deemed essential to the common good.
C. 
All costs incurred by this Department shall be met solely through operation of a wastewater fund. The fund's revenue sources shall be limited to moneys derived from customer billing, governmental grants and private donations. Moneys from the Town of Bethel general fund may only be transferred to the wastewater fund with Town Meeting approval.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
D. 
The fiscal year of the Department shall run from July 1 through June 30. An annual departmental budget, with balancing revenue and expenditure statements, shall be subject to approval by the Select Board before any portion of it may be implemented.
E. 
The Select Board shall be responsible for determination of the overall fiscal policy of the Wastewater Treatment Department, to include establishment of customer categories, customer rates, billing practices, collection practices, and lien and foreclosure procedures.
F. 
The Select Board shall be authorized to enter into any and all loan and grant agreements on behalf of the Department, except that any obligation of the taxation power of the Town of Bethel shall be subject to Town Meeting approval.
G. 
The Select Board shall be authorized to accept and convey any and all real property, personal property, easements and other deeded instruments related and necessary to the operation of the Wastewater Treatment Department.
H. 
All real property, personal property, easements and other deeded instruments acquired by donation or through expenditure of the wastewater fund shall be considered to be property of the Town of Bethel.
[Amended 6-11-2003]
I. 
The Town Manager may impose additional duties on this Department, as needed.
[Added 6-15-2022]