Ethics Commission — Portland, ME
Date: 2025-09-30
Time: 18:00

ETHICS COMMISSION MEMBERS
 Carolyn Braun
 Peter Goldman
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM Jennifer Goodwin
Via Zoom William Hayward
 Maria Maffucci
 Rosemary Paine
 Jennifer Wriggins



REMOTE ACCESS INFORMATION:
The Ethics Commission will conduct this meeting remotely via Zoom pursuant to the Remote Meeting Policy.
Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get the best meeting experience. If you are not able to
attend live either in person or via Zoom, a recording will be available in the Agenda Center following the
meeting.

For public comment via Zoom, you will need to use the "raise your hand" feature. To raise your hand via the
telephone, please hit *9. You will be unmuted by the host when it is time for public comment.

https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/88963971258?pwd=c244Qvm7Y774aLl2jddH4i8BxRCYXS.1

PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION:



AGENDA:

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting

 i. Meeting- Wednesday, August 27, 2025
4. Unfinished Business

 i. Draft Code of Ethics (Continued)
5. Hour Mark-10 Minute Recess
 The Chair calls for a 10-minute recess at the hour mark.
6. New Business

 i. Public Comment Process
7. Next Meeting Date

 i. Tuesday, October 28, 2025
8. Adjourn

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2

ETHICS COMMISSION MEMBERS
 Carolyn Braun
 Peter Goldman
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM Jennifer Goodwin
Via Zoom William Hayward
 Maria Maffucci
 Rosemary Paine
 Jennifer Wriggins



REMOTE ACCESS INFORMATION:
The Ethics Commission will conduct this meeting remotely via Zoom pursuant to the Remote Meeting Policy.
Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get the best meeting experience. If you are not able to
attend live either in person or via Zoom, a recording will be available in the Agenda Center following the
meeting.

For public comment via Zoom, you will need to use the "raise your hand" feature. To raise your hand via the
telephone, please hit *9. You will be unmuted by the host when it is time for public comment.

https://portlandmaine-gov.zoom.us/j/88963971258?pwd=c244Qvm7Y774aLl2jddH4i8BxRCYXS.1

PUBLIC COMMENT INFORMATION:



AGENDA:

1. Call to Order

2. Roll Call

3. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting

 i. Meeting- Wednesday, August 27, 2025
4. Unfinished Business

 i. Draft Code of Ethics (Continued)
5. Hour Mark-10 Minute Recess
 The Chair calls for a 10-minute recess at the hour mark.
6. New Business

 i. Public Comment Process
7. Next Meeting Date

 i. Tuesday, October 28, 2025
8. Adjourn

 1

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City of Portland-Ethics Commission ​ ​ ​ ​ ​




Meeting Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 5:00 pm-Meeting Minutes


Attendees
Carolyn Braun, Peter Goldman, Maria Malfucci, Rosemary Paine, Jennnifer Goodwin
Not present: William Hayward, Jennifer Wiggins
Staff: Ashley Rand, City Clerk; Rachel Millette, Associate Corporation Counsel


Agenda

 1.​ Call to Order
Peter Goldman called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm


Peter asked if there were any members of public who would like to comment? Given
there are no raised hands, no public comments at this time. Discussion regarding public
participation was addressed and will be placed on next month’s agenda. Committee is
welcoming of public comments, will establish a formal process.

 2.​ Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting, July 29, 2025
Minutes were unanimously approved as submitted

Peter acknowledged correspondence received by the Commission from Joey Brunelle,
and thanked him.

 3.​ New Business
 I.​ Review of Ethics Legal Landscape & Sample Ethics Codes

Rachel presented the “Ethics Legal Landscape Ethics Commission Ordinance &
Existing Ethics Laws (found in packet). The purpose of the material is:
 -​ to outline and give context to what the Ethics Commission (EC) is, and what the
 EC is charged with doing.
 -​ Focus on creating an ethics code for the city

Presentation focused on the existing ethics obligations in the law and in the City
Charter; what the code is required to include
​


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Rachel offered links to several Sample Ethics Codes (in packet) to aid the
Commission’s task of creating an Ethics Code for Portland.

Members offered thanks for such a comprehensive and clear presentation and
acknowledged the amount of work it took to put it together.

Questions were raised regarding the possible complaint process and the need for strict
confidentiality during the process. The Commission will want to consider the
seriousness of the situation.

 II.​ Review of Ethics Commission Ordinance & Charter Provisions
Commission members have read and understood them

In response to Carolyn’s questions regarding the original reasons the Charter
Commission suggested creating an Ethics Commission, Rachel will include the Charter
Commission’s Report and the City Council’s Ethics Policy

4.Other Business
Next Steps: Begin to develop the Code

Peter suggested, and commission members agreed that Commissioners might focus on
the following codes and distill out the best features
 1.​ The current COE of City Council
 2.​ School Board ethics code
 3.​ Cape Elizabeth
 4.​ Bangor

Action Items: Commission members should look at sample codes and send Rachel or
Ashley sections or wording that might be included in our Code. Rachel will create a draft
based on the Commission’s recommendations and feedback and post the draft with the
agenda for each meeting, creating the basis for discussion and the eventual final
document.

 1.​ Ashley will send documentation so that Commissioners can attest to FOAA
 training

Agenda item: how to include Public input in our meetings.
Present this evening was Joey Brunelle who mentioned the Charter Commissioners
who envisioned the EC and said that members can reach out to them. Peter thanked
Joey and suggested that the Charter Commissioners and others are welcome to
participate at our meetings.



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​
Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm

Next Meeting Date
Sept 30, 2025 6:00-8:00pm (Via Zoom)



​ ​




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 CITY OF PORTLAND
 CODE OF ETHICS
 Adopted by Resolve 12-21/22 on June 16, 2022


§ 1. Declaration of policy and statement of purpose.


The purpose of City government is to serve the public interest. City ofﬁcials shall
treat their office as a tangible representation of the public trust granted to each
Councilor. Citizens shall have a fair and equal opportunity to express their views to
City ofﬁcials. Therefore, the City’s powers and resources are to be used for the
beneﬁt of the common good rather than any ofﬁcial’s personal beneﬁt. The
principles of equitable and fair municipal governance shall include but are not
limited to honesty, trust, integrity, transparency, individual and collective behavior
that promotes responsibility, accountability, mutual respect, and commitment to
the City and its constituents. Council action shall promote the ability of residents to
exercise their rights by effectively communicating information that is
understandable, accessible and culturally responsive, thereby assuring residents a
path to meaningful participation in the proceedings of the Council and the meetings
of its various Committees.
In keeping with the policies and obligations outlined in State statutory and decisional
law, the City’s Charter, Code of Ordinances, and personnel policies, it is recognized
that high moral and ethical standards among city officials are essential to the integrity
of the City’s government and to the trust and confidence of the people of Portland in
their governing body. Though there are several existing policies that require City
Councilors, appointees, and staff to be fair and impartial and to act with integrity, by
adopting this Code of Ethics, the City Council demonstrates its commitment to always
work toward improving standards of public service and promoting the community’s
faith and confidence in the Council’s work. In recognition of these goals, a Code of
Ethics is hereby established for members of the Portland City Council, beginning with
this statement of values.

 A. Trust. The purpose of City government is to serve the public. City ofﬁcials
 treat their office as a public trust. Citizens have a fair and equal opportunity to
 express their views to City ofﬁcials. Therefore, the City’s powers and resources
 are used for the beneﬁt of the public rather than any ofﬁcial’s personal
 beneﬁt. City ofﬁcials ensure public respect by avoiding even the appearance of
 impropriety. The long-term beneﬁt to the public as a whole is held above all other
 considerations, including serving important individuals and special interests. The
 public interest, however, includes protecting the rights of under-represented
 minorities. Administrators implement policies in good faith, as equitably and
 economically as possible, regardless of their personal views. Whistle-blowing is
 appropriate for unlawful or improper actions. City ofﬁcials devote City resources,
 including paid time, working supplies, and capital assets, to beneﬁt the
 public. Political campaigns are not conducted on City time or property.


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 B. Objectivity. City ofﬁcials' decisions are based on the merits of the
 issues. Judgment is independent and objective. City ofﬁcials avoid ﬁnancial
 conflict of interest and do not accept beneﬁts or gifts of any kind from anyone
 and, in particular, from people requesting to affect decisions. If an individual
 ofﬁcial’s ﬁnancial or personal interests will be speciﬁcally affected by a decision,
 the ofﬁcial withdraws from participating in the decision. City ofﬁcials avoid bias
 or favoritism and they respect cultural differences as part of decision-
 making. Intervention on behalf of constituents or friends is limited to assuring
 fairness of procedures, clarifying policies or improving service for citizens.

 C. Accountability. Open government allows citizens to make informed
 judgments and to hold ofﬁcials accountable. City ofﬁcials exercise their authority
 with open meetings and public records, facilitating open discussion. Ofﬁcials who
 delegate responsibilities also follow up to make sure the work is carried out
 efﬁciently and ethically. Campaigns for election should allow the voters to make
 an informed choice on appropriate criteria.


 Standards of Conduct.

§ 2. Statutory standards.
There are certain provisions of the general statutes of the State of Maine which
should, while not set forth herein, be considered an integral part of this code.
Accordingly, the provisions of the following sections of the general statutes of the
State of Maine, as may be amended, are hereby incorporated by reference and made
a part of this Code of Ethics and shall apply to all City Councilors, whenever applicable
as if more fully set forth therein:
 A. 17 M.R.S.A. § 3104, Conflicts of interest; purchases by the state.

 B. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 456, Tampering with public records or information.
 C. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 602, Bribery in official and political matters.
 D. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 603, Improper influence.
 E. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 604, Improper compensation for past action.
 F. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 605, Improper gifts to public servants.
 G. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 606, Improper compensation for services.
 H. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 607, Purchase of public office.
 I. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 608, Official oppression.
 J. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 609, Misuse of information.
 K. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 903, Misuse of entrusted property.
 L. 21-A M.R.S.A. § 504, Persons ineligible to serve.

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M. 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2605, Conflicts of interest.

N. 30-A M.R.S.A. § 5122, Interest of public officials, trustees or employees.


§ 3. Conflicts of interest.
 A. Deliberation and vote prohibited. No City Councilor shall, in such capacity,
 participate in the deliberation or vote, or otherwise take part in the decision-
 making process, on any agenda item before the council or any council committee
 in which the councilor or a member of the councilor’s immediate family has a
 financial or special interest or the appearance of a financial or special interest,
 other than an interest held by the public generally.

 B. Disclosure of conflict. Any City Councilor who believes that the councilor or a
 member of the councilor’s immediate family has a financial or special interest,
 other than an interest held by the public generally, in any agenda item before the
 council or a council committee to which the councilor has been appointed shall
 disclose the nature and extent of such interest, and the City Clerk or the Clerk’s
 designee shall make a record of such disclosure. Such disclosure shall be made
 no later than the date of the first meeting of the City Council or committee thereof
 at which the agenda item concerned is to be taken up for consideration,
 recommendation, discussion or vote and at which the City Councilor is present.
 Additionally, any City Councilor, who believes that any fellow City Councilor or a
 member of such fellow City Councilor's immediate family has a financial or special
 interest, other than an interest held by the public generally, in any agenda item
 before the Council or a committee thereof shall disclose the nature and extent of
 such interest, and the City Clerk or the Clerk’s designee shall make a record of
 such disclosure.

 C. Determination of conflict. Notwithstanding the language of Rule 26 of the
 Council’s Rules of Procedure, once the issue of conflict has been raised relative to
 an individual City Councilor or committee member and disclosure has been made
 as provided above, such individual's fellow City Councilors or committee members
 shall review the facts as disclosed to them and shall vote on whether or not such
 individual has a financial or special interest with respect to the agenda item
 concerned. All conflict of interest questions relating to a particular agenda item
 shall be resolved prior to any consideration of the item concerned, and each City
 Councilor or committee member present shall be entitled to vote on all conflict of
 interest questions except those questions pertaining to that individual Councilor’s
 or committee member's alleged conflict of interest.

 1.All votes of conflict of interest questions shall be recorded. A majority vote
 shall determine the question, but a vote by committee may later be reviewed
 by the full City Council upon the City Council's consideration of the same
 agenda item.

 2.Upon determination that a conflict of interest in fact exists, the City Councilor
 or committee member concerned shall be excused from participating in
 discussion, deliberation or vote on the relevant agenda item.

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 D. Avoidance of appearance of conflict. To avoid the appearance of a violation of
 this section, once any individual City Councilor is determined to have a conflict of
 interest in respect to any agenda item and once all conflict of interest questions
 relating to the agenda item concerned have been determined as provided in
 Subsection C above, said individual shall immediately remove themselves from
 the meeting room. The City Councilor shall not return to the Councilor’s regular
 seat as a member of the body until deliberation and action on the item is
 completed. If the item has not been finally resolved when the conflict of interest
 is first determined, said individual shall not be present for any subsequent action
 on the agenda item. Nothing herein shall require an individual Councilor to remove
 themselves for any item contained on a consent agenda on which there is no
 deliberation if the individual's conflict has been determined by the other members
 and the right to abstain from voting on the item has been granted.

 E. Personal interest. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit any City
 Councilor, from representing their own personal interest by appearing before the
 Council on any such agenda item.

 F. Municipal budget.
 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 4 below, no City Councilor shall
 abstain from or be prohibited from voting on the municipal budget when it
 comes before the Council on a Council agenda for approval.

 2. If during the Council discussion of the approval of the municipal budget
 the Council decides to deliberate upon a line item of the budget on which a
 councilor has been previously determined to have a conflict or has previously
 abstained, then the Councilor shall not participate in the deliberations on that
 particular line item. Upon the conclusion of any such deliberation, the Councilor
 shall continue to participate in other budget deliberations and vote on the
 municipal budget.

 3. It is the intent of this provision that all Councilors shall participate in the
 deliberation and vote on the municipal budget when it is presented to the
 Council for approval, but that no Councilor shall participate in a deliberation
 on or vote on any specific provision in the municipal budget for which the
 Councilor has previously been determined to have a conflict or has previously
 abstained.

§ 4. Abstention; exercising the right to abstain.
Any City Councilor who believes that they or a member of their immediate family has
a special or financial interest, other than an interest held by the public generally, in
any agenda item before the Council or any of its committees may, after disclosure of
the nature and extent of such interest, publicly state their intent to abstain from
participation in the deliberation or vote, or otherwise taking part in the decision
making process on the agenda item. However, the City Council may by motion and
vote determine that there is no conflict and that the City Councilor, board member
or commission member shall not be permitted to abstain from participating and
voting on the agenda item.

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§ 5. Certain privileges or exemptions prohibited.

No councilor shall use the member’s position to secure special privileges or
exemptions for the councilor, their spouse, child, parents, other persons or
employers. Nor shall any councilor accept anything of value that may tend to
influence the councilor in the discharge of the councilor’s duties, or which could have
influenced the councilor in the discharge of their past duties.

§ 6. Incompatible employment or activity prohibited.

No councilor shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for
private individuals or entities or engage in any business or professional activity when
the employment, service or activity is incompatible with the proper discharge of the
councilor’s official duties, or when it would require or induce the councilor to disclose
confidential information acquired by reason of their official position.

§ 7. Contracts, purchases and employment.

In keeping with Article VIII, Section 1 of the City’s Charter, no member of the City
Council shall:

 A. Have a substantial financial interest, direct or indirect, in any contract entered
 into by or on behalf of the City of Portland except their employment contract, or
 in the sale to or by the city of any land, materials, supplies or services when such
 officer exercises on behalf of the city any function or responsibility with respect to
 such contract or sale.


 B. Purchase or accept anything from the city other than those items or services
 which are offered to the public generally, and then only upon the same terms and
 under the same procedures offered to and used for the general public. This shall
 not include those items or services which are received as compensation, or as a
 part of such person's employment contract, or which are necessary for the
 performance of such person's duties.

 C. Accept or receive from any person, firm, or corporation acting under a
 franchise, contract, or license from the city, any frank, free pass, free ticket, or
 free service, or accept, directly or indirectly, from any such person, firm, or
 corporation any service upon terms more favorable than those granted to the
 public generally.

§ 8. Misuse of City resources.

Misuse of Public Position or Resources. Except for infrequent use at little or no cost
to the city, councilors shall not use public resources that are not available to the



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public in general, such as city staff time, equipment, supplies or facilities, for other
than a city purpose.

§ 9 Coercive political solicitation.

A city councilor shall not use the councilor’s position to make threats or promises for
the purpose of trying to get anyone to do any political activity or make a political
contribution.

§ 10 Political solicitation of vendors, contractors, and licensees.

A city councilor shall not ask any person or entity that does or intends to do business
with the municipality or that has or is seeking a license, permit, grant, or benefit from
the City or that has done business with the City during the previous twelve months
to make any political contribution or engage in any political activity.

§11. Conduct of councilors.
City councilors will hereafter conduct themselves according to the following rules of
conduct as they pertain to work for and on behalf of the City of Portland:

 A. A councilor shall always represent that opinions stated are the councilor’s own
 and do not necessarily represent those of the council unless the council has voted
 and passed an ordinance, resolution or motion that so states the expressed policy.

 B. A councilor shall not use their office for personal gain, especially financial gain,
 including particularly the acceptance of any gifts and gratuities.

 C. A councilor shall not make false statements on which the council, city staff or
 other agencies rely to establish policy or make important decisions. A councilor
 violates this rule if they knows it is untrue, or if the person has knowledge that
 would lead a reasonable person of ordinary prudence to conclude that the
 statement is untrue.

§ 12. Violation and penalties.
The following procedure will be implemented by a standing council ethics committee,
appointed annually with the other standing committees and with four (4) members,
when an alleged violation of the rules stated herein occurs:

 A. Any councilor who believes that another councilor has violated the council
 ethics rules, whether by personal knowledge or by a substantiated report of any
 member of the public, shall submit a written statement of the purported violation
 to the council ethics and administration committee.

 B. The committee shall review the violation in executive session to determine
 whether adequate reasons exist to bring formal charges. If the accused councilor
 is a member of the committee, the accused councilor shall remove
 him/her/themself from the committee and the council shall substitute another
 councilmember for the review.

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 C. The committee shall come to one of the following conclusions:

 1. There is insufficient evidence to conclude that any particular violation has
 occurred. In this case, the committee shall keep any records confidential unless
 otherwise prohibited by applicable law; or

 2. There may have been a violation, in which case the committee may call for
 full review by the council in executive session.

 D. If the committee concludes there may have been a violation, the council shall
 select one of its members to present its findings at a public hearing of the City
 Council. The accused councilor shall neither conduct the meeting during the
 hearing nor shall the member present the findings.

 The council shall give the accused council member adequate time to prepare a
 case and to present the case at the public hearing. Both the council and accused
 member shall present their own cases but they may be accompanied by counsel
 during the proceedings. The council presenter and the accused councilor may
 present witnesses who shall present their evidence upon oath.

 After hearing the evidence, the council shall determine whether the purported
 violation was major, minor or whether there is insufficient evidence to determine
 that a violation occurred. If the council determines that a violation occurred, they
 shall also establish a penalty commensurate with the violation.

§ 10. Findings open to public – Exceptions.

The record of the committee’s findings and other records made or filed under this
chapter shall be open to public inspection unless such designation is inconsistent with
some other provision of law.

§ 11. Initiation of appropriate action.

If the findings of the committee disclose a violation of this chapter, Corporation
Counsel shall initiate appropriate action to effectuate the purposes of this chapter.




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Approved by the Town Council
October 6, 2014, Revised April 9, 2018
Revised February 10, 2025
 Town of Cape Elizabeth
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND CODE OF ETHICS
For elected members of the Town Council and council-appointed members
 of its Boards, Commissions and Committees

Guiding Principles

The proper operation of the government of the Town of Cape Elizabeth
(hereinafter “Town”) requires that elected Town Councilors (hereinafter
“Councilors”) and members of council-appointed Boards, Commissions and
Committees (hereinafter “Members”) adhere to the following principles:

 1. To be fair, impartial and responsive to the needs of the people they serve
 and to each other in the performance of their functions and duties;
 2. To ensure that decisions and policies be made in proper channels of the
 Town’s governmental structure;
 3. That public office is not used for personal gain, family gain, or third party
 gain;
 4. To work together in their respective bodies, modeling honesty, teamwork
 and civility to the community; and
 5. To maintain a standard of ethical conduct that will inspire public
 confidence in the integrity of the Town’s government.

In recognition of these principles, this Code of Ethics is hereby adopted as the
standard of ethical conduct for the Town Council and members of its appointed
Boards, Commissions and Committees.

Code of Ethics

Section 1. Title

This policy shall be known as the Code of Ethics for Elected Members of the
Town Council and Council-Appointed Members of its Boards, Commissions and
Committees.

Section 2. Legal Standards

It is the duty of every Councilor and Member to support the Constitution of the
United States and the Constitution of the State of Maine. Therefore, those
documents are incorporated herein and made part of this Code of Ethics.

There are Maine statutes, which, while not set forth herein, are referenced
below and are incorporated as an integral part of this Code of Ethics.




 Page 15
17 MRSA § 3104 Conflict of Interest; Purchases by the State
17-A MRSA § 456 Tampering with Public Records or Information
17-A MRSA § 602 Bribery in Official and Political Matters
17-A MRSA § 603 Improper Influence
17-A MRSA § 604 Improper Compensation for Past Action
17-A MRSA § 605 Improper Gifts to Public Servants
17-A MRSA § 606 Improper Compensation for Services
17-A MRSA § 607 Purchase of Public Office
17-A MRSA § 608 Official Oppression
17-A MRSA § 609 Misuse of Information
17-A MRSA § 903 Misuse of Entrusted Property
17-A MRSA § 904 Private Bribery
17-A MRSA § 905-A Misuse of Identification
30-A MRSA § 2605 Conflicts of Interest
30-A MRSA § 5122 Interest of Public Officials, Trustees or Employees

Section 3. Conflicts of Interest

To fairly and impartially discharge their duties and responsibilities, all
Councilors and Members must ensure their official actions are not intended to
create actual or the potential for personal or financial gain, either directly or
indirectly, for themselves, family members, personal friends, or other related
parties.

Any actual or potential conflicts between personal interests (financial, personal
relationships, or otherwise) and Town business must be fully disclosed in a
timely fashion to the Town Council or Board, Commission or Committee. If the
Town Council or Board or Commission or Committee determines that an actual
conflict of interest does exist, then the Councilor or Member shall be recused
from officially participating in any discussion or decision-making action on the
issue. A Councilor or Member may also determine to recuse themselves from a
matter if they determine a conflict of interest exists that would influence their
decision-making.

If a Councilor or Member has accepted money or other consideration from a
citizen, group of citizens, business or other entity that has an interest in an
issue before its body, and if such money or other consideration was received by
the Councilor or Member within a twelve-month period prior to Council or body
taking any action on the issue in question, that Councilor or Member should
not participate in deliberations relating to that issue. This prohibition shall not
apply to the sale of consumer goods or services at fair retail value. This
conflict-of-interest provision does not prohibit a Councilor or Member from
acting as a private citizen, outside of any official duties.

To the extent any Councilor or Member believes that there is an actual conflict
or the appearance of a conflict, the Councilor or Member shall disclose the
facts and circumstances giving rise to the possible conflict and the Town




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Council, Board, Commission, or Committee shall determine what, if any, steps
should be taken to address it.

Section 4. Gifts and/or Gratuities

The conduct of public business shall be free of any influence arising from gifts,
favors, donations, or special privileges. It is the obligation of every Councilor
and Member to refuse personal gifts, favors, donations or special privileges in
every instance where favor or special privilege would not have been extended
but for the position of such Councilor or Member; where there exists a
reasonable belief that the giver’s interests are likely to be affected by the
actions of the Councilor or Member, or where the gift is or may reasonably be
considered to be designed to influence the actions of the Councilor or Member.
Councilors and Members shall not directly or indirectly solicit any gift, gratuity
or donation if it could be reasonably inferred or expected that the gift is
intended to influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Section 5. Appearance of Conflict of Interest and Improper Influence.

Councilors and Members should conduct their official and personal affairs in
such a manner as to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest and/or
improper influence in the performance of their official duties. No Councilor or
Member shall seek personal or financial advantage or create the appearance of
person or financial advantage by means of their public office for themselves or,
on part of relatives, personal friends or third parties.

Section 6. Representing Third Party Interests Before Town Agencis

Councilors and Members shall be sensitive to, and cognizant of the fact that
appearing before any town office committee or agency, even as a private citizen,
may convey an aura of Town Council or agency sanction. Therefore, it is
incumbent on Councilors and Members to explicitly state that they are
appearing as a private person as opposed to as a member of the Council or one
of its Boards, Commissions or Committees, and that their presence or
statements may not and shall not be taken as any implying any position the
Council or Agency may currently have or take in the future.

No Councilor or Member shall either appear on behalf of any third party
interest before the Council or any Town board, commission or other agency
(individually, “agency”, collectively, “agencies”), or represent a third party
interest in any action, proceeding, or litigation in which the Town or one of its
agencies is a party, without explicitly stating that he/she is appearing as a
citizen or representative of a citizen as opposed to as a member of the Council
or one of its Boards, Commissions or Committees.




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Nothing herein shall prohibit a Councilor, on behalf of a constituent during his
or her duties as a representative of the electorate, or any Councilor or Member,
on behalf of his or her personal interest, from appearing before a Town agency.

Notwithstanding this provision, a Councilor or Member may appear before an
agency in his/her capacity as a Councilor or Member while acting on behalf of
the Town, when authorized by the Council, Board, Commission, or Committee.

Section 7. Bias

Bias is a natural and often prejudiced inclination for or against an idea, object,
group or individual.

If a Councilor or Member believes that he/she is biased for or against an
individual or entity that has a matter pending before the Council or one of its
Boards, Commissions or Committees, and the Councilor or Member believes
that such bias will interfere with his/her ability to make a fair and impartial
decision, then he/she shall recuse himself/herself from participating in any
discussion or decision-making action on this issue.

To the extent any Councilor or Member believes that another Councilor or
Member is biased or there is an appearance of bias, the Councilor or Member
shall disclose the facts and circumstances giving rise to the alleged bias and
the Town Council, Board, Commission, or Committee shall determine what, if
any, steps should be taken to address it.

Section 8. Standards of Conduct

The following specific standards of conduct further the policies and goals set
forth in this Code of Ethics:

 A. Councilors and Members shall take reasonable steps to preserve written
 communications to comply with Maine’s “right to know” laws and, more
 specifically, a request made pursuant to the Freedom of Access Act (“FOAA”).
 To that end, Councilors and Members shall preserve incoming and outgoing
 emails or other written communications that are subject to FOAA either (i)
 on their own computers or filing system or (ii) by copying them to a Town-
 designated computer account, so that these communications are preserved
 and readily available in the event of a FOAA request.

 B. Councilors and Members should conduct public business in as transparent
 a manner as possible. Although one-one-one conversations or meetings are
 legally permissible if not used to defeat the purpose of FOAA, to the extent
 information is exchanged that would be of value to the entire Council or
 Board, Commission or Committee, such information should be shared at a
 public meeting.




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 C. Councilors and Members shall annually provide a list of any gifts received in
 the immediate prior year having a value of $100 or greater, from any person
 or entity within the Town or having a matter pending before the Council or
 Board, Commission or Committee, other than family members or close
 personal friends. In addition, if a person, business or other entity organized
 an event that benefitted the Councilor or Member or his/her family or a
 related business in an amount of $100 or more, the Councilor or Member
 shall disclose the name of such person or entity. These disclosures shall be
 filed with the Town Clerk if you receive a gift. For purposes of this section,
 “gifts” include payments made to a Councilor or Member that exceed the fair
 market value of any goods or services provided in return.

 D. Councilors and Members shall keep confidential matters confidential as
 shared in executive session or marked confidential by the Town Attorney or
 Town Manager.

 E. Councilors and Members shall not publicly accuse any Councilors or
 Member of unethical conduct but rather shall follow the procedure outlined
 in Section 9 of this Code.

 F. Councilors and Members shall not publicly accuse any person of illegal
 conduct absent a prior judicial finding of the same.

 G. Councilors and Members shall not commit a criminal or unlawful act that
 reflects adversely on the Councilor or Members honesty, trustworthiness, or
 fitness as a Councilor or Member in other respects.

 H. Town Councilors shall adhere to Town Council Rules.

All Councilors and Members shall be required to attest that they have read and
understand this Code of Ethics and will comply with its provisions at the first meeting
of the Council or Board, Commission and Committee each year.

Section 9. Enforcement

All Councilors and Members shall comply with this Code of Ethics. If any
person believes that a member of the Town Council or Board of Commission or
Committee has violated this Code, the following procedure is mandated:

 A. The person shall report the matter to the Town Manager. The report shall
 be in writing, stating specifically and succinctly the grounds for the
 accusation and any supporting statements, documents or records. The
 report and supporting documents shall constitute the Complaint.

 B. The Town Manager shall, as quickly as possible but in no event more
 than 48 hours, notify the Town Council Chair, or Town Council Vice
 Chair if applicable.




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 C. The Town Council Chair and Town Manager shall expeditiously schedule
 an executive session of the Town Council to determine whether there is
 just cause to believe that the Councilor or Member (hereinafter
 “Accused”) has violated this Code.

 D. The Councilor or Member shall be informed of the general nature of the
 Compliant and the Council may hold an executive session to consider the
 Compliant in accordance with 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6)(A).

 E. If the Council determines that the Compliant does not allege facts
 sufficient to support a finding of just cause to believe that the Code has
 been violated, it shall dismiss the Compliant and notify the Complainant
 and the Accused. If the Council determines that the Compliant was
 brought for harassment purposes, the Council shall so state.

 F. If the Town Council finds that there is just cause to believe that a
 Councilor or Member has violated this Code, the Town Council shall
 determine the appropriate remedy or response.

 G. The final determination of the Town Council and the remedy or response
 shall be made public.

Section 10. Authority

The Town Council adopts this Code of Ethics pursuant to 30-A MRSA 2605(7).

Section 11. Applicability

This policy shall apply to all members of the Cape Elizabeth Town Council and
all members of Council appointed Boards, Commissions and Committees.

Section 12. Effective Date

This policy was adopted effective October 6, 2014 and revised April 9, 2018 and
February 10, 2025.

Section 13. Amendment

This policy may be amended or revised by a majority vote of the Town Council.

Section 14. Severability

If any provision of this policy is found to be unenforceable or invalid, the
remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.




 Page 20
Section 15. Conflict with other Policies, Ordinances, or Jurisdictions

Whenever a provision of this Code of Ethics conflicts with or is inconsistent
with another provision of this Code, or conflicts with or is inconsistent with the
Town Charter, any Town Ordinance, state statute or regulation, or any other
applicable law, the more restrictive provision shall apply.




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City of Bangor, ME




 Chapter 33

 CODE OF ETHICS

 ARTICLE I § 33-11. Conflicts of interest.
 General Provisions § 33-11.1. Abstention; exercising the right
 to abstain.
 § 33-1. Declaration of policy. § 33-12. Disclosure statement.
 § 33-1.1. Nonpartisanship. § 33-13. Political activities.
 § 33-2. Definitions. § 33-13.1. Use of titles and disclaimers.
 § 33-3. Violations and penalties. § 33-14. Incompatible employment or
 office.
 ARTICLE II § 33-15. Ethics in contracting.
 Standards of Conduct
 ARTICLE III
 § 33-4. Purpose. Board of Ethics
 § 33-5. Statutory standards.
 § 33-5.1. Unbiased conduct. § 33-16. Establishment; membership.
 § 33-6. Contracts, purchases and § 33-17. Terms of office; residency
 employment. requirements.
 § 33-7. Confidential information. § 33-18. Holding other office or position.
 § 33-7.1. Use of social media. § 33-19. Procedural rules and records.
 § 33-8. Gifts and favors. § 33-20. Powers and duties.
 § 33-9. Use of City property. § 33-21. Referrals.
 § 33-9.1. Solicitations by City officials § 33-22. Orientation meeting; annual
 and employees. report.
 § 33-10. Representing third party
 interest before City agencies.


 [HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Bangor as Ch. I, Art. 6; amended 6-12-1995
 by Ord. No. 95-234. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-1 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-2

 ARTICLE I
 General Provisions

 § 33-1. Declaration of policy.

 The proper operation of democratic government requires that City Councilors and their appointees be fair,
 impartial and responsive to the needs of the people and each other in the performance of their respective
 functions and duties; that decisions and policy be made in proper channels of the City's governmental
 structure; that public office not be used for personal gain; and that City employees, City Councilors and
 City appointees maintain a standard of conduct that will inspire public confidence in the integrity of
 the City's government. In recognition of these goals, a Code of Ethics is hereby established for all City
 employees, City Councilors and members and associate members of all the City boards and commissions
 now existing or hereafter created.

 § 33-1.1. Nonpartisanship. [Added 10-23-2017 by Ord. No. 17-362]

 To meet the purpose of this Code, the nonpartisanship of City Councilors and their appointees is important
 for the public confidence in their conduct in fulfilling their duties. In fulfilling their duties and obligations
 to the citizens of the City of Bangor, City Councilors and their appointees are expected to maintain
 the nonpartisan structure and intent of Bangor's form of local governance. To this end, City Councilors
 and their appointees shall conduct themselves in a nonpartisan manner, favoring no political party, and
 shall refrain from active participation in the election campaign of any particular candidate, whenever
 they are identified with, or closely associated with, their roles as Bangor public officials or appointees.
 In such circumstances, public officials and appointees should take care to identify themselves as private
 individuals, explicitly separating their statements and actions from their office or appointment.

 § 33-2. Definitions.

 As used in this code, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
 BOARD — All statutory and nonstatutory boards now existing or hereafter created under the City Charter
 or by virtue of any ordinance, order or resolve adopted by the Bangor City Council, including, without
 limitation, the following:[Amended 1-13-1997 by Ord. No. 97-59]

 A. Banair Corporation Board of Directors.

 B. Bangor Recreation District Board of Directors.

 C. Board of Appeals.

 D. Board of Assessment Review.

 E. Board of Ethics.

 F. Hersey Fund Board of Trustees.

 G. Planning Board.

 H. Sophia Kirstein Loan Fund Board of Trustees.

 I. Superintending School Committee.

 J. Tree Board. [Added 10-25-2004 by Ord. No. 04-249]




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-2 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-3

 BOARD MEMBER — Any person elected to membership or associate membership on a City board or
 appointed to such a board by or under the authority of the Bangor City Council.
 BUSINESS — Any corporation, partnership, individual, sole proprietorship, joint venture or any other
 legally recognized entity organized for the purposes of making a profit.
 CITY COUNCIL — For purposes of this code, references to the City Council shall be construed to mean
 the City Council of the City of Bangor and any of the committees or subcommittees thereof.
 CITY COUNCILOR — A member of the Bangor City Council.
 CITY EMPLOYEE — Any individual working for, on a permanent or temporary basis, and drawing
 an hourly wage or salary from the City of Bangor. The term "City employee" shall not include outside
 consultants or professional personnel providing services to the City as independent contractors under a
 written professional services contract or other similar engagement.
 COMMISSION — All committees, commissions or other public bodies now existing or hereafter created
 by virtue of any ordinance, order or resolve adopted by the Bangor City Council, including, without
 limitation, the following:[Amended 2-13-2012 by Ord. No. 12-068; 2-13-2012 by Ord. No. 12-069]

 A. Bangor Housing Authority Commission.

 B. Economic Development Advisory Commission.

 C. Firearms Discharge Committee.

 D. Historic Preservation Commission.

 E. Nursing Facility Advisory Committee.

 F. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
 COMMISSION MEMBER — Any person appointed to membership or associate membership on a City
 commission or committee by or under the authority of the Bangor City Council.
 FINANCIAL INTEREST — A direct or indirect interest having monetary or pecuniary value, including
 but not limited to the ownership of shares of stock. A City employee, City Councilor, board member or
 commission member or any member of that person's immediate family who holds a financial interest in a
 disclosed blind trust shall not be deemed to have a conflict of interest with regard to matters pertaining to
 assets held by the trust.
 IMMEDIATE FAMILY — Spouse, children, parents. siblings, including step, half, and in-law relations,
 and domestic partner of a City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission
 member.[Amended 6-11-2007 by Ord. No. 07-174]
 PERSONAL INTEREST — Any interest of a City employee acting in their private capacity as a resident,
 landowner, taxpayer, citizen, or member of the general public.[Added 10-25-2004 by Ord. No. 04-249]
 SPECIAL INTEREST — A direct or indirect interest having value peculiar to a certain individual or group,
 whether economic or otherwise, which value may accrue to such individual or group as a result of the
 passage or denial of any order, ordinance or resolution or the approval or disapproval thereof by the City
 Council, board or commission and which interest is not shared by the general public.

 § 33-3. Violations and penalties.

 Violations of this code shall be punishable by civil fine as provided in Chapter 9, City Council, Article III,
 Ordinances, § 9-26 of the Code of the City of Bangor. In addition to any other penalties or remedies as



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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-3 BANGOR CODE § 33-3

 may be provided by law, violation of this code shall constitute cause for censure, after notice and hearing
 conducted by the City Council. A majority of the Bangor City Council shall conduct such proceedings.
 A violation of this code by a City employee shall also constitute proper grounds for dismissal or other
 disciplinary action as provided in the City's published Personnel Rules and Regulations.




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-4 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-5.1

 ARTICLE II
 Standards of Conduct

 § 33-4. Purpose.

 The purpose of this code is to establish ethical standards of conduct for all City employees, City Councilors
 and board and commission members by setting forth those acts or actions deemed to be in conflict or
 incompatible, or to create the appearance of conflict or incompatibility, with the best interests of the City
 of Bangor.

 § 33-5. Statutory standards.

 There are certain provisions of the general statutes of the State of Maine which should, while not set forth
 herein, be considered an integral part of this code. Accordingly, the provisions of the following sections of
 the general statutes of the State of Maine, as may be amended, are hereby incorporated by reference and
 made a part of this Code of Ethics and shall apply to all City employees, City Councilors, board members
 and commission members of the City of Bangor whenever applicable as if more fully set forth therein:

 A. 17 M.R.S.A. § 3104, Conflicts of interest; purchases by the state.

 B. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 456, Tampering with public records or information.

 C. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 602, Bribery in official and political matters.

 D. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 603, Improper influence.

 E. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 604, Improper compensation for past action.

 F. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 605, Improper gifts to public servants.

 G. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 606, Improper compensation for services.

 H. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 607, Purchase of public office.

 I. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 608, Official oppression.

 J. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 609, Misuse of information.

 K. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 903, Misuse of entrusted property.

 L. 21-A M.R.S.A. § 504, Persons ineligible to serve.

 M. 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2605, Conflicts of interest.

 N. 30-A M.R.S.A. § 5122, Interest of public officials, trustees or employees.

 § 33-5.1. Unbiased conduct. [Added 10-23-2017 by Ord. No. 17-363]

 A. The purpose of this provision is to clearly establish the expectation of unbiased, fair, impartial, and
 equitable treatment of all persons.

 B. City Councilors, City employees, board members, and commission members shall conduct
 themselves in a manner that does not discriminate unlawfully against any person because of race,
 color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender,
 gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, cultural group, or political status.



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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-5.1 BANGOR CODE § 33-7

 C. All persons, irrespective of personal characteristics or other distinctions, to include, but not limited
 to, race, ethnic background, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion,
 socioeconomic status, age, cultural group, or political status, shall be treated in the same basic manner
 under the same or similar circumstances.

 § 33-6. Contracts, purchases and employment.

 A. No City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member shall participate directly,
 by means of deliberation, approval or disapproval or recommendation, in the purchase of goods and
 services for the City and the award of any contracts with the City, except as permitted under the City's
 Purchasing Regulations and under the laws of the State of Maine, where to their knowledge there is a
 financial interest, or special interest other than that possessed by the public generally, in such
 purchase or award held by:

 (1) That individual or a member of their immediate family;

 (2) A business in which that individual or a member of their immediate family serves as an officer,
 director, trustee, partner or employee in a supervisory or management position; or

 (3) Any other person or business with whom or with which that individual or a member of their
 immediate family is in business or is negotiating or has an arrangement concerning future
 employment.

 B. No City Councilor, board member or commission member shall participate, by means of deliberation,
 approval or disapproval or recommendation, in the decision to hire, promote, discipline, lay off or to
 take any other personnel action in respect to any applicant for City employment or City employee
 where said applicant or employee is:

 (1) A member of the Councilor's, board member's or commission member's immediate family; or

 (2) A person with whom either the Councilor, board member, commission member or a member of
 their immediate family is in business.

 C. Employees.

 (1) Except as authorized under the City's published Personnel Rules and Regulations, no City
 employee shall participate, by means of deliberation, approval or disapproval or
 recommendation, in the decision to hire, promote, discipline, lay off or to take any other
 personnel action in respect to any applicant for City employment or City employee where said
 applicant or employee is:

 (a) A member of the City employee's immediate family; or

 (b) A person with whom either the City employee or a member of their immediate family is in
 business.

 (2) Action by a City employee shall be deemed authorized under this subsection when such action
 is permitted under the City's published Personnel Rules and Regulations or when the City
 Council has waived those rules so as to allow creation of a supervisory relationship that would
 otherwise violate the published rules.




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-7 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-8

 § 33-7. Confidential information. [Amended 10-25-2004 by Ord. No. 04-249]

 No City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member shall, without proper legal
 authorization, disclose confidential information concerning the property, government or affairs of the City,
 nor shall they use such information to advance their financial, special, or personal interest or the financial,
 special, or personal interest of others. For purposes of this section, the term "confidential information"
 shall mean any information, oral or written, which comes to the attention of, or is available to, such City
 employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member only because of their position with the
 City and is not a matter of public record. Information received and discussed during an executive session of
 the Bangor City Council or any City agency called pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A. § 405 et seq. shall be considered
 within the constraints of this section and shall not be disclosed to any third party unless permitted by
 affirmative vote of such body.

 § 33-7.1. Use of social media. [Added 10-23-2017 by Ord. No. 17-364]

 A. This provision provides parameters to be followed when using social media while working or during
 activities related to work for the public. Its purpose is to offer a means to distinguish between personal
 opinions or comments and opinions or comments in one's official capacity. Its intent is to respect
 protected speech and First Amendment rights.

 B. The use of online social networks can blur the lines between private opinions and comments and
 those that are made in one's official capacity. Any use of social media by a person associated with the
 City may be perceived as representing the City and City government. Hence, discretion and caution
 are needed.

 C. Social media refers to online communications tools, including but not limited to online social
 networks such as Facebook, professional networks such as Linkedin®, microblogging tools such as
 Twitter and Tumblr, photograph and video sharing sites such as Pinterest and YouTube, and personal
 blogging and online forum sites.

 D. All those governed by the Code of Ethics must, on their personal social media accounts, include a
 qualifying statement that substantially adheres to the following form: "The views I express on this
 site are my own and do not reflect any official view or position of the City of Bangor."

 Inappropriate uses of private social media include, but are not limited to:

 (1) Disclosure of confidential or proprietary information about or relating to the City, its customers,
 or its employees, private citizens, or private businesses;

 (2) Any statements or posted materials that could reasonably be considered to represent the views
 or position of the City or one of its departments, unless an official position has been taken;

 (3) Posting or messaging in a manner that could reasonably give rise to an expectation that someone
 contacting the person would receive an official response.

 § 33-8. Gifts and favors.

 A. No City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member shall accept any gift, favor
 or thing of value, whether in the form of service, loan, thing or promise, from any person or business
 which to their knowledge is interested directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever in business
 dealings with the City, nor shall any City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission
 member:



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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-8 BANGOR CODE § 33-9.1

 (1) Accept any gift, favor or thing of value that tends to influence that individual in the discharge
 of their official duties; or

 (2) Grant in the discharge of their official duties any improper favor, service or thing of value.

 B. Nothing herein shall prohibit the acceptance of gifts or favors by City employees, City Councilors,
 board members or commission members from members of their immediate families. In determining
 whether a violation of this section has occurred, the Board of Ethics, in cases referred to it pursuant
 to § 33-21 of this code, shall consider the monetary or pecuniary value of the gift, favor or thing
 received; any special economic value the gift, favor or thing received may have to the recipient; the
 circumstances under which the gift, favor or thing concerned was received; and whether a public
 disclosure of the receipt was made by the recipient at the time.

 § 33-9. Use of City property.

 No City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member shall use or permit the use of
 any City-owned property, including but not limited to motor vehicles, equipment and buildings, for any
 private purposes. Nothing herein shall prohibit use of City buildings and equipment at rates and/or on
 terms as may be established. Nothing herein shall prohibit the use of City equipment or motor vehicles by
 City employees in accordance with written policies established by the City Council, City Manager or City
 department head concerned, nor shall this code be deemed to prohibit private use of surplus City property
 legally disposed of by the City or its departments in compliance with established procedures.

 § 33-9.1. Solicitations by City officials and employees. [Added 1-11-1999 by Ord. No. 99-46]

 The following provisions apply to solicitations by City of Bangor officials and employees for the benefit
 of the City or for the support of City programs or activities.

 A. City Council. No member of the City Council, during their term of office, shall solicit donations of
 money, property or items of value from any individual or business for the benefit of the City of
 Bangor or for the support of any City program or activity. No City Council member may directly
 receive or accept any such donation, whether or not solicited by the Council member concerned. This
 subsection does not prohibit the following:

 (1) Solicitations of individuals related to the Councilor concerned by blood, marriage or adoption;

 (2) Solicitations of businesses in which the Councilor concerned holds an equity interest as
 proprietor, partner or shareholder;

 (3) General statements of support for particular fund-raising efforts, provided that the statements of
 support are directed at the public at large and not at any particular individual or business; and

 (4) Solicitations expressly authorized by City Council ordinance or order.

 B. City Manager. The provisions of § 33-9.1A shall apply to the City Manager.

 C. City officials.

 (1) No City official with approval authority over any City-issued permit, license, benefit or contract
 shall solicit donations of money from any individual or business for the benefit of the City of
 Bangor or for the support of any City program or activity. [Amended 10-25-2004 by Ord. No.
 04-249]




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-9.1 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-9.1

 (2) Officials subject to the provisions of this subsection include the following:

 (a) City Clerk.

 (b) Planning Officer.

 (c) Police Chief.

 (d) Director, Community and Economic Development.

 (e) Fire Chief.

 (f) Code Enforcement Officer.

 (g) City Code inspectors, building inspectors, fire inspectors and engineering inspectors.

 (h) City Engineer.

 (i) City Solicitor.

 (j) Assistant City Solicitor.

 (k) (Reserved)1

 (l) City Assessor.

 (m) Purchasing Agent. [Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
 Provisions, Art. I)]

 (n) Finance Director.

 (o) Director of Public Health and Community Services. [Amended at time of adoption of
 Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

 (p) Airport Director.

 (q) Director of Health and Community Services. [Amended 11-14-2007 by Ord. No. 07-319]

 (r) Director of Government Operations.

 (s) (Reserved)2

 (t) (Reserved)3

 (u) Director of Parks and Recreation. [Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1,
 General Provisions, Art. I)]

 (v) Director of Public Works. [Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
 Provisions, Art. I)]



 1. Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(2)(k), Parking Administrator, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
 Provisions, Art. I).
 2. Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(2)(s), Director of Public Services, as amended 2-14-2011 by Ord. No. 11-061, was repealed at
 time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
 3. Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(2)(t), Director of Business and Economic Development, was repealed at time of adoption of
 Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-9.1 BANGOR CODE § 33-10

 (3) This subsection does not prohibit the following:

 (a) Solicitations of individuals related to the official concerned by blood, marriage or
 adoption;

 (b) Solicitations of businesses in which the official concerned holds an equity interest as
 proprietor, partner or shareholder;

 (c) General statements of support for particular fund-raising efforts, provided that the
 statements of support are directed at the public at large and not at any particular individual
 or business;

 (d) Solicitations expressly authorized by City Council ordinance or order;

 (e) Applications for funding or grants from an established public agency or charitable
 foundation; and

 (f) Assessment and collection of franchise fees, taxes, fees for services, rent, development
 impact fees and other amounts owed to the City.

 (g) Officials subject to this subsection may solicit donations of property and items of value,
 other than money, for the benefit of the City or for the support of City programs or
 activities, if the solicitation has been authorized by the City Council Finance Committee
 and is reasonably within the normal scope of the official's duties.

 D. Nonschool City employees. City employees, other than School Department employees, shall not
 solicit donations of money, property or items of value from any individual or business, for the benefit
 of the City of Bangor or for the support of any City program or activity, without prior approval by the
 City Manager, City Council, or City Council Finance Committee. This subsection does not prohibit
 activities listed in § 33-9.1C(3)(a) through (f). All funds, property and items of value received as a
 result of such solicitations shall be processed and deposited in the manner prescribed by the City
 Finance Director.

 E. School Department employees. No employee of the Bangor School Department shall solicit donations
 of money, property or items of value for the benefit of the School Department, except in the manner
 prescribed by the Bangor School Committee or Superintendent.

 § 33-10. Representing third party interest before City agencies.

 A. No City employee shall appear on behalf of any third-party interest before any City agency or
 represent a third party interest in any action, proceeding or litigation in which the City or one of its
 agencies is a party. Nothing herein shall prohibit any City employee from appearing as a witness
 when duly called by a party for the purpose of giving nonprivileged testimony before any City agency
 or in any such action, proceeding or litigation. Nothing herein shall prohibit any City employee, on
 behalf of their personal interest, from appearing before any City agency. [Amended 10-25-2004 by
 Ord. No. 04-249]

 B. No City Councilor shall either appear on behalf of any third-party interest before any City agency or
 represent a third party interest in any action, proceeding or litigation in which the City or one of its
 agencies is a party. Nothing herein shall prohibit a Councilor, on behalf of a constituent in the course
 of their duties as a representative of the electorate, or any Councilor, on behalf of their personal
 interest, from appearing before a City agency.




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-10 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-11

 C. No board or commission member shall appear on behalf of any third-party interest before a City
 agency of which they are a current member. Nothing herein shall prohibit a board member or
 commission member, on behalf of their personal interest, from appearing before any City agency,
 including that of which they are a current member, but such board member or commission member
 shall not deliberate or vote on the item concerned. [Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch.
 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

 § 33-11. Conflicts of interest.

 A. Deliberation and vote prohibited. No City Councilor, board member or commission member shall, in
 such capacity, participate in the deliberation or vote, or otherwise take part in the decisionmaking
 process, on any agenda item before their collective body in which they or a member of their
 immediate family has a financial or special interest, other than an interest held by the public generally.

 B. Disclosure of conflict. Any City Councilor, board member or commission member who believes that
 they or a member of their immediate family has a financial or special interest, other than an interest
 held by the public generally, in any agenda item before their collective body shall disclose the nature
 and extent of such interest, and the City Clerk or their designee shall make a record of such disclosure.
 Such disclosure shall be made no later than the date of the first meeting of the City Council, board,
 commission or committee thereof at which the agenda item concerned is to be taken up for
 consideration, recommendation, discussion or vote and at which the City Councilor, board member
 or commission member is present. Additionally, any City Councilor, board member or commission
 member who believes that any fellow City Councilor, board member or commission member, or a
 member of such fellow City Councilor's, board member's or commission member's immediate family
 has a financial or special interest, other than an interest held by the public generally, in any agenda
 item before their collective body shall disclose the nature and extent of such interest, and the City
 Clerk or their designee shall make a record of such disclosure.

 C. Determination of conflict. Once the issue of conflict has been raised relative to an individual City
 Councilor, committee member, board member or commission member and disclosure has been made
 as provided above, such individual's fellow City Councilors, committee members, board members or
 commission members shall review the facts as disclosed to them and shall vote on whether or not
 such individual has a financial or special interest with respect to the agenda item concerned. All
 conflict of interest questions relating to a particular agenda item shall be resolved prior to any
 consideration of the item concerned, and each City Councilor, committee member, board member or
 commission member present shall be entitled to vote on all conflict of interest questions except those
 questions pertaining to that individual Councilor's, committee member's, board member's or
 commission member's alleged conflict of interest.

 (1) All votes of conflict of interest questions shall be recorded. A majority vote shall determine the
 question, but a vote by committee may later be reviewed by the full City Council upon the City
 Council's consideration of the same agenda item.

 (2) Upon determination that a conflict of interest in fact exists, the City Councilor, committee
 member, board member or commission member concerned shall be excused from participating
 in discussion, deliberation or vote on the relevant agenda item.

 (3) In lieu of the vote required by this subsection, the City Council, upon motion and by majority
 vote, may refer the conflict of interest question to the City Board of Ethics in accordance with
 § 33-21 of this code or may table its consideration of the relevant agenda item. In the event that
 a majority of the City Council, board or commission concerned, or committee thereof, shall



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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-11 BANGOR CODE § 33-12

 require disclosure of further information not immediately available or shall require confirmation
 of the information disclosed, consideration of the relevant agenda item shall be postponed to an
 appropriate time.

 D. Avoidance of appearance of conflict. To avoid the appearance of a violation of this section, once any
 individual City Councilor, board member or commission member is determined to have a conflict of
 interest in respect to any agenda item and once all conflict of interest questions relating to the agenda
 item concerned have been determined as provided in Subsection C above, said individual shall
 immediately remove themselves from the meeting room. They shall not return to their regular seat as
 a member of the body until deliberation and action on the item is completed. If the item has not been
 finally resolved when the conflict of interest is first determined, said individual shall not be present
 for any subsequent action on the agenda item. Nothing herein shall require an individual Councilor,
 board member or commission member to remove themselves for any item contained on a consent
 agenda on which there is no deliberation, the individual's conflict has been determined by the other
 members and the right to abstain from voting on the item has been granted. [Amended 10-13-2010
 by Ord. No. 10-304]

 E. Personal interest. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit any City Councilor, board member or
 commission member from representing their own personal interest by appearing before their
 collective body on any such agenda item.

 F. Municipal budget. [Added 3-26-2018 by Ord. No. 18-136]

 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 33-11 and 33-11.1, no City Councilor shall abstain from
 or be prohibited from voting on the municipal budget when it comes before the Council on a
 Council agenda for approval.

 (2) If during the Council discussion of the approval of the municipal budget the Council decides to
 deliberate upon a line item of the budget on which a councilor has been previously determined
 to have a conflict or has previously abstained, then the Councilor shall not participate in the
 deliberations on that particular line item. Upon the conclusion of any such deliberation, the
 Councilor shall continue to participate in other budget deliberations and vote on the municipal
 budget.

 (3) It is the intent of this provision that all Councilors shall participate in the deliberation and vote
 on the municipal budget when it is presented to the Council for approval, but that no Councilor
 shall participate in a deliberation on or vote on any specific provision in the municipal budget
 for which the Councilor has previously been determined to have a conflict or has previously
 abstained.

 § 33-11.1. Abstention; exercising the right to abstain. [Added 10-23-2017 by Ord. No. 17-365]

 Any City Councilor, board member or commission member who believes that they or a member of their
 immediate family has a special or financial interest, other than an interest held by the public generally, in
 any agenda item before their collective body may, after disclosure of the nature and extent of such interest,
 publicly state their intent to abstain from participation in the deliberation or vote, or otherwise taking
 part in the decisionmaking process on the agenda item. However, the City Council, board, or commission
 may by motion and vote determine that there is no conflict and that the City Councilor, board member or
 commission member shall not be permitted to abstain from participating and voting on the agenda item.

 § 33-12. Disclosure statement. [Amended 6-11-2007 by Ord. No. 07-174; 8-27-2012 by Ord. No.



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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-12 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-13

 12-266]

 Within 15 days after each annual municipal election every City Councilor and School Committee member
 shall file a completed disclosure form with the City Clerk. Within 30 days after their appointment, every
 board member and every commission member shall file a completed disclosure form with the City Clerk.
 Such disclosure forms shall be under oath and shall contain the following information to the best of the
 disclosing party's knowledge and belief:

 A. The name of each person or entity, whether incorporated or not, doing business with the City in an
 amount in excess of $1,000 during the preceding calendar year from which such disclosing party,
 their spouse, or member of their immediate family actually residing in the household has received
 money or other thing of value in an amount in excess of $1,000 during the preceding calendar year,
 including but not limited to campaign contributions, where applicable.

 B. The name of each entity, whether incorporated or not, doing business with the City in an amount in
 excess of $1,000 for the preceding calendar year in which such disclosing party, their spouse, or
 member of their immediate family actually residing in the household has a financial interest in an
 amount in excess of $1,000, including but not limited to the ownership of shares of stock.

 C. The name of each nonprofit and/or for-profit entity, whether incorporated or not, for which such
 disclosing party, their spouse, or member of their immediate family actually residing in the household
 holds a position of officer or member of any board.

 (1) For each such entity, such disclosing party shall provide the following information:

 (a) A brief description of the purpose of each board and/or office;

 (b) A short summary of such disclosing party's or family member's duties relative to any such
 board and/or office;

 (c) The term of service on each such board and/or office; and

 (d) Whether or not such disclosing party or family member receives compensation for service
 on such board and/or office and the extent to which such compensation exceeds $100 in
 the aggregate annually.

 (2) For purposes of this subsection, "compensation" shall include, but not be limited to, monetary
 compensation, gifts, gratuities, perks, fringe benefits, services and any other thing of value.

 D. Every City Councilor, board member and commission member shall amend their annual disclosure
 statement as may be required from time to time to ensure the continued accuracy thereof. Each such
 amendment shall be made within 15 days following the occurrence which requires the amendment.

 E. The City Clerk shall deliver a copy of each completed disclosure statement to every fellow member
 of the City Council, board or commission of each disclosing party within 30 days after the expiration
 of the filing period.

 F. For purposes of this code, a list prepared by the Finance Director of those persons or entities doing
 business with the City in an amount in excess of $1,000 for the preceding year shall be determinative
 for purposes of reporting under this section. Income from, and financial investments in, policies of
 insurance and deposits in accounts from commercial or savings banks, savings and loan associations
 or credit unions and the ownership of less than 5% of the outstanding shares of stock in a publicly
 held corporation shall not be considered to be a financial interest within the meaning of this section.



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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-13 BANGOR CODE § 33-13.1

 § 33-13. Political activities.

 No City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member shall participate in any political
 activity which would be in conflict or incompatible with the performance of their official functions
 and duties for the City. In conjunction therewith, no City employee, City Councilor, board member
 or commission member may use their official authority or position for the purposes of influencing or
 interfering with or affecting the results of any election, nor shall they solicit funds or contributions or
 accept or receive funds or contributions from City employees for political purposes. No City Councilor,
 board member or commission member may distribute pamphlets or handbills while they are performing
 official functions and duties with the City. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit any City employee,
 City Councilor, board member or commission member from participating in the political process in their
 private capacity as candidates for elected office or as private citizens.

 § 33-13.1. Use of titles and disclaimers. [Added 10-13-2021 by Ord. No. 21-335]

 A. Background. Bangor public officials, whether elected or appointed, retain their full, constitutionally
 guaranteed, First Amendment rights as private individuals. The Code of Ethics respects and protects
 these rights. One of the responsibilities of elected or appointed officials is to separate protected
 personal discourse from matters of governance. This section of the Code of Ethics addresses this
 responsibility. For the general duties of a public official to exercise fairness and impartiality see
 § 33-1.

 B. Use of titles. In making written or oral statements, elected or appointed City officials may use their
 titles upon, and only upon, the following circumstances:

 (1) When so doing does not violate any other provision of this Code of Ethics or any provision of
 the Code of ordinances, state law, or federal law; and

 (2) When:

 (a) The City Council has specifically authorized the official to speak on behalf of the City; or

 (b) The information conveyed:

 [1] Is consistent with the official position of the City as that position was adopted by the
 Council or is consistent with the official decision of an applicable board,
 commission, or committee and the context of the communication only involves that
 applicable board, commission, or committee; and

 [2] References the appropriate decision by or position of the City Council, or to the
 decision of the applicable board, commission, or committee; or

 (c) When it is made clear and unambiguous that the official is speaking in their individual
 capacity and not on behalf of the entire City or a board, commission, or committee.

 C. Disclaimers. Disclaimers are only required when there could be ambiguity regarding the capacity in
 which an elected or appointed official is communicating. In a typical disclaimer, a speaker (or writer)
 might say (or write), "Speaking for myself;" or "Speaking as an individual;" or "Although I hold the
 office of ________, I am speaking tonight as a private individual. My remarks should not be
 interpreted as representing my office or the City of Bangor's official policy." A speaker (or writer)
 might also say (or write), "I make these remarks in my personal capacity, and not as ________. These
 remarks should not be interpreted as representing the City of Bangor." The most important aspect of
 any disclaimer is to remove ambiguity. Section 33-13.1B(2)(c) makes it the official's duty to ensure


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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-13.1 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-15

 that there is no ambiguity. In this regard, City officials should be cautious of the circumstances or
 conditions of any statement and be wary of concerted or group action, which increases the likelihood
 that such action will be perceived as an act or endorsement of the City itself.

 D. Other considerations. Other ordinances and laws relate to the use of titles, and each must be followed.
 Without limitation and before using their titles, City officials should consider the following
 provisions: the Freedom of Access Act (Title 1, Chapter 13, of the Maine Statutes);4 Title 17-A,
 Section 608, of the Maine Revised Statutes; § 33-1.1 of the Code of Ordinances; § 33-7.1 of the Code
 of Ordinances; and § 33-13 of the Code of Ordinances.

 § 33-14. Incompatible employment or office.

 No City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member shall occupy any other office,
 elected or appointed, in any other governmental entity when the duties of such office are incompatible with
 the proper discharge of their official duties with the City. For purposes of this code, the occupancy of any
 office, elected or appointed, with any other governmental entity by any City Councilor, board member or
 commission member is hereby prohibited in the following circumstances:

 A. Where the duties of the other office make it a physical impossibility to discharge the duties of the
 City position;

 B. Where one office is subordinate to the other;

 C. Where one office carries the power of removal of the other; or

 D. Where the occupancy of both offices is prohibited by the City Charter or by other provisions of law.

 § 33-15. Ethics in contracting.

 The provisions of this section shall apply to all persons doing business with the City of Bangor as vendors,
 suppliers or contractors, including potential vendors, suppliers and contractors submitting bids or proposals
 in response to a City solicitation or advertisement.

 A. Gratuities and kickbacks.

 (1) Gratuities. It shall be a violation of this code for any person to offer, give or agree to give any
 City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission member a gratuity or an offer of
 employment in connection with any decision, approval, disapproval, recommendation or award
 pertaining to a City purchase order, contract, construction contract or professional services
 contract or with respect to any solicitation, advertisement, request for bids, request for proposals
 or any bid, proposal or other response thereto.

 (2) Kickbacks. It shall be a violation of this code for any person to solicit, offer, give, accept or
 receive any undisclosed gratuity or offer of employment in connection with the award or
 potential award of any subcontract or contract modification or change order under a City of
 Bangor prime contract for construction, procurement or professional services. To be valid, any
 disclosure under this subsection must be made in writing to the City of Bangor Purchasing
 Agent prior to the date of opening of any proposals or bids on the prime contract concerned.
 Notwithstanding an otherwise valid written disclosure, it shall be a violation of this code to
 solicit, offer, give, accept or receive any such gratuity or offer of employment in violation of


 4. Editor's Note: See 1 M.R.S.A. § 400 et seq.




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-15 BANGOR CODE § 33-15

 applicable state or federal law.

 B. Prohibition against contingent fees. It shall be a violation of this code for a person to be retained, or
 to retain a person, to solicit or secure a City contract upon an agreement or understanding for a
 commission, percentage, brokerage or contingent fee, except for retention of bona fide employees or
 bona fide established commercial selling agencies for the purpose of securing business.

 C. Prohibition against discriminatory conduct. It shall be a violation of this Code for any person to
 discriminate unlawfully against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,
 physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation,
 socioeconomic status, cultural group, or political status. All persons doing business with the City shall
 treat all persons in the same basic manner under the same or similar circumstances irrespective of
 personal characteristics or other distinctions, to include, but not limited to, race, ethnic background,
 national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, age,
 disability, cultural group, or political status. [Added 10-23-2017 by Ord. No. 17-3665]

 D. Recovery of value transferred or received in breach of ethical standards; other penalties.

 (1) General provisions. The value of anything transferred or received in breach of the ethical
 standards of this code by a City employee, City Councilor, board member or commission
 member or other person may be recovered from both the City employee, City Councilor, board
 member or commission member concerned and from the other person concerned.

 (2) Recovery of kickbacks by the City. Upon a showing that a subcontractor made a kickback to a
 prime contractor or a higher tier subcontractor in connection with the award of a subcontract or
 modification or change order, it shall be conclusively presumed that the amount thereof was
 included in the price of the subcontract, modification or change order and ultimately borne by
 the City, and such amount shall be recoverable hereunder from the recipient. In addition, that
 amount may also be recovered from the subcontractor making such kickbacks. Recovery from
 one offending party shall not preclude recovery from other offending parties.

 E. Penalties and sanctions.

 (1) In addition to the recoveries provided in Subsection D above, any violation of this section shall
 be a civil violation. Upon conviction, any person, firm or corporation found to be in violation of
 this section shall be fined not less than three times the value of any improper gift or kickback
 paid, solicited or received or $500, whichever is greater. The penalties provided in this
 subsection shall be in addition to the penalties provided in § 33-3 of this code and shall be in
 addition to any penalties imposed under state or federal law.

 (2) Sanctions.

 (a) Upon conviction of a violation of this section or upon a finding of a violation by the City
 Purchasing Agent, Board of Ethics or the City Council following written notice and
 hearing, the City Council may impose one or more of the following sanctions on the
 person, firm or corporation convicted or found to be in violation:

 [1] Written warnings or reprimands;

 [2] Termination of contracts; or


 5. Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsections C through E as Subsections D through F, respectively.




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-15 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-15

 [3] Debarment or suspension as provided in the City's published Purchasing Policy
 (Authority to Debar or Suspend).

 (b) Termination of a contract under this subsection shall also terminate the contractor's right
 to receive further payment thereunder.

 (c) The sanctions provided in this subsection shall be in addition to the penalties provided in
 Subsection E(1) above.

 F. Incorporation in certain contracts. The provisions of this section shall be provided to all interested
 bidders or proposers and shall be incorporated by reference as agreed terms in any City of Bangor
 construction, procurement or professional services contract with a base bid price in excess of $10,000.
 In the case of a professional services contract, the base bid price for this purpose shall be the expected
 value of services to be billed during the contract term, or on an annual basis if the contract is of
 indefinite duration.




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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-16 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-21

 ARTICLE III
 Board of Ethics

 § 33-16. Establishment; membership.

 There is hereby created and established a Board of Ethics consisting of five members and two associate
 members appointed by the City Council.

 § 33-17. Terms of office; residency requirements.

 All members shall be appointed for terms of three years each. All associate members shall be appointed for
 terms of three years each. Each member and associate member shall serve until their successor is appointed
 and qualified. All members must be residents of the City of Bangor. No member shall serve more than two
 complete consecutive terms.

 § 33-18. Holding other office or position. [Amended 5-12-2008 by Ord. No. 08-153]

 No member or associate member of the Board shall hold any other City office or position or be the member
 of any City agency to which the City Council shall have appointing authority, except that any person that
 works as a part-time employee for the City of Bangor less than 200 hours during any calendar year may
 serve on the Board.

 § 33-19. Procedural rules and records.

 The Board shall establish such rules as it may determine to be necessary to govern its procedures. In
 addition, the Board shall at all times maintain in the office of the City Clerk appropriate records of its
 opinions and proceedings.

 § 33-20. Powers and duties. [Amended 10-23-2017 by Ord. No. 17-367]

 The Board shall make findings of fact and render opinions to the City Council concerning application of
 the provisions of this code to any particular situation. In the performance of its duties, the Board shall limit
 its review and fact finding to those issues referred to it by the City Council. The Board shall also make
 annual recommendations for necessary revisions to this code and shall perform such other duties as may
 be prescribed from time to time by the City Council. In the event the Board has no recommendations for
 revisions to this code, the Chair of the Board shall issue a report to the City Council advising them of such.

 § 33-21. Referrals.

 A. Any City Councilor, board member or commission member seeking advice as to whether a particular
 situation constitutes an actual or potential violation of this code shall first submit a written statement
 in the form of a Council order describing the nature of the matter to the City Council. If the Council
 feels that an advisory opinion is necessary, it shall adopt the order, by majority vote, referring the
 matter to the Board. A tie vote on the order shall also cause the matter to be referred to the Board.

 (1) Upon referral of a question, the Board shall have the power to request voluntary statements from
 all persons concerned and to review all records on file with the City of Bangor or other public
 agencies. All Board hearings shall be conducted in accordance with rules of procedure to be
 adopted by the Board. The Board may conduct any fact finding and deliberations in executive
 session as provided in 1 M.R.S.A. § 405, Subsection 6A.

 (2) Upon conclusion of its fact finding and deliberations, the Board of Ethics shall issue written


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City of Bangor, ME

 § 33-21 CODE OF ETHICS § 33-22

 findings with respect to each matter and question referred to it. If the Board finds any matter
 referred to it to have been based upon allegations it determines to have been frivolous,
 unfounded or with malice, it shall so advise the Council.

 (3) It is the purpose and intent of this code to provide a mechanism by which all such matters may
 be handled in an orderly and impartial fashion in such a manner as to protect the best interests
 of the citizens of the City of Bangor.

 B. Employee conflicts. Upon referral, the Board of Ethics may render advisory opinions with respect to
 potential or prospective conflicts of interest involving City employees. However, allegations of past
 or present misconduct involving alleged violations of this code by City employees shall not be
 reviewed by the Board but shall be referred for disposition in accordance with the City's established
 employee disciplinary procedures.

 § 33-22. Orientation meeting; annual report.

 A. All members shall attend an annual orientation meeting to be scheduled during the month of January
 of each calendar year.

 B. The Board shall meet at least quarterly and, prior to December 31 of each calendar year, shall prepare
 and submit to the City Council an annual report outlining its doings during the preceding twelve-
 month period.




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City of Portland Charter
Code of Ordinances
Article VII Rev. 12-6-12


orders or resolves shall contain a section in which the
emergency is set forth and defined; provided, however, that the
declaration of such emergency by the city council shall be
conclusive.

 (c) Any order or resolve described in subsection (a) of
this section shall be approved by separate action of the city
council.

 (d) No order or resolve described in subparagraph (a) of
this section, not excepted by subparagraph (b), shall become
effective until approved by a majority of voters voting at a
regular or special municipal election. In the event that the
total number of votes cast for and against the question for the
referred order or resolve should be less than ten (10) percent
of the registered voters of the city, then such order or resolve
shall be deemed to be approved and effective.

 (e) The form of the ballot question for the referred order
or resolve shall be substantially as follows:

 Shall the order or resolve entitled "____
 ____", be approved?
(Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)




 ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS


Section 1. No personal interest.

 No member of the city council or school board or board or
commission thereof and no officer or employee of the city or
school department shall:

 (a) Have a substantial financial interest, direct or
 indirect, in any contract entered into by or on behalf
 of the City of Portland or the school board, except
 their employment contract, or in the sale to or by the
 city or school department of any land, materials,
 supplies or services when such officer, employee or
 member exercises on behalf of the city or school
 department any function or responsibility with respect
 to such contract or sale. All contracts or sales made
 in violation hereof are void, and the city treasurer




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City of Portland Charter
Code of Ordinances
Article VIII Rev. 11-7-2023


 is expressly forbidden to pay any money out of the
 city treasury on account of any such transaction.

 (b) Purchase or accept anything from the city or school
 department, other than those items or services which
 are offered to the public generally, and then only
 upon the same terms and under the same procedures
 offered to and used for the general public. This shall
 not include those items or services which are received
 as compensation, or as a part of such person's
 employment contract, or which are necessary for the
 performance of such person's duties.

 (c) Accept or  receive from any person,  firm,  or
 corporation acting under a franchise, contract, or
 license from the city or school department, any frank,
 free pass, free ticket, or free service, or accept,
 directly or indirectly, from any such person, firm, or
 corporation any service upon terms more favorable than
 those granted to the public generally.
(Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10; 11-7-2023)

Section 1-A. Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics.

 The city council shall enact and maintain an ordinance that
establishes an ethics commission and, with input from the ethics
commission, shall enact a code of ethics ordinance to be
administered by the ethics commission. Upon the effective date
of the code of ethics ordinance, the existing code of ethics
resolution adopted by the city council shall be repealed. The
ethics commission shall provide impartial oversight and render
decisions and advisory opinions to ensure that standards of
ethical conduct are observed by elected and appointed city
officials and city employees.

 (a) Ethics Commission Ordinance. The city council shall
enact an ordinance directing it to create an ethics commission,
appointed by the city council and consisting of seven (7)
members who are residents of the City, serving for three (3)
year terms, to undertake the following duties:

 1. Prepare and recommend a code of ethics ordinance to the
 city council for enactment as provided in subsection
 (b) below;




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City of Portland Charter
Code of Ordinances
Article VIII Rev. 7-1-2023




 2. Review the ethics commission and code of ethics
 ordinances not less than once every three (3) years
 and make recommendations for any amendments to the
 city council;

 3. Hear complaints and render written decisions with
 findings of fact regarding alleged violations of the
 city’s code of ethics ordinance, provided that
 complaints regarding city employees’ ongoing or prior
 alleged violations or misconduct shall be referred to
 the city for appropriate action under its personnel
 policies;

 4. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding questions of
 prospective application of the city’s code of ethics
 ordinance;

 5. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding questions of
 compliance with the city charter;

 6. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding adherence to
 council and board rules and procedures;

 7. On receipt of requests from a majority of the city
 council or of any board or committee, procure a second
 legal opinion from outside legal counsel; and

 8. Design and oversee program evaluations.

 Elected City officials, candidates for any City elected
office, and their immediate family members are not eligible to
be appointed as members of the ethics commission.

 The ethics commission shall meet as needed, but no less
than annually.

 The ethics commission ordinance shall establish the process
for filing, hearing and deciding complaints and for soliciting
advisory opinions. Complaints may be filed by any official,
employee, or resident of the city, by the accountability
officer, or may be initiated by the ethics commission, in
accordance with that process. Requests for advisory opinions




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City of Portland Charter
Code of Ordinances
Article VIII Rev. 7-1-2023


may be filed by any official or employee of the city, in
accordance with that process. Receipt of a complaint or request
shall be acknowledged by the ethics commission. If the ethics
commission finds any complaint filed with it to have been based
upon allegations it determines to be frivolous, scurrilous,
libelous, unsubstantiated, unfounded, of nuisance, or with
malice, it may so determine and may dismiss the complaint
without deciding the merits of the complaint.

 The ethics commission ordinance and complaint process shall
protect the identity and rights of complainants, whistleblowers,
and persons complained against in accordance with and as
required by all State and federal laws, regulations, codes,
municipal ordinances, and policies, including but not limited to
the Maine Freedom of Access Act, the Maine Whistleblowers’ Act,
and the City of Portland’s personnel policies. The ethics
commission shall refer any complaint alleging corruption, fraud,
or abuse of a criminal nature to the appropriate law enforcement
agency.

 The ethics commission shall be an independent body, free
from interference from any city elected and appointed officials
and employees. The ethics commission may request funding from
the city council for independent investigations, legal services,
staffing, or other demands pertinent to its mission.

 (b) Code of Ethics. The city council shall, with the
recommendation of the ethics commission, enact and maintain a
code of ethics ordinance defining the code of ethical conduct
for elected and appointed city officials and city employees. At
a minimum, such code of ethics ordinance shall include and
address:

 1. Standards of Conduct;

 2. Conflicts of Interest;

 3. Confidential Information; and

 4. Disclosure Forms for city elected and appointed
 officials to complete and file with the city clerk and
 update as appropriate.




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City of Portland Charter
Code of Ordinances
Article VIII Rev. 7-1-2023


 (c) Appointment of Accountability Officer. The ethics
commission may recommend that the city council appoint an
accountability officer and fund that position. The
accountability officer shall: serve as an ombudsperson to
members of the public; provide city information to the public
and officials to educate them about government accountability,
integrity, and transparency; provide training for public
officials on ethical matters; and undertake such other duties as
may be requested by the ethics commission and authorized by the
city council. The accountability officer may provide
administrative support for the civilian police review board. The
accountability officer also shall receive complaints from the
public about alleged government waste, favoritism,
mismanagement, and violations of the public trust; the
accountability officer will refer matters that are within the
scope of the ethics commission’s duties to the ethics
commission, and vice versa.

 (d) Violations of the Code of Ethics. Violations of the
code of ethics ordinance shall be addressed as set out in that
ordinance, provided, however, that any city councilor or mayor
found by the ethics commission to be in violation of or to have
violated the ethics code may be reprimanded or censured by the
city council.
(Referendum 11/8/2022)



Section 1-B. Peaks Island Council.
 The city council shall maintain an ordinance establishing
the “Peaks Island Council,” including powers, duties, membership
requirements and other necessary provisions deemed appropriate
by the city council. The Peaks Island Council shall act as an
elected advisory body to the city council.
(Referendum 11/8/2022)




Section 2. Ordinances, rules and regulations continued.

 All ordinances in force at the time that this charter takes
effect, not inconsistent with this charter, shall continue in
force until amended or repealed. All rules and regulations of
the municipal officers or of any office of the City of Portland




 Page 45
 Portland Charter Commission

 Final Report




Michael Kebede, Chair (Appointed by Council)
Shay Stewart-Bouley, Vice-Chair (District 1)
Peter Eglinton, Secretary (Appointed by Council)
Dory Waxman (Appointed by Council)
Robert O’Brien (District 2)
Zack Barowitz (District 3)
Marcques Houston (District 4)
Ryan Lizanecz (District 5)
Catherine Buxton (At-Large)
Marpheen Chann (At-Large)
Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef (At-Large)
Pat Washburn (At-Large)




 Submitted to the Portland City Council
 July 11, 2022



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Portland Charter Commission – Final Report


 FOREWORD

 The Portland Charter Commission hereby submits its Final Report.

 The Commission filed its Preliminary Report on May 9, 2022. Since that Preliminary
Report, the Commission has sought public input and comment on its recommendations for
changes to the Portland City Charter.

 After the filing of the Preliminary Report, the Commission held meetings as follows:

  Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 6 p.m.;
  Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 6 p.m. (including Public Hearing on Preliminary Report);
  Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 6 p.m.;
  Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 6 p.m. (Public Hearing);
  Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 6 p.m.; and
  Wednesday, July 6, 2022, 6 p.m.

 In view of the continuing public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and
the unpredictability of infection rates and variants, the Commission conducted these meetings by
Zoom under its Remote Participation Policy adopted in accordance with State law.

 Copies of this Final Report, commission meeting minutes, agendas and background
materials may be found at http://www.ci.portland.me.us/2665/Charter-Commission-2020-2022
and at www.portlandcharter.me.

 Hard copies of this Final Report are in the Portland Public Library and Room 203 of
Portland City Hall. You may also contact charter@portlandmaine.gov with your comments or
concerns or send them to City of Portland, Room 211, Portland City Hall, 389 Congress Street,
Portland, ME 04101.




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Portland Charter Commission – Final Report


 Portland Charter Commission Final Report
 Table of Contents

 Page No.

Foreword

I. REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL 1

 A. Background 1

 B. Timeline 2

II. COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS 4

 A. Departments Committee 5

 1. Citizen Police Oversight Board 5

 B. Education Committee 8

 1. Vacancies 9

 2. School Budget Process and Autonomy 10

 3. Capital Improvement Program Process 13

 C. Elections Committee 14

 1. Proportional Ranked Choice Voting 15

 2. Clean Elections 16

 3. Redistricting 25

 D. Governance Committee 26

 1. Governance Model 27

 2. Peaks Island Council Proposal 32

 E. Procedures Committee 34

 1. Preamble and Land Acknowledgement 35


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Portland Charter Commission – Final Report


 2. Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics 36

 3. Participatory Budgeting 39

 4. Communications Policy 40

III. BALLOT QUESTIONS – PROPOSED SUMMARIES AND CHARTER 42
 LANGUAGE FOR EACH QUESTION

 Q#1 Preamble and Land Acknowledgement 43

 1. Proposed Summary 43

 2. Charter Language for Question 43

 Q#2 Governance 45

 1. Proposed Summary 45

 2. Charter Language for Question 46

 Q#3 Clean Elections 68

 1. Proposed Summary 68

 2. Charter Language for Question 68

 Q#4 Proportional Ranked Choice Voting 70

 1. Proposed Summary 70

 2. Charter Language for Question 70

 Q#5 School Board Budget Autonomy 71

 1. Proposed Summary 71

 2. Charter Language for Question 71

 Q#6 Peaks Island Council 73

 1. Proposed Summary 73

 2. Charter Language for Question 73

 Q#7 Police Oversight 74

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Portland Charter Commission – Final Report



 1. Proposed Summary 74

 2. Charter Language for Question 74

 Q#8 Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics 79

 1. Proposed Summary 79

 2. Charter Language for Question 79

IV. MINORITY REPORTS 82

 1. Minority Report on Governance Proposal for Strong Executive Mayor 82

 2. Minority Report on Proportional Ranked Choice Voting 85

 3. Minority Report on School Budget Autonomy 86

V. ISSUES CONSIDERED BUT NOT RECOMMENDED; 89
 OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

 A. Charter Commission Issues Considered But Not Recommended 89

 1. Councilor Pay Increase 89

 2. Universal Resident Voting 89

 3. Mayor’s Economic Development Duties 89

 4. Executive Committee 90

 B. Other Considerations 91

VI. FULL CITY CHARTER WITH ALL RECOMMENDED DELETIONS 93
 AND ADDITIONS, ASSUMING ALL QUESTIONS PASS.

VII. ATTORNEY LEGAL OPINIONS 154

 1. Perkins Thompson (Ballot Questions #s 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8) 155

 2. John Brautigam, Esq. (Ballot Question #3, Clean Elections) 156

 3. Drummond Woodsum (Ballot Question # 5, School Budget Autonomy) 157




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I. REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL


 The Portland Charter Commission hereby submits its Final Report to the Portland City
Council.

 This Final Report has several sections: Section I includes a Background section outlining
the Commission’s establishment process and timeline. Section II, Recommendations and
Explanations, provides the rationale for proposed Charter revisions and modifications, and
explains how the proposals differ from the current Charter. Section III contains the proposed
Ballot Questions, including proposal summaries of these questions and the text of the proposed
Charter modifications. Sections IV and V present Commission comments on the proposals
through Minority Reports (Section IV) and a discussion of issues presented but not
recommended and other considerations (Section V). Section VI presents the City Charter with
all recommended changes, assuming all ballot questions are approved by the voters. Section VII
contains the written legal opinions regarding the ballot questions.

 This Final Report as well as all of the agendas and minutes of the Commission meetings
are available on the Charter Commission’s section of the City’s website at
www.ci.portland.me.us/2665/charter-commission-2020-2022 and at www.portlandcharter.me
Videos of most of the Commission and its Committees meetings may be accessed on the City’s
webpage by clicking on “Live Stream City Hall Meetings.”

A. BACKGROUND

 On October 21, 2019, following lengthy discussion on the matter of whether to send a
proposed clean elections fund measure to Portland voters as a charter amendment or through a
vote on establishing a charter commission to consider the subject as a charter revision, the city
council voted to send the question of whether to establish a charter commission to the voters. On
June 8, 2020, Portland voters approved establishing a Charter Commission. On August 10,
2020, the Council appointed three commissioners and the voters elected nine more
commissioners on June 8, 2021. The discussions and public debates during the election periods
covered a large range of subjects, including changes to the elected mayor’s powers, the
relationship between the school board and the city, ranked choice voting improvements, the
possibility of permitting non-citizen residents to vote in local elections, and various changes to
the number and size of city council districts and how councilors are elected.

Charter Commission Members

Michael Kebede (appointed by council) (Chair)

Peter Eglinton (appointed by council) (Secretary)

Dory Waxman (appointed by council)

Shay Stewart-Bouley (District 1) (Vice-Chair)


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Robert O'Brien (District 2)

Zack Barowitz (District 3)

Marcques Houston (District 4)

Ryan Lizanecz (District 5)

Catherine Buxton (At-Large)

Marpheen Chann (At-Large)

Nasreen Sheikh-Yousef (At-Large)

Pat Washburn (At-Large)

 The Charter Commission held its first organizational meeting on June 28, 2021, and its
first public hearing on July 28, 2021. Over the summer of 2021, meetings focused on: the range
of issues for the Commission to consider, the process for moving forward on those issues,
staffing and budget considerations for the Commission, and ways to engage the public in the
process.

 In late summer 2021, the Commission formed five committees and developed a
community agreement to govern the conduct of Commissioners and the public, and began work
on many of the 26 subject areas listed by the Commission after the public hearing. Those
committees and their members are as follows:

Committee Members Chair

Departments Houston, Lizanecz, Barowitz Lizanecz
Education Houston, Eglinton, Chann Houston
Elections Buxton, Chann, Washburn Chann
Governance Sheikh-Yousef, Lizanecz, O'Brien, Stewart-Bouley O'Brien
Procedures Barowitz, Waxman, Kebede, Washburn Washburn

 Through Commission and committee meetings combined, the Charter Commission has
met dozens of times since June 2021. The Commission submitted its Preliminary Report to the
city council on May 9, 2022, and following additional public hearings and deliberation, submits
this Final Report which it adopted at its July 6, 2022 meeting.

B. Timeline

 In its work, the Commission has followed the timeline that appears on the next page:




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 Portland Charter Commission Timeline



 June-Aug June 8, June 28, 2021 July 28, 2021 2021- May 9, July 11, August 10, Nov. 8, 2022
 2020 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022
 Election to Election Organizational Public Meetings; Preliminary Final Commission Election on
 create of Voter Meeting (at Hearing Hearings Report Report Terminates Charter
 Commission; Members least 7 days’ (within 30 printed and submitted 30 days Commission’s
 Appointments notice) days of circulated to City after Proposed
 of Appointed Organizational (9 months Council submitting Final Report;
 Members Meeting and after (12 Accounting Revision
 at least 10 election) months
 days’ notice) after
 election)
 3
Page 53 Revised 4-8-2022




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II. COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

 After extensive research, discussion and development of proposals in committee
meetings; after presentation, public comment, deliberation, and votes in Charter Commission
meetings; and after public hearing and public comments, the Charter Commission recommends
that the present charter continue in force with only minor modifications, and so as authorized
under 30-A M.R.S. §§ 2103 and 2105 (1) (A) recommends the following revisions to the City of
Portland Charter in eight separate Charter modification questions. The Charter modifications
submitted to the voters in 2010 were submitted in three separate questions and included
recommended modifications for a popularly elected mayor, ranked choice voting, and changes to
the school board, and so there is precedent for similar provisions recommended by this Charter
Commission to be deemed “minor modifications.”

 These recommendations and explanations are organized in the pages that follow by the
committee in which they originated, and summarize the process and content for each proposal.




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A. Departments Committee

 1. Citizen Police Oversight Board Recommendation

 Introduction

 One overarching goal of the Charter Commission is to increase accountability and public
trust in our city government. The Departments Committee has given special attention to the
Police Department due to the fact that because mortal danger is inherent to police work, police
reform has become one of the most pressing issues of our times.

 However, the committee did not think that the charter is the appropriate forum to
examine the intricacies of police procedures or the police budget. Instead, the focus was on
improving the system of civilian oversight, specifically the practice of evaluating complaints
brought against the police.

 Portland’s current oversight system is the Police Citizen’s Review Subcommittee (PCRS)
which is an appointed volunteer board that reviews completed investigation of complaints
against the police as to whether the process met the standards of being “fair, objective, timely,
and thorough” for which the PCRS submits an annual report to the city manager.

 Because policing is a core function of municipal government, the committee recommends
that citizen oversight should be in the Charter to elevate the status of the existing board in order
to mitigate the potential for harm and to build broader public trust between civilians and police.

 To these ends, the committee looked at various models and hybrid models, including:

 • The early oversight (1920s-1960s) took the form of volunteer civilian review boards
 wherein investigations conducted by police command/Internal Affairs are reviewed for
 being thorough, timely, objective and fair. This is the least active form of oversight and is
 the model that we currently use as with the PCRS.
 • In the 1970s-1980s some cities initiated investigative offices of trained staffers to
 investigate misconduct. This is a far more active, and far more expensive, form of
 oversight than review boards.
 • Beginning in the 1990s municipalities began to employ a professional auditor to get a big
 picture assessment by reviewing cases, looking for patterns, and making
 recommendations accordingly.
 • Newer theories are focusing on gaining a degree of civilian control of policies and
 procedures.

 Despite advances in the field, the rule of thumb of civilian oversight is not “best practice”
but best fit. Given that Portland has both an excellent Police Department and a low crime rate,
the committee did not feel that chartering a professional investigative or auditing office was
either operationally or fiscally necessary; and that such action is best left to the city council or
another office. Rather, the committee recommends retaining the current review board system
with several enhancements to strengthen community involvement and oversight capabilities.


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 Specifically, these enhancements include:

 • Requiring that the board shall deliver an annual report and recommendations to the city
 council;
 • Removing eligibility restrictions for board membership;
 • Allowing complaints to be brought directly to the board and for the board to render
 advisory opinions on citizen appeals;
 • Retention of the “police liaison”; and
 • Hiring of a “community liaison” who shall assist the board in conducting outreach and
 other duties as the board may assign. The city council shall decide whether the
 community liaison and police liaison positions are part-time or full-time and/or whether
 the duties of these positions may be assigned to existing employees and/or the
 accountability officer.

 Methodology

The departments committee consulted with a diverse range of experts, readings, and community
members for their input on this topic. They are as follows.

October 4th, 2021:
 1. Maria Testa: (Former Member of the Portland Police Citizen Review Subcommittee)
 2. Dr. Brendan McQuade: (Professor of Criminology at University of Southern Maine)
 3. Cameron McEllhiney: (Director of Training and Education at National Association
 Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement)
October 25th, 2021:
 1. Dr. Lelia DeAndrade: (Former Member of Portland’s Racial Equity Steering Committee)
 2. Emily West: (Current Chair of the PCRS)
 3. Ali Ali: (Former Member of Portland’s Racial Equity Steering Committee & Currently
 with Maine Youth Justice)
November 1st, 2021:
 1. Discussion with Commission Attorney Katsiaficas
November 15th, 2021:
 1. Workshop on Police Oversight Board language
December 6th, 2021:
 1. Workshop on Police Oversight Board language
 2. Unanimous vote for passage out of committee

 Documents & Research Consulted

 • PCRS meeting minutes, videos and documents
 • National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement documents
 o “Guidebook for the Implementation of New or Revitalized Police Oversight”
 o “A Review of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Various Models of Police Oversight”
 o “Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement: Assessing the Evidence”




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 o  “Civilian Review of Police: Approaches & Implementation” by Peter Finn; US
 Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice 2001
 • Portland’s Racial Equity Steering Committee Final Report
 • Memo from Commission Attorney Katsiaficas
 • Memo and feedback from Portland Police Chief Heath Gorham




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B. Education Committee

 1. Vacancies

 2. School Budget Process and Autonomy

 3. Capital Improvement Program Process




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1. Vacancies Recommendation

 Currently, the Charter provides that if a vacancy on the city council or school board
occurs or is declared prior to the next regular election, it shall be filled by a special election to
take place on the same date as the next scheduled State or municipal election that is at least 127
days after the vacancy occurs or is declared, unless the city council by vote of six or more
members shortens the time to obtain and file nomination papers. That 127-day (or shortened time
period) minimum presumably is to allow time for the city clerk to advertise the vacancy, make
nomination papers available, accept and process nomination papers (to check validity of
signatures), and to call and conduct the election.

 This proposed amendment was spurred by a request from the school board, although it is
more restrictive than the school board suggested. It would provide the school board and the city
council with the ability to appoint a qualified person from the same district or at-large, as
appropriate, to serve until the next regular municipal election if a vacancy occurs within six
months of the next regular election. If the vacancy occurs more than six months from the next
regular election, the city council maintains its ability to call a special election to fill the seat.

 This proposal is similar to the process used in Auburn (as referenced in an 3/10/2022
memorandum from Perkins Thompson to the Charter Commission’s education committee chair):

 If vacancy occurs more than 6 months prior to the next regular election, unexpired
 term is filled by special election, citywide or for a ward. If vacancy occurs within
 6 months prior to next regular election, School Committee appoints a qualified
 person from same ward or at-large, as appropriate, to serve until next municipal
 election. (Article 4, § 4.3)

 Brunswick also has similar language (as referenced in an 3/10/2022 memorandum from
Perkins Thompson to the Charter Commission’s education committee chair):

 Town Council to call a special election to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term
 unless the remainder of the unexpired term is less than 6 months, in which case
 the School Board appoints a qualified person to fill the vacancy. (Article IX, §
 904(c))




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2. School Budget Process and Autonomy Proposal Recommendation

 One overarching goal of the members of the education committee was to establish a
better sense of collaboration and parity between the school board and city council. During
workshops, members heard from various school board members, past and present, that although
parity was a goal of the last Charter Commission, that sense of equal footing was not always felt
or seen. Currently, the Charter states that the school budget must be drafted by the
superintendent, approved by the school board, approved by the city council, and then approved
by the voters. This recommendation is intended to address recommendations received during
workshops and public comment to increase the level of parity between the school board and city
council when it comes to each body’s budget processes. This recommendation would create a
Joint Budget Guidance Committee consisting of four city councilors and four school board
members to increase collaboration between the two bodies and to set budget goals and priorities
covering a two-year period. In its current form, the Charter provides that the city council has
authority over the bottom line number. This recommendation seeks to remove that part of the
process and give that authority to the school board in an effort to establish a greater sense of
parity between the school board and city council. The goals and intentions of this
recommendation are to streamline the process, make it easier for voters to follow and understand,
and to increase transparency and accountability.

Education Committee Work on Topic:

 1. October 6th Workshop:
 a. This workshop took place early in the process after the committee received a
 memorandum from Drummond Woodsum giving an overview of what is in the
 purview of the Charter Commission surrounding education. Members of the
 committee held a workshop to learn more from elected officials about what has
 and has not worked in the past. Members of the workshop included:
 i. Attorney Aga Dixon, Drummond Woodsum
 ii. Portland Mayor Kate Snyder
 iii. Former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling
 iv.  Former Portland Mayor Michael Brennan
 v.  Former At-Large City Councilor Nick Mavodones
 vi.  Portland Superintendent Xavier Botana
 vii.  School Board Chair Emily Figdor
 viii. City Councilor and Former School Board Member Anna Trevorrow
 ix.  Corporation Counsel Danielle West
 x.  Commission Attorney James Katsiaficas

 2. November 3rd Meeting:
 a. Commissioners discussed what was heard during the October 6th workshop and
 chose topics to research. Commissioner Eglinton chose to look at capital
 Improvement and collaboration around budgeting. Commissioner Houston chose
 to research parity between the board and council.

 3. December 1st Meeting:


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 a. Members of the committee present preliminary ideas and receive public comment.
 Commissioner Eglinton presents his idea for a Joint Committee on Budget
 Guidance to increase the collaboration between board and council on both
 budgets. Commissioner Houston presents his idea for increased budget autonomy
 for the school board.

 4. December 15th Meeting:
 a. Members of the Committee receive a memorandum from Commission Attorney
 Katsiaficas regarding the 8/11 memorandum from Drummond Woodsum
 explaining why it may not be possible to give the Board authority over the bottom
 line number on the school budget under Maine State law.

 5. January 5th Meeting:
 a. Commissioner Eglinton presents first proposal for the Joint Committee on Budget
 Guidance. Members of the committee discuss what this would look like in
 practice and what the scope of these conversations would be.

 6. February 2nd Meeting:
 a. Members of the committee receive another memorandum from Drummond
 Woodsum that argues for more school board budget autonomy. Members receive
 a briefing from school board chair Emily Figdor on the memorandum. Members
 continue to workshop the Joint Committee on Budget Guidance Proposal.

 7. February 16th Meeting:
 a. Commissioner Houston presents the proposal to give more budget autonomy to
 the school board. Commissioners Chann and Eglinton ask clarifying questions
 and Commissioners deliberate on how to proceed with two competing proposals
 and which proposal will be put forward for a public hearing and vote.
 Commissioners take public comment on the proposal.

 8. March 3rd Meeting:
 a. Members of the committee held a public hearing on the school budget process and
 autonomy proposal brought forward by Commissioner Houston. During the public
 hearing, eight members of the public spoke in favor while eight members of the
 public spoke against the proposal. During deliberations, Commissioner Eglinton
 brought forward an amendment to include the Joint Committee on Budget
 Guidance at the beginning of the proposal. That motion to amend passes
 unanimously. On the main motion to Approve the School Budget Process and
 Autonomy Proposal as amended, the motion passed 2-1 with Commissioners
 Chann and Houston voting yes and Commissioner Eglinton voting no. The
 proposal was then sent to the full commission.

Memorandums Consulted Throughout the Process:
  ● 8/11/2021 Memorandum from Drummond Woodsum
  ● 12/14/2021 Memorandum from Perkins Thompson
  ● 1/24/2021 Memorandum from Drummond Woodsum


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 ● 4/4/2022 Memorandum from Drummond Woodsum
 ● 4/13/2022 Memorandum from Perkins Thompson




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3. Capital Improvement Program Process Recommendation

 This recommendation is intended to address recommendations raised in public comments
to seek greater parity for the superintendent and school board in the discussions around and
decisions affecting Portland Public Schools. The recommendation would explicitly include the
superintendent in the capital improvement program (CIP) planning process on an equal footing
as the city.

 This recommendation is similar to the process used in Auburn, which has the following
language in its Charter (as referenced in an 8/11/2021 memorandum from Drummond Woodsum
to the superintendent of Portland Public Schools):

 The city manager and superintendent must jointly prepare and submit to a joint
 meeting of the council and school board a multi-year CIP before submission of
 the budget, and must publish a general summary of the CIP. The CIP must be
 revised and extended each year with regard to capital improvements pending or in
 process of construction or acquisition. (§§ 8.9, 8.10)

 Sanford also includes the superintendent in the development of the CIP process (as
referenced in an 8/11/2021 memorandum from Drummond Woodsum to the superintendent of
Portland Public Schools):

 The city manager and the superintendent annually prepare and submit to the
 budget committee a 5-year CIP. The budget committee reviews the CIP and
 makes recommendations to the council for approval. The city creates annual
 reserves for the CIP by raising and appropriating at least 4% of the budget each
 year. Projects funded by the CIP include road maintenance, vehicular
 replacements, roofing projects, major building renovations, major equipment
 purchase, airport projects, new buildings and the like. (§ 610)




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C. Elections Committee

 1. Proportional Ranked Choice Voting

 2. Clean Elections

 3. Redistricting




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1. Proportional Ranked Choice Voting Recommendation

 The elections committee prepared this recommendation to permit the use of Proportional
Ranked Choice Voting (PRCV) in multiple-seat elections. In the election of at-large seats for the
Charter Commission, multi-pass Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) was been used with a 50%
threshold as required by the existing Charter, rather than the lower threshold recommended by
the RCV Resource Center. There was some criticism of the election results for that reason. To
address that criticism and to permit flexibility, the proposal allows the city clerk to choose a
PRCV system that the city council has authorized. At least one commissioner observes that
while regular RCV favors coalition building and PRCV may not have as great an effect in that
respect, PRCV may achieve more representative voting results – that PRCV is fairer than RCV.




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2. Clean Elections Recommendation

Clean Elections – Public Financing of Municipal Elections, Elections Committee

 “Those who do not have the money or time, and who do not belong to pre-
 existing organizations with resources, are less able to participate and less likely
 to have their needs taken into account when policies are decided. The result is a
 system nominally based on equal rights but whose natural structure, without
 effort, will produce unequal participation and influence.... Tools designed to
 bring more small donors into the system are meant to enlarge the table – to help
 give more people, and different kinds of people, a meaningful voice. They work
 by giving those who do have the resources to mobilize – candidates, parties and
 other donor mobilizers – an incentive to pay attention to those who do not. This
 concern goes to the heart of successful democratic representation.”
 - Michael J. Malbin and Michael Parrott, in The Forum, A Journal of
 Applied Research in Contemporary Politics

 This report includes background, research, recommendations, and the proposed language
for a program that provides public financing for campaigns to qualifying candidates. For clarity
we will be calling the program “Clean Elections,” a term familiar to Maine voters as a similar
program exists for statewide races under this name.

History of Clean Elections Advocacy in Portland:

 The elections committee took up the issue of public financing of municipal elections as
one of its first recommendations to consider, as it was this issue that sparked efforts to open the
Charter for revision. Nearly every candidate who ran reported that they supported a clean
elections program in some form.12

What is public financing of elections?

 Public financing of elections is a widely popular idea with bipartisan support in the state
and across the nation.3 These programs offer public campaign funds to candidates who meet
qualifying criteria as set by ordinance or statute. Funds come from a public program – usually
supported through tax revenue, municipal or state fees, private donations, and/or seed
contributions from candidates.

 Qualifying candidates must meet certain criteria spelled out by the program in order to
participate and make use of the funds. How candidates qualify, the amount of funding they’re

1
  Portland Press Herald: https://www.pressherald.com/2022/03/01/court-upholds-portlands-position-to-pursue-clean-
elections-proposal-as-a-charter-revision/
2
 Portland Press Herald: https://www.pressherald.com/2019/10/22/portland-to-ask-voters-for-a-charter-commission/
3
 Report on For The People Act, including Small Donor Public Financing Program for Federal Elections
https://campaignlegal.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/01-25-
21%20HR%201%20Bipartisan%20Memo%20330pm.pdf


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offered, and other details vary from state to state and program to program. Generally programs
put limitations on where donations come from and from whom, and often put contribution or
fundraising limits. Some of the different clean elections programs that are in place across the
country are described later in this report.

Why public financing for elections?

 Public financing of elections has long been considered a key mechanism to mitigating
corporate and moneyed interests in politics. These programs do so by limiting the amount, and
often the source, of campaign contributions to candidates who elect to participate in the program.

 Clean elections programs also increase opportunities for candidates to run for elected
office. Just four years into the Maine Clean Elections program, the Maine Ethics Commission
noted that the fund encouraged more first-time candidates, especially women, encouraged
challengers to incumbents, and controlled spending growth overall for candidates.4 A Stanford
study comparing Maine and Arizona programs found that clean elections improved the overall
quality and competitiveness of candidates, especially non-incumbent challengers.5

 By creating a more even playing field, Clean Elections empower candidates without
access to wealth (whether personal, family, or from social networks) to run. As evidenced by
these programs' success in other cities, a municipal clean elections program in Portland will help
increase the diversity of candidates across race, gender, and socio-economic class, and offer
more choices to voters at the polls.6

 Across the country, the benefits of Clean Elections systems are felt. In a study by the
think tank Demos, researchers found that in Connecticut, Clean Elections programs allowed
legislators to spend more time interfacing with constituents. The program also helped voters
engage more deeply in the legislative process around issues they cared about, and empowered
legislators to pass more policies popular with the public.7

 New York City also reported that public elections financing helped improve timeliness of
candidates’ campaign spending disclosures, thus increasing transparency of the electoral
process.8


4
 2007 Report on the Maine Clean Elections Act,
https://www.mainecleanelections.org/sites/default/files/research/2007_study_report.pdf
5
  Malhotra, Neil, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, Vol. 8, No. 3 (Fall 2008): pp. 263–
281https://web.stanford.edu/~neilm/The%20Impact%20of%20Public%20Financing%20on%20Electoral%20Compe
tition.pdf
6
 Elisabeth Genn et al., Donor Diversity Trough Public Matching Funds, Brennan Center for Justice and Campaign
Finance Institute, 2006 http://cfinst.org/pdf/state/ny/DonorDiversity.pdf
7
 Cha, J Mijin & Rapaport, Miles Fresh Start: The Impact of Public Financing in Connecticut, Demos, 2013
8
 New York City Campaign Finance Board, “Impact of Public Funds” https://www.nyccfb.info/program/impact-of-
public-funds/


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 Lastly, while Clean Elections funds cannot entirely override the influence of corporate or
outside spending due to the influence of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United, Clean
Elections programs allow candidates to spend less time fundraising and more time engaging with
their constituents. Because they are guaranteed enough funds to run a competitive campaign, per
the design of the program, publicly financed candidates find they are able to distinguish
themselves in a field, even against privately funded candidates.

 A program that prohibits Clean Elections candidates from utilizing any funds outside of
their public allocation (as Maine’s statewide program does) could be the most effective at
curbing escalating elections costs and the influence of corporate money in Portland.

What’s in Portland’s Clean Election Proposal?

 The Clean Elections Proposal establishes a public fund, though it does not prescribe a
specific type of program. The council by ordinance shall set up the specifics of the program.

 The proposal requires the city to annually fund the program, and to ensure that there is
adequate funding to offer candidates enough to run competitive campaigns.

 The program is voluntary. This is essential to the constitutionality of the program. It is
of utmost importance that the council in its ordinance ensures that measures passed do not
jeopardize the voluntariness of the program.

 Stipulations of the program include, as Maine’s statewide program does, that it must only
be available to candidates who demonstrate public support. The Portland program must limit the
amount of private funds that can be raised, but no specific limit is set in the Charter. Candidates
must agree to only use funds provided by the program, except for the limited amount of private
funds stipulated by ordinance.

 After 100 days, all unused funds will be returned to the program.

 An agreement of the program is that all candidates must participate in a city-sponsored
forum or voter engagement event. This is modeled after Seattle’s Democracy Voucher ordinance,
which requires candidates to participate in three debates.9

 In Maine, the city clerk is the elections officer, and therefore this program will be
overseen by the clerk's office, and provided, per this Charter proposal, with adequate paid staff
for implementation.

Elections Committee Process:

 The elections committee took up clean elections early in our process and hosted three public
workshops:


9
 Seattle City Code, Honest Election, 2.04.620,
https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT2EL_CH2.04ELCACO_SUBCHAPTE
R_VIIIHOELSE_2.04.620DEVOIS


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 ● September 21, 2021, we interviewed the following experts from both Maine and
 nationwide.
 ○ Anna Kellar - Executive Director of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections & the
 League of Women Voters
 ○ Emma Burke - Candidate Registrar, Maine Ethics Commission
 ○ Tom Watkowski - Democracy Policy Network, & Los Angeles for Democracy
 Vouchers
 ○ Cindy Black - Executive Director for Fix Democracy First, advisor for Seattle
 Democracy Voucher Program

 ● December 7, 2021: Elections committee workshopped the Clean Elections Proposal,
 drafted by Commissioner Buxton. Public comment included considerations to add
 campaign contribution limits, a corporate contribution ban, and restrictions on how funds
 could be spent.

 ● December 21, 2021: Elections committee workshopped a second draft of the proposal,
 which included some additional changes:
 ● Stronger language mandating consistent funding provided by council, submitted
 by Commissioner Chann;
 ● Stipulation to return unused funds to the program for all participating candidates;
 ● Requirement to make campaign contributions searchable in online database, per
 advice of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections;
 ● Added language about paid staff within the office of city clerk; and
 ● Added new section on corporate contribution ban for municipal candidates.

Public Hearings & Votes:

 ● January 10, 2022: The Elections committee hosted a public hearing for the proposal.

 During the hearing the following amendments were made:

 ● Language updated: Program to be administered by office of city clerk, with
 assistance of paid staff.
 ● Commissioner Buxton removed campaign contribution limit due to concern that
 making Clean Elections program too attractive for candidates might threaten
 voluntariness and therefore legality of the proposal.
 ● Commissioner Chann added a friendly amendment: fiscal note, utilizing LWV
 program cost estimate plus the cost of one mid-level staffer (60-80k per year).

 The committee unanimously voted to send the proposal to the full commission.

 ● January 19, 2022: The proposal approved by the elections committee first read by the
 full Charter Commission.

 ● March 9, 2022: The proposal, tabled for some time while waiting on a Maine Superior
 Court decision regarding a lawsuit from Fair Elections Portland, is picked up again for a
 new first read and clarifying questions.


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 ● March 23, 2022: The proposal has a public hearing and vote. Proposal is approved
 unanimously with the following amendments:
 - Commissioner O’Brien added an amendment to prohibit financial gain in the form
 of city contracts from individual major donors to campaigns.
 Note: A similar such limitation exists in NYC.10
 - NOTE: This amendment was later removed due to concerns around
 redundancy and concerns about constitutionality and low contribution
 limits.

 Proposal passes unanimously through commission. (11-0, Commissioner
 Stewart Bouley absent.)

During the process we also consulted with:

 ● John Brautigam, Esq. – Maine Lawyer, Fair Elections Portland board member,
 represented Maine’s Clean Elections Law in front of US Supreme Court
 ● John Wayne - Maine Elections Commission
 ● Kathy Jones - Portland, Maine City Clerk

Types of Clean Elections Programs:

 As noted, Clean Elections programs can take a number of different forms.

 *Starred programs are formats the elections committee recommends the council consider in
Portland.

 - *Block Grant Program: Maine’s statewide Clean Election program follows this format.
 Candidates qualify, often by gathering small, grassroots contributions. (For Maine
 legislators, a few dozen qualifying contributions of $5 from 50-75 voters). Once
 qualified, candidates are given an allotted amount of campaign funds, and are restricted
 to using only those funds for their campaign expenses. Check out other rules for the
 Maine program here: Maine Clean Elections Act Rules
 - There are numerous benefits to this type of program. A number of research
 studies have shown Block Grant programs deliver on all the above-mentioned
 advantages of clean elections programs. This type of program can also help curtail
 overall spending on elections, and is widely popular across parties in Maine.
 - One noted place where it falls short: The Maine program doesn’t go as far as
 other types of programs to encourage candidates to reach outside of their network.
 There are some incentives for voter engagement: Because candidates aren’t as
 focused on fundraising they can spend more time with under-resourced
 neighborhoods or communities, but the program by design doesn’t incentivize or
 require this. Candidates could, in theory, just get their 50 qualifying contributions
 from 50 friends, and only outreach to their likely voters or known networks.


10
  New York City Campaign Finance Board, Limits, https://www.nyccfb.info/candidate-services/limits-
thresholds/2017/


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 - Small-Donor Matching Fund Program: Most familiarly used in New York & Los
 Angeles, Matching Fund programs will generally match grassroots or small donations
 below a certain threshold at a set rate. For example, in NYC and Los Angeles, the city
 matches small donations 6 to 1, with public dollars. There is usually a campaign
 contribution limit that cities will match up to (In NYC, it’s up to $175 per donor) and a
 total public contribution the city will give to any one candidate.
 - This program is widely popular, with about 90% of candidates in primaries and
 75% in general elections in places that employ this. NYC lists a number of
 benefits of their program, from increasing candidate diversity to promoting more
 incumbent challengers to increasing diversity of donors, and increasing the
 influence of small donors over large wealthy ones.11
 - Results vary across programs. For example, in Los Angeles the program has
 performed differently when compared to NYC. LA historically has matched at a
 lower rate (as low as 3 to 1) and their programs allow candidates to fundraise
 privately if they max out public funding available. Additionally, LA is more
 permissive of qualifying contributions outside of the geography of the candidate,
 whereas NYC asks candidates to fundraise these contributions more within their
 district. Research finds that NYC’s small donors more accurately reflect the
 diversity of the city, whereas LA’s does not deliver as similar results.12
 - There are some concerns that matching grants programs don’t do enough to limit
 overall spending on elections.

 - Democracy Vouchers: A newer innovation in campaign financing, Democracy
 Vouchers is a system currently in place only in Seattle, WA, though there are efforts in
 Los Angeles, New Hampshire, and in a number of other communities seeking to explore
 this system. The Democracy Vouchers system issues “vouchers” to all eligible voters,
 free of charge. Voters then can donate these vouchers back to their desired candidates.
 Candidates can redeem the vouchers for public campaign funds.

 Voters don’t have to contribute any of their own funds to use the vouchers. This is
 where the program differs from the others most: Democracy Vouchers capture the
 interests of voters who may not even be able to make those grassroots donations required
 in other programs.
 - In Seattle every voter receives 4 vouchers of $25 to donate to any participating
 candidate. They can donate all to one candidate, or split them up, or use none of
 the vouchers. Seattle started with mail vouchers, but they now have an online
 system.
 - Implementation costs much higher than other programs, but experts we
 interviewed said that the program's benefits go beyond election financing.


11
  New York City Campaign Finance Board, 2022, https://www.nyccfb.info/program/benefits/
12
  Malbin & Parrot, 2017, Small Donor Empowerment Depends on the Details: Comparing Matching Fund
Programs in New York and Los Angeles, The Forum https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/for-2017-
0015/html?lang=en




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 Because of the accompanying education campaign for the vouchers, there was an
 automatic voter engagement effort built into the program.
 - Adoption is slow, but studies have found positive results: Already the program
 has tripled the number of folks who contribute to candidates, and participation in
 the program doubled in just the second election cycle.13
 - Researchers found that the voucher program meant that donors were much more
 representative of the city, particularly by race, and more evenly distributed
 geographically.14

 For more information and reading about the different forms a clean elections program
may take, please see the following resources as well as any of the research referenced in
footnotes throughout this document:

 ● Common Cause’s Public Financing of Campaigns Report: Offers helpful pros &
 cons of each type of existing program and example use cases across the country.
 ● Maine Citizen for Clean Elections Powerpoint
 ● Democracy Vouchers Resources
 ● Elections Committee Resources Folder

Additional components of Clean Elections proposal:

Section 13(a): Corporate Contribution Ban

 In 2021, the Maine State Legislature passed LD 1417. It will go into effect in early 2023.

 The law bans corporate contributions statewide to campaigns for elected office. In the
Clean Elections proposal for Portland, the elections committee included a ban on the municipal
level. While this replicates the existing statewide ban, this language was proposed so that in the
event that the state wide ban is overturned by the legislature, Portland’s would remain in effect
for city races. City of Portland races in the past have seen a huge influence of funding by private
companies, with candidates sometimes raising nearly 40-50% of their funds from businesses
such as real estate developers. The elections committee is so grateful to have LD 1417 passing in
our state, and would like to ensure its legacy in Portland, regardless of what happens in Augusta.

 On the advice of our attorney, we added a provision to allow employees of a business to
donate personal funds to a separate segregated fund should a company want to allow employees
to contribute in this way. This mirrors similar language in the Maine law as well.

Section 13(b): Foreign Contributions




13
  Democracy Voucher Internal Report, City of Seattle, https://www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher/program-
data/internal-program-reports
14
  McCabe & Heerwig, 2019 Diversifying the Donor Pool: How Did Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program
Reshape Participation in Municipal Campaign Finance?, https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/elj.2018.0534


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 After receiving feedback from a number of constituents as well as fellow commissioners,
this section of the amendment was introduced in order to set up some measures to curb spending
on ballot questions. Court precedents have made it challenging to curb spending on ballot
measures by corporations, but turning to foreign contribution limits or bans may be one route to
curbing foreign spending on citizen referendums.

 Per the First National vs. Belotti decision, limiting corporate spending on ballot questions
is not allowed. However, there is some precedent in Bluman v. FEC, that says it is constitutional
to exclude foreign citizens from activities of democratic self-government, like campaign
spending. This can be applied to individuals within companies and corporate spending.
Limiting contributions from companies with significant foreign control could in some small way
limit corporate spending on local races.

 We will leave specifics about the ban and who is included/excluded, including what
percentage of foreign ownership a company must be under, to the council to establish by
ordinance. We strongly recommend the council be specific in language about banning
companies with foreign holdings, and to ensure individuals are not included in this ban.


Section 13(d): Searchable Elections Database

 The Clean Elections Proposal also includes a stipulation that campaign contributions of
all candidates, whether they use private or public funds, will be made available to the public in a
searchable online database. One of the most important factors in having open, transparent
elections, and curbing the influence of corporate money in politics is for the public to have easy
access to all campaign contribution data. Currently, while Portland’s campaign contribution
information is available online, it is not available in a way that is easily accessible or searchable
for the average voter. Instead voters have to comb through scanned, often hand-written
documents, hidden deep on the city website, if they want to see what and how candidates are
using funds.

 This amendment would help move the city towards addressing greater transparency in
campaign finance, which would be of even more importance should a public financing program
be passed. Fortunately, the City of Portland has reported that they are already working on a more
responsive electronic database for campaign spending reports, and it is the committees’ hope that
this clause in the Charter will motivate compliance and adoption as soon as possible. Likewise,
there is pending legislation that may ask all towns with a certain population size to move their
campaign finance reporting to the Maine Ethics Commission, who has a much more
comprehensive and searchable system. This option would comply with the proposed charter
revision.




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 COST ESTIMATE FOR
 CLEAN ELECTIONS PROGRAM IN PORTLAND, MAINE

Cost Estimate Compiled By: Commissioner Marpheen Chann (At-Large), Chair, Charter
Commission Ad Hoc Elections Committee

Initiative: Establishes a Clean Elections fund to be administered by paid staff within the Office
of the City Clerk, funds to be allocated by the City Council on an annual basis.

 COST ESTIMATE FY 23-24 FY 24-25
 POSITIONS 1.00 1.00
 Personnel Services $87,733.73* $90,365.75
 All Other $200,000** $200,000

 TOTAL COST ESTIMATE $287,733.73 $290,365.75




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3. Redistricting Recommendation
 The Committee believes that a larger city council would provide more direct
representation of more diverse populations and interests, would allow more councilors to
introduce legislation and would reduce the overburdening of councilors with committee
assignments and work that now occurs. A majority of commissioners saw during their
campaigns that there was much interest among voters to broaden representation and diversity and
for the council to be more directly representative.

 The elections committee looked at nationwide research comparing compositions of city
councils and how electives are represented: at-large, solely in districts, or a combination of both.
We were especially interested in how these systems produced elected bodies that are
representative of a population, and how candidates of color were served, or not, by these
different methods. While at-large systems often disserve representation for minority populations,
this is usually contingent on minority populations being geographically concentrated. Research
shows that this does not hold true for populations that were more spread out or were a much
smaller percentage of the larger population (as is the case for non-white populations in Portland).

 The committee also heard from members of the public, as well as existing and former
council members, that they found at-large seats were useful in building coalitions regardless of
geography and for including a more city-wide perspective in council decisions and legislation.
While increasing district seats will bring increased neighborhood representation to the council,
maintaining at-large seats will provide three representatives on the council who will be elected
by all Portland voters, plus the popularly elected mayor.

 After a public hearing on the proposal and deliberation, the Commission amended the
proposal to increase the number to twelve councilors -- nine district and three at-large.
Recognizing the benefit of increased direct representation for the school board as well, the
Commission further amended the proposal to provide that the three current at-large school board
seats would become elected on a district basis. In this way, the city would have the same nine
districts for the city council and the school board, city council representation would be increased,
and more direct representation would be achieved on the school board. District lines would be
drawn by the city council and adjusted as now happens under a state law requiring a
reapportionment ordinance after each decennial census.




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D. Governance Committee

 1. Governance Model

 2. Peaks Island Council Proposal




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1. Governance Model Recommendation

 Introduction to Governance Model

 The recommended governance model represents the fruits of many hours of research and
discussion. No single commissioner is responsible for it; no single commissioner can claim they
got everything they wanted. It is based in considerable areas of agreement and offers significant
improvements to Portland’s system of government.

 This proposal seeks to establish a balanced and thoughtful government that is accessible
to citizens and responsive to their concerns. Under this plan, most decision-making is centered in
the hands of elected officials—the mayor and city councilors—who are directly responsible to
the ultimate source of governing power: the voters. At the root of the reforms proposed here is a
desire to establish effective and transparent citywide policy leadership that is directly
accountable to voters. The main changes are grouped below under subheadings. The final section
describes the commission’s methodology.

 I. Executive Mayor and Strong Council

 This proposed reform designates the mayor as the city’s chief executive. The mayor in
this proposal resembles the mayors of traditional council-mayor systems like those in
Westbrook, Maine; Burlington, Vermont; and Salem, Massachusetts. Under this proposal, voters
would retain the power to remove the mayor and councilors through the recall process.

 This proposal would give the mayor the power to:

 ● propose the city budget,
 ● veto the budget (including supplemental appropriations),
 ● veto council ordinances,
 ● nominate the chief administrator and department heads,
 ● enact executive orders affecting city policies, and
 ● propose legislation to the council for a vote.

 The proposal would give the council the power to:

 ● amend and set the budgets,
 ● intervene in executive orders,
 ● ratify all nominations,
 ● elect from among its members a chair and vice-chair,
 ● pass a communications policy for access to city staff,
 ● be informed of employment matters at city hall,
 ● halt the firing of the chief operating officer by the mayor,
 ● override the mayor’s veto by a two-thirds majority (one additional vote), and
 ● remove or censure the mayor by a supermajority vote.

 Crucially, the mayor would no longer be a member of the council. This will ensure that
the council functions as an autonomous policymaking body and an independent watchdog over
mayoral powers.

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 II. City Manager Becomes Chief Operating Officer

 Under this proposal, the city manager position transitions to a chief administrator who is
expected to contribute expertise and management of day-to-day activities, but to report to the
mayor. This official would be hired through the same hiring process for department heads:
nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the council. This official is modeled on Westbrook’s
city administrator, who has provided stable managerial expertise to decades of Westbrook
mayors.

 The chief administrator is supervised by the mayor, and the chief administrator supervises the
department heads. The mayor’s direction of department heads is intended to operate through the
chief administrator.

 III. How this Proposal Would Solve Flaws in the Current System

 Critics of the current system argue that it misleads voters, sets mayors up to fail,
concentrates too much power in the hands of an unelected official whom the voters cannot
directly hold accountable, and pays the mayor too much for too little in return. This section will
describe each criticism, and state how this governance proposal would help solve it.

 a. The Current System Misleads Voters

 To the average voter, the term “mayor” carries its ordinary definition: the head of the
city’s executive branch, and not its council chair. Indeed, some commissioners stated that when
they first learned that Portland’s mayor lacked many of the powers of traditional mayors – the
power to propose a budget, for instance – they experienced shock, and felt misled. Some
members of the public testified that they experienced something similar upon learning that
Portland’s mayor lacks the power to make important decisions – that that power rests with the
City Manager. This governance proposal would cure the misnomer in our charter; if voters
approve this reform, mayor will mean mayor.

 b. The Current System Sets Mayors up to Fail

 Voters understandably expect citywide policy leadership from mayors. Media coverage
of mayoral races, and mayoral candidates themselves, sustain the illusion that Portland already
has a mayor who can accomplish the policy goals they promise to accomplish. Yet, no popularly-
elected mayor in Portland has won re-election. Some commissioners, and members of the public,
have argued that this is partly because the mayor lacks enough power to implement a policy
agenda.

 Portland’s first popularly elected mayor since the charter reforms of 1923, Mike Brennan,
testified that one way to solve this issue is to give the mayor the power to propose the budget.
This proposal would do that by giving the mayor the power to put their policy ideas in the first
draft of the city’s budget, and by giving the mayor power over the implementation of the city’s
policy priorities.

The current system relies on the elected mayor to convince the council and the administration of
their policy objectives separately. If the council declines to take up the mayor’s platform, or the

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administration ignores the mayor’s goals, the only other avenue for the mayor is to pursue these
outside of city hall. That means aligning with referendum campaigns, or forming public-private
partnerships that exclude council oversight and coordination. The result is frequent legislation-
by-referendum – lawmaking that is often out of sync with the council. Successful referenda laws
cannot be altered for five years after passage, so bad laws remain on the books longer than the
drafters might even intend. Giving the mayor the power to effectively pursue a platform
promises to lead Portland out of the two poles of frustrated mayors, or conflict-ridden ones.

 c. The Current System Gives Us Less Than We Pay For From Our Mayor

 One way out of this conflict-or-frustration equation is for the mayor to serve not as what
voters generally understand by the term “mayor,” but as a lame-duck politician coordinating the
activities of the city council. Such a mayor is almost guaranteed to have no real policy legacy,
leaving citizens and activists frustrated with the official, and threatening the government’s
legitimacy. This is not what Portland taxpayers expect to pay for.

 Indeed, critics have argued that Portland gets less than it pays for from its mayor. The
mayor’s primary duty under the current system is to serve as council chair. Yet, the current
charter gives the mayor a full-time salary of 1.5 times the city’s median household income –
approximately $92,000. The proposed system would change this by giving the mayor the duties
traditionally associated with mayors. It would also increase the mayor’s pay to 2 times the city’s
median household income with the goal of attracting highly qualified candidates.

 d. The Current System Over-Empowers an Unelected Official

 Critics have taken issue with the tremendous decision making power the City Manager
wields in the current system. On decisions such as housing refugees, ending outdoor dining,
phasing out the Community Support Fund, or ordering food trucks to move from the Eastern
Promenade, Portland’s City Manager has, by design, had far-reaching influence.

 Defenders of the current system have argued that these decisions are “operational” and
not policy decisions. Regardless of the terminology, there is no getting around the fact that voters
care deeply about some of these decisions, and many want the tools to hold the responsible
officials accountable. Currently, the person who makes these decisions is accountable to only a
simple majority of councilors.

 The governance proposal would give voters the power to elect, re-call, or vote-out a
mayor who makes unwise decisions. The proposal would also give the city council the power to
censure or remove a destructive executive mayor. Thus, whereas the current system gives only
the council the power to remove the city’s executive, the governance proposal gives that power
to both the council and the voters.
 IV. Methodology

 The Governance Committee, as well as the entire charter commission, consulted a variety
of experts, civil servants, and community members for their input on this topic. Some charter
commissioners stated that their vote on various aspects of this final governance plan arose from
conversations they had with constituents during the campaign trail. Commissioners also

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consulted research on municipal government. Although it is impossible to account for every
conversation and source, this list identifies some key personalities and research:
May 19, 2022 Workshop with:
 ● Westbrook Mayor Mike Foley
 ● Westbrook City Administrator Jerre Bryant

February 14, 2022 Workshop with:
 ● Dr. Jered Carr (perhaps the leading national expert on municipal government)
 ● Dr. Andrea Benjamin (an expert on quantitative political science)
 ● Dean Anthony Crowell (worked for ICMA, as chief counsel for Mayor Bloomberg’s
 office, and as council for six charter commissions)
 ● Maine State Historian Earle Shettleworth Jr.,
 ● Tom MacMillan (masters thesis author about the Portland Charter)

November 10, 2021 Workshop with:
 ● Tanisha Briley (served as City Manager in several cities with a weaker mayor);
 ● Joe Gray (former City Manager of Portland just before the last charter changes);
 ● Kevin Sutherland (Town Manager of Bar Harbor, served as Chief of Staff to a strong
 mayor in Ithaca, NY, and later as City Administrator to a weaker mayor in Saco).

November 8, 2021 Workshop with:
 ● Dr. Chyrl Laird (political scientist knowledgeable about municipal leadership models);
 ● Dominick Pangallo (Chief of Staff to an executive mayor in Salem, MA);
 ● Dr. Jim Svara (editing researcher of the National Civic League's 9th edition of the Model
 City Charter)

Former and current Portland officials interviewed in October and November of 2021:
Mayors
 ● Kate Snyder
 ● Michael Brennan
 ● Jill Duson
 ● Jim Cohen
 ● Karen Gerghety
 ● Ethan Strimling

City Councilors
 ● Belinda Ray
 ● Pious Ali
 ● David Marshall
 ● Kimberly Cook




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 V. Research Consulted

 In addition to interviewing experts, these are some of the peer-reviewed journal articles
that informed the commissioners’ thinking:
 ● Carr, Jered B. (2015). What have we learned about the performance of council‐manager
 government? A review and synthesis of the research. Public Administration Review
 75(5): 673–89.
 ● Carr, J. B., & Karuppusamy, S. (2008). The adapted cities framework: On enhancing its
 use in empirical research. Urban Affairs Review, 43, 875-886.
 ● Carr, J. B., & Karuppusamy, S. (2009). Beyond ideal types of municipal structure:
 Adapted cities in Michigan. American Review of Public Administration 39, 304-321.
 ● Besley, T. and S. Coate, (2003), Elected versus Appointed Regulators: Theory and
 Evidence,Journal of the European Economic Association, 1(5), 1176-1206.
 ● Deno, K. and S. Mehay, (1987), Muncipal Management Structure and Fiscal
 Performance: Do City Managers Make a Difference? Southern Economic Journal, 53(3),
 627-642.
 ● Choi, C.G., Feiock, R. C. and Bae, J. (2013). The Adoption and Abandonment of Council
 Manager Government. Public Administration Review 73(5): 727–36.




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2. Peaks Island Council Recommendation

 The Commission prepared this recommendation in response to this request from the
Peaks Island Council sent to the Commission on Sunday, January 30, 2022:

Dear Commissioners,

At our last meeting, the Peaks Island Council unanimously voted to recommend that the Charter
Commission draft language to codify the Peaks Island Council into our Portland City Charter.
We have explained our rationale in the attached resolution.

We look forward to discussing this further with you.

 Resolution

Whereas Peaks Island is a small community of Portland with very unique needs, different from
those of any other neighborhood in the city.

Whereas Peaks Islanders have historically felt under-represented and underheard by City Hall.
Whereas there has been an active secession effort on the island dating back to the 1880’s, with
the most recent secession effort in the 2000s leading to State Legislature action and eventually
the creation of the Peaks Island Council in 2007.

Whereas the Peaks Island Council has met monthly since January 2008, with subcommittees of
community members meeting regularly to cover topics such as Environment & Sustainability,
Ferry Service, Anti-Racism, Parking, Community Priorities, and more.

Whereas now in its 15th year, the Peaks Island Council has become a stable and reliable
institution providing a conduit between City Hall and the Peaks Island Community, advocacy on
behalf of Peaks Islanders, and support for island organizations and special projects.

Whereas the members of the Peaks Island Council are elected every November at Peaks Island’s
precinct 1-3— the voting precinct with consistently the highest turn-out in the city. Whereas the
Peaks Island Council was created by ordinance and is therefore the only office elected by the
residents of Portland that does not exist in a city or district charter.

Be it resolved that the members of the Peaks Island Council request the Charter Commission
protect the institution of the Peaks Island Council by codifying its role as an officially elected
advisory body of the City Council into the Portland City Charter.

Signed,
Peter Eckel, chair
S.E. Rafferty, vice chair
Peter McLaughlin, secretary
Fred Somers
Jerzy Sylvester


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Natasha Markov-Riss
Scott Mohler

 The City of Portland, by adoption of Chapter 9, Article IV of its Code of Ordinances,
established the Peaks Island Council as a body of seven voting members with listed duties and
responsibilities. This proposal would recognize the Peaks Island Council through the City
Charter as well as by ordinance.




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E. Procedures Committee

 1. Preamble and Land Acknowledgement

 2. Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics

 3. Participatory Budgeting

 4. Communications Policy




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1. Preamble and Land Acknowledgement Recommendation

 In recent years, many institutions have considered their history and set out to make some
kind of amends for the wrongs of the past. While we cannot say that our city is perfect, we can at
least acknowledge the violent and genocidal nature of the events that led to its creation.

 In crafting this acknowledgment, we have consulted with Native American leaders and
historical resources. Many Indigenous people of the Wabanaki nation were killed and most were
driven out of the ancestral lands where they had lived, hunted, fished, and raised their families.

 By acknowledging those events and saluting the surviving Maine tribes in our preamble,
we seek to ensure that such events never happen again, and to make clear that Portlanders of all
races dwell on unceded land. We show respect and honor the truth -- both values that Wabanaki
tribes hold dear -- while paying tribute to the original stewards of this place.




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2. Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics Recommendation

Introduction:

 Ethics boards, ordinances and charter amendments can be found in municipalities across
the State of Maine and across the country. They provide guidelines for city officials to execute
their duties in an ethical and forthright manner. This Proposal brings Portland up to speed with
other municipalities across the state that have similar provisions.

What does this Proposal do?
  ● Requires the Portland city council to form an ethics commission (EC).
  ● Requires the city council to adopt a code of ethics ordinance as recommended by the EC.
  ● Grants discretionary power to the EC to render advisory opinions on a number of matters
 of city business.
  ● Allows the EC to recommend the hiring of an accountability officer to provide education
 to the public and officials; to serve as an independent ombudsperson in resolution of
 disputes in an advisory capacity; and to provide training to city officials on ethical
 matters.

Why are the Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics Ordinance needed?

 Currently, Portland does not have an ethics board or any requirements of written
disclosures of conflicts. While the existence of such instruments may not in and of themselves
prevent a bad actor from seeking pecuniary gain or to otherwise use or abuse their power or
position; it does provide standards and a process for which such matters may be addressed.
Additionally, while incidences of waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption are relatively rare in most
municipal governments; the most common breaches of ethical standards include improper
sharing of information, improper gifts, and indecent treatment of colleagues. (Siewert & Udani).
Finally, a code of ethics serves no purpose if it just sits in a drawer, it should be a living
document. The existence of the ethics commission and the accountability officer, if
recommended and hired, will ensure the utility of the code and supervise training of city officials
to make certain that the standards are understood.

 State law (30-A M.R.S. §2605) governs Portland’s officials (elected and appointed) in
matters of conflicts of interest. It requires that where elected and appointed officials directly or
indirectly own at least a 10% interest in the business entity before them in the matter of a
question or contract, they must disclose their financial interest in the matter before them and
abstain from voting upon the matter. The law also limits or prohibits the ability of former city or
school department officials from acting in a proceeding for another party in which they had a
role on behalf of the city or school department, and directs that every municipal official “shall
attempt to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest by disclosure or abstention.”

 Portland’s Charter currently provides that no city councilor (including the mayor), school
board member, or city officer or employee of the city or school department shall have a direct or
indirect substantial financial interest in any contract entered into by or on behalf of the city or the
school board, except for his or her own employment contract and contracts entered into in the


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course of his or her employment with the city or school department. It also prohibits these
persons from purchasing or accepting anything from the city or school department unless these
also are offered to the public under the same terms and procedures that apply to the public, and
from accepting or receiving any free pass, ticket, or free service from any person or entity acting
under a contract or license from the city or school department.

 Portland’s non-union employee personnel policy generally applies the State conflict of
interest law and the Charter prohibition on direct or indirect substantial financial interest and on
gifts to city employees:

 “In addition to adhering to general standards of conduct for employees of any organization,
 public employees are expected to treat everyone they serve with complete impartiality and
 are prohibited from using their official position for personal profit or the profit of friends
 and family. Employees must comply with the conflict of interest standards of State law 30-
 A M.R.S.A. Sec. 2605.”

 However, unlike Maine cities such as Bangor and Waterville, Portland has no generally
applicable ordinance that establishes standards of conduct for its elected and appointed officials
and department heads. This proposal provides the framework for both the code of ethics and an
ethics commission to administer it.

 This proposal is not intended to imply that city officials currently act unethically. Rather,
it is a provision that ensures our city maintains a code of ethical conduct for officials that will build
public trust and ensure Portland government has high ethical standards. This proposal is a product
of public comment, campaign discussions and research by commission members.

Other Purposes:
 ● Encourage proper use of office
 ● Compliance with advisory opinions
 ● Mitigate instances of personal gain, political favors, political solicitation, and favoritism.
 ● Protect against the “revolving door” of city officials, consultants, and contractors.

General Reasoning for an Ethics Commission:
 ● Protect whistleblowers.
 ● Fight and discourage corruption, waste, fraud, abuse, and favoritism from both elected
 and unelected individuals.
 ● Increase transparency and accountability in municipal government.
 ● Be a safe, independent place to send complaints and concerns regarding ethical conduct.
 ● Creates an ethics mission and code for the City of Portland.
 ● Cost effective, productive ethical conduct oversight that has proven to work elsewhere in
 Maine.
 ● To bring more voices to the table and the community-oriented decisions on what ethical
 conduct is, rather than one individual.
 ● Build public trust in municipal government.




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Differences in Roles of Ethics Commission & Accountability officer

 While the ethics commission considers actions and behaviors of officials that may not
rise to the level of illegality but are still wrong (such as being visibly drunk at a public meeting);
the role of the accountability officer is to resolve disputes, help streamline bureaucratic
procedures, and provide training for city officials.

 Ethics Commission Accountability Officer
 Gives advisory opinions on behaviors that Resolves disputes & cuts red tape
 may be wrong but not illegal

 Examples: Examples:

 Sharing of information that should not be Help avoid lawsuits and unneeded
 shared. controversy.

 Gifts (large and small) Complaints against city staff from members of
 the public/red tape and overly-rigid adherence
 to administrative procedures concerning
 trivial matters.
 Make recommendations to staff when a
 process has gone off the rails.

 Disrespectful behavior toward colleagues Provide training for public officials on ethical
 matters.

 Putting forth bad faith arguments in favor of a Obtain second opinions on legal matters/avoid
 policy. lawsuits

 “Bad faith” gathering of public input, for Recognize when regulatory requirements are
 example scheduling meetings at the least poorly communicated, improve public
 convenient time for most stakeholders, and understanding of why regulations are in force
 deliberately poorly advertised opportunities Address situations when regulations are being
 for public input. poorly or selectively enforced, either by
 calling on policy makers to update the
 Withholding information critical to the regulations or by updating administrative
 deliberation of a policy. procedures for more judicious enforcement

 Quid pro quo deals that do not rise to the level Implementation of policy that is not being
 of actual bribes, but confer some kind of implemented
 private benefit to the official or allies. These
 are distinct from the normal legislative deal Help standardize procedures against
 making process. unyielding bureaucratic norms




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3. Participatory Budgeting Recommendation

 Participatory budgeting is a system that sets aside a portion of a municipality's budget to
be allocated by residents directly. The commission spent two procedures committee meetings
discussing the concept. Every member of the committee, and the members of the public who
spoke, supported the concept, and expressed their desire to see it enshrined in city government.
However, during deliberations, a consensus emerged that establishing the specifics of a
participatory budgeting system is a task better suited for the city council. Accordingly, this
proposal does not set forth specifics of such a system for Portland, but requires the city council to
establish one.




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4. Communications Policy Recommendation

Communications between City Staff and Elected Officials Under the Current Charter

 Portland’s current Charter allows the city manager to take a strict approach to how, when,
and whether elected officials may talk with city staff. Portland's Charter gives the city manager
the power to direct or make requests of city staff, and denies that power to elected officials.
Article VI, Section 5 of Portland's current Charter provides:

 Neither the mayor nor members of the city council shall direct, request or interfere with
 the appointment or removal of any of the officers or employees of the city for whom the
 city manager is responsible, nor shall any of them give an order, publicly or privately, to
 any such city officer or employee relating to any matter in the line of that officer’s or
 employee’s city employment.

 Under the system that this section establishes, elected officials may make promises to
constituents about how the city will function, and about how they will execute their vision. But
realizing those promises depends on the cooperation of the city manager. The city manager has
the exclusive power to direct city staff of every department, and to make requests of them.
Indeed, the next sentence in the same section of the charter underscores this interpretation:

 Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended to prevent the city manager
 from assigning staff to work and communicate directly with councilors, boards and
 commissions, council committees, neighborhood and other groups and organizations, on
 city work.

 This section empowers the city manager to prohibit or monitor communications between
city staff and elected officials. Such a power is relatively expansive, even compared with other
council-manager systems.

 In recent years, this rule proved cumbersome for local officials. Indeed, it’s very drafter,
Attorney Jim Cohen, a former charter commissioner, has admitted as much to current charter
commissioners. Accordingly, charter commissioners decided to consider a new structure for
governing this area of municipal government.

Communications Under the Committee Recommendations

 To answer the questions presented, commissioners combined analysis of the charters of a
random selection of cities across the country, and interviews with the city clerks of some of those
same cities. The research turned up three dominant models for governing this area of municipal
government. The first model is executive supremacy. Under this model, a charter gives its city's
chief executive relatively broad powers to restrict communications between city staff and elected
officials. Some charters spell out those powers in some detail, and others leave those details
vague and to be spelled out in the city code or policy manual. But they all give the executive the
exclusive, or almost exclusive, power to govern communications between city staff and elected
officials. The National Civic League’s Model City Charter, Palo Alto, California (council-


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manager) Hartford, Connecticut (council-mayor), and Austin, Texas all favor this model. The
second model is limited executive power, where the executive branch proposes rules to the
legislative branch, which the latter enacts after deliberation. Burlington, Vermont and
Youngstown, Ohio both favor this model. The third dominant model is legislative supremacy,
where charters grant a city's legislative branch the exclusive power to write the rules that govern
communications between city staff and elected officials. Portland, Oregon uses this model.

 Of the three models, the commission opted for limited executive power because it seemed
most likely to foster cooperation between legislative and executive branches in a manner that
leads to a smooth and workable culture of communication between city staff and elected
officials.




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III. BALLOT QUESTIONS – PROPOSED SUMMARIES AND CHARTER
 LANGUAGE FOR EACH QUESTION

 The Charter Commission has determined that the revisions constitute “minor
modifications” under 30-A M.R.S. § 2105(1)(A), recommends that the present Charter continue
in force with only minor modifications, and finds it practicable that these proposed modifications
be submitted to the voters in eight separate questions as set out in this Section III of the
commission’s Final Report.

 Because some of the proposed Charter modifications are more than a page in length or
require changes to several existing Charter provisions, the Commission believes that in many
instances, it would be impractical to print all of the text of the proposed Charter modification on
the ballot. Therefore, we also provide proposed summaries for each proposed Charter
modification/Ballot Question for the City Council to substitute for the text if the City Council
determines that it is not practical to place all of the text of a proposed Charter modification on
the ballot and that a summary would not misrepresent the subject matter of the proposed Charter
modification.




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BALLOT QUESTION # 1—Preamble and Land Acknowledgement

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission to Amend the Preamble and Include a Land Acknowledgement as
Summarized Below?

1. Proposed Summary:

This modification revises the existing Preamble of the Charter, restates the purpose of the city’s
government and of its system of public education, and adds a land acknowledgment to address
and respect Portland’s past.

2. Charter Language

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposal in Question # 1 and
only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown by
strikeouts; new language is underlined.

1. Amend the Table of Contents as follows:

 Preamble and Land Acknowledgement

2. Amend PREAMBLE by deleting the current language in its entirety and replacing it, as
follows:
 PREAMBLE
We, the People of Portland, Maine, establish this Charter to secure the benefits of local
governance and to provide for the general health, safety and welfare of our community. In so
doing, we build a government that meets the needs of the people it serves and whose character it
reflects. Our government shall further cooperation, encourage leadership, solicit our input and
support the active participation of our residents in their governance. Our government shall be
effective and accountable and shall promote equal rights and representative democracy. Our
government shall provide public education that enables all residents to acquire the knowledge
and skills necessary to participate fully in Portland’s civic, intellectual, cultural and economic
life, in order to enrich and strengthen our community and our common future.
(Referendum 11/2/10)
We, the people of Portland, Maine, establish this Charter to secure the benefits of local
governance and to provide for the health, safety, and common good of all people in our
community. In so doing, we seek to build a representative, responsive, and effective government
that encourages leadership and participation from all members of that community, with an
emphasis on accountability, equity, and inclusion, and a system of public education that supports
Portland’s civic, intellectual, cultural, and economic life.




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 Land Acknowledgement
Portland is located in the unceded territory of the Aucocisco Band of the Wabanaki, which also
includes the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot people. European
colonizers displaced Wabanaki people by force and went on to displace and harm indigenous
peoples throughout what is now Maine and the United States. We acknowledge that
displacement and that harm with sorrow, even as we celebrate and honor the Wabanaki
knowledge and culture that continue to thrive in the Tribal Nations that have and always will call
this place, the Dawnland, their home.




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BALLOT QUESTION # 2—Governance

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to Governance and Other Governance Related Matters as
Summarized Below?

1. Proposed Summary:

These modifications establish an executive mayor, allow the council to remove or censure the
mayor, change from a city manager to a chief administrator, increase the number of city council
seats from nine (9) to twelve (12), and make other changes relating to governance as follows:

 • Creates an executive mayor and replaces the city manager with the position of chief
 administrator;
 • Grants the executive mayor the following powers: nominate for appointment and remove
 the chief administrator; nominate for appointment all department head positions; exercise
 veto power over the city budget and city ordinances subject to council override;
 recommend for adoption by the city council rules that govern communications between
 city staff and elected officials; issue executive orders to implement council policy; and
 introduce legislation to the council;
 • Increases the mayor’s compensation from one-and-a-half (1.5) times to two (2) times the
 median household income and ties city council and school board member compensation
 to a minimum of ten percent (10%) of the mayor’s compensation;
 • Establishes the chief administrator as responsible for the administration of all
 departments and delivery of city services and grants the chief administrator the right to
 remove department heads in consultation with the executive mayor;
 • Changes the composition and size of the city council by increasing the number of districts
 from five (5) to nine (9) and maintaining the existing three (3) at-large councilors;
 • Grants the city council the power to censure or remove the mayor for cause, and to order
 a recall election of the mayor, by super-majority vote;
 • Requires that the city council elect from among its members a chair and vice-chair, who
 shall organize the council into various committees;
 • Provides that the city council chair shall preside over city council meetings and set the
 council agendas;
 • Requires that the city council create a review committee that shall (i) conduct regular
 evaluations of the performance of the corporation counsel and city clerk and (ii) hold
 regular meetings with the chief administrator and department heads to understand the
 general working conditions and morale at city hall; the mayor shall lead the annual
 performance review of the chief administrator;
 • Changes the composition of the school board by increasing the number of districts from
 five (5) to nine (9) and eliminating the at-large seats so that all members will represent a
 district;
 • Directs the school board and city council to establish a joint committee on budget
 guidance, consisting of four (4) city councilors and four (4) school board members,
 appointed by the council chair and school board chair, respectively, to develop a
 proposed non-binding budget guidance document for the city council and school board;

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 • Directs the city council to develop and implement a participatory budget development
 process for the city budget that involves input from as many Portland residents as
 possible;
 • Modifies the capital improvement program process to require the chief administrator to
 jointly prepare with the superintendent a five-year capital improvement plan; and
 • Modifies the vacancy provisions for the city council and school board to require a special
 election if the vacancy occurs more than six (6) months prior to the next municipal
 election. If the vacancy occurs within six (6) months prior to the next regular election,
 the city council or school board, as applicable, shall appoint a qualified person.

2. Charter Language

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposals in Question #2
and only those sections which will be changed if this proposal is adopted. Deletions are shown
by strikeouts; new language is underlined.

1. Amend the Table of Contents as follows:

 Art. I-A. Mayor, §§1--5

2. Amend ARTICLE I., GRANT OF POWERS TO THE CITY, by amending Section 2,
 Powers and duties, as follows:

Section 2. Powers and duties.

 The administration of all the fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of the City of
Portland, with the government thereof, except the general management, care, conduct, and
control of the schools of such city which shall be vested in a board of public education as
hereinafter provided (also referred to herein as the “school board”), and also except as otherwise
provided by this charter, shall be and are vested in the mayor and in one body of nine twelve
members, which shall constitute and be called the city council, all of whom shall be inhabitants
of the city, and shall be sworn in the manner hereinafter prescribed.

 The executive powers of the city shall be vested in the mayor and exercised through the
chief administrator and the several departments and boards of the city, under the mayor’s general
oversight.

 The legislative powers of the city shall be vested in the city council. The mayor and the
members of the city council shall be and constitute the municipal officers of the City of Portland
for all purposes required by statute, and, except as otherwise herein specifically provided, shall
have all powers and authority given to, and perform all duties required of, municipal officers and
mayors of cities under the laws of this state.

 All other powers now or hereafter vested in the inhabitants of such city, and all powers
granted by this charter, except as herein otherwise provided, shall be vested in the city council.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

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3. Amend the current CHARTER by adding the following new ARTICLE I-A, MAYOR,
as follows:

 ARTICLE I-A. MAYOR

Section 1. Election, tenure of office.

 The position of mayor shall be elected by majority vote as provided in section 3 of article
II. The candidate(s) for mayor shall be nominated in the same manner as at large members of the
council. The term of mayor shall be four (4) years, with a maximum limit of two
consecutive terms. The election and position of mayor shall be a non-partisan, full-time position.

 Notwithstanding the prior paragraph, for the municipal election in November of 2023, the
election for mayor shall be for a one-time five-year term ending in 2028. Thereafter, the mayor
shall be elected every four (4) years in line with the U.S. presidential election.

Section 2. Compensation of the mayor.

 Prior to the date nomination papers are available for the first mayoral election, the city
council shall set the mayor’s compensation and shall re-set it prior to the date nomination papers
are available for each mayoral election thereafter. During the mayor’s term, the city council may
adjust the mayor’s compensation, but no such order re-setting the mayor’s compensation shall
take effect during the then current municipal year, and no such payment of compensation shall be
made in advance. At minimum, the mayor shall be paid compensation consisting of a salary
which is no less than two (2) times the median household income for Portland as most recently
published by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, or successor index thereto,
at the time such compensation is set or adjusted, plus customary city benefits.

 The mayor shall not hold any other office or employment the compensation of which is
payable by the city or school department during the term for which he or she was elected.

Section 3. Mayor’s powers and duties.

 The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the city, responsible for providing
leadership, and shall have the following powers and duties:

 (a) To articulate the city’s vision and goals and build coalitions to further such vision and
 goals. The mayor shall give an annual state of the city address during a special meeting
 of the city council called for that purpose;

 (b) To attend, with the chief administrator, the annual workshop session of the city
 council to discuss and identify the city’s goals and priorities. A summary of the session
 shall be made available to the public;

 (c) To represent the city with other municipalities, levels of government, community and


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 neighborhood groups, and other communities;

 (d) To ensure the implementation of city policies and keep the city council informed as
 to the progress on all city council directives, the general financial standing of the city,
 the current status of all negotiations, and recommendations for city council action;

 (e) To direct the chief administrator in the preparation of all city budgets and present the
 budget to the city council for approval;

 (f) To direct the chief administrator in the preparation of the annual capital improvement
 program plan described in article VI, section 5, paragraph (j), and to present such
 program plan to the city council;

 (g) To facilitate among the chief administrator, city council, board of public education
 and the public to secure passage of the annual city and school budgets;

 (h) To exercise veto power over the annual city appropriation as provided in article VII,
 section 8;

 (i) To exercise veto power over city council actions regarding city ordinances or
 amendments thereto as provided in article II, section 11;

 (j) To be the public figurehead for the city. In this role the mayor shall serve as:

 1. the official representative of the city in Augusta, nationally and internationally;
 and

 2. the official spokesperson for the city; and

 (k) To submit ordinances, orders, and resolves for city council consideration pursuant to
 the same rules and procedures that pertain to councilor-sponsored ordinances, orders,
 and resolves.

 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the chief administrator shall manage the day-to-day
operations of the city and administration of the city budgets presented by the mayor and
approved by the city council, including, but not limited to, exercising control over all
departments, divisions, agencies, and offices created herein or that may be hereafter created.

 All directives issued by the mayor pursuant to this charter implementing city council
approved ordinances, orders, and resolves, and affecting the outcomes of any city services,
policies, procedures, or programs lasting more than 30 days (or multiple directives of a similar
nature occurring within a 30-day period), shall be submitted in writing to the chief administrator
as an “Executive Order.” Such Executive Orders shall appear on the next council agenda as a
communication prior to taking effect. The council may schedule a public hearing and may take
action on such Executive Order or allow the Executive Order to remain.



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Section 4. Vacancy of the mayor.

 A vacancy in the office of mayor shall occur upon the happening of the following: (1) the
death of the mayor; (2) the effective date of the resignation of the mayor; (3) the removal of
mayor from the city; (4) the conviction of the mayor of a felony while in office; (5) the recall of
the mayor pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of this article and article V; or (6) the removal
of the mayor by the council pursuant to section 5 of this article.

 The council shall declare a vacancy in the office of mayor to exist upon the qualification
of the mayor for any city or school department office, or the acceptance of any employment with
the city or school department, the compensation for which is payable by the city or school
department.

 The mayor may in writing addressed to the council resign his or her office effective at a
future date specified in such written resignation. Once submitted to the council, such resignation
may not be withdrawn, and the mayor’s office shall become vacant on such specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs or is declared prior to the next regular
municipal election, the vacancy shall be filled by corporation counsel until a special election to
take place on the same date as the next scheduled municipal or state election which is no less
than 127 days after the date the vacancy occurs or is declared, unless the council, by a vote
of at least eight (8) of its members, calls a special election on an earlier date; provided that if
the vacancy occurs with six (6) months or fewer remaining in the then mayor’s term, then there
shall be no special election to fill the vacancy. Such election shall be called and held and
nominations made as in other elections.

Section 5. Censure, removal or recall of the mayor.

 The mayor may be censured or removed from office by the city council for cause. The
city council also may order a recall election for the mayor to be conducted pursuant to article V.

 At any meeting of the city council, it shall be in order for any member thereof to give
written notice, approved by seven (7) or more members of the city council, of the intention to
move at the next meeting thereof occurring within not less than fourteen (14) days, an order that
the mayor be censured or removed from office.

 Such notice shall specify as particularly as possible the acts complained of and shall, if
approved, be entered by the city clerk in the minutes of the city council. The clerk shall within
two (2) days serve a copy thereof upon the mayor at the mayor’s residence and electronically,
and shall provide an electronic copy to each of the members of the city council.

 At any subsequent hearing or meeting of the city council in which the censure or removal
of the mayor is the topic, the mayor shall have the right to be present, speak, be represented by
counsel, and present a defense. Such proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with state and
federal laws and constitutional requirements.



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 Any vote to censure, remove the mayor from office, or order a recall election shall
require a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the full city council.

4. Amend ARTICLE II., CITY COUNCIL, by amending Section 1, City to be divided into
election districts, Section 2, Composition, election, tenure of office, Section 4, Compensation
of councilors and mayor, Section 5, Mayor’s powers and duties, Section 6, Absence or
disability of mayor; acting mayor; Section 7, Vacancies, Section 8, Meetings of the council,
Section 9, Special meetings, Section 10, Quorum, Section 11, Procedure, and adding new
Section 12, Annual performance reports as follows:

Section 1. City to be divided into election districts.

 For the purpose of all elections the city, including its islands, shall be divided into five (5)
nine (9) districts to establish compact and contiguous districts of approximately equal
population.

 The city council for voting purposes may by ordinance divide the election districts into
voting districts. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/11)

Section 2. Composition, election, tenure of office.

 The city council shall be composed of nine (9) twelve (12) members, including the
mayor chair and vice-chair who each shall be one of the nine (9) twelve (12) members of the city
council, and shall hold office for a term of three (3) years and until their successors are elected
and qualified, except as provided below for the term of mayor and for one at large seat for the
four new districts in the election of 2013 2023 only. Four Three (3) (4) members, including the
mayor, shall be elected at large from and by the registered voters of the entire city, and one (1)
shall be elected from each of the five nine (9) (5) districts heretofore provided for, from and by
the registered voters of each district. References in this charter to the city council, councilors,
council, its members or membership, shall be deemed to include the mayor, unless otherwise
specifically provided.

 For the municipal election in November of 20132023, one of the two at large seats up for
election shall have a one-time four year term ending in 2017. Thereafter, the council term shall
return to be three (3) years for this seat. The city clerk shall designate which seat shall be for the
four (4) year term prior to the availability of nomination papers for the 2013 election, and
nomination papers shall be separately issued for reach of the two at large seats. Each at large
candidate may take out and file nomination papers for only one of the at large seats. The
municipal ballot will list the 4-year and 3-year council seats as separate questions.one of the new
districts shall have a one-time, one year term ending in 2024, two of the new districts shall have
a one-time, two year term ending in 2025, and one of the new districts shall be elected for the
standard three year term. Thereafter, the council term for all seats shall return to be three (3)
years for the respective seats. The city clerk shall designate which seats shall be for the one (1)
year term, two (2) year term, and three (3) year term, and nomination papers shall be issued for
each seat.



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 All candidates must be residents of the city for a period of at least three (3) months prior
to the date on or before which nomination papers are to be filed. The candidate from each of the
five nine (9) (5) districts must be a resident of such district for a period of at least three (3)
months prior to the date on or before which the nomination papers are to be filed.
Beginning with the regular municipal election in November, 2011, the at large position then up
for election shall be designated as the mayor’s position and shall continue as the mayor’s position
thereafter. The position of mayor only shall be elected by majority vote as provided in section 3
of this article. The candidate(s) for mayor shall be nominated in the same manner as other at
large members of the council. The term of mayor shall be four (4) years, with a maximum
limit of two consecutive terms. The election and position of mayor shall be a non-partisan, full-
time position. (Referenda 12/1/75; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10; 11/6/12)

Section 4. Compensation of councilors and mayor.

 Except as otherwise provided in the paragraph below for the mayor’s compensation, the
The city council shall by order establish the amount each member shall be entitled to receive as
compensation for all services rendered, and specify when any compensation shall be payable, but
no such order increasing their compensation, including that of the mayor, shall take effect during
the then current municipal year, and no such payment of compensation shall be made in advance.
At minimum, each member of the city council shall be paid compensation at a level which is no
less than ten percent (10%) of the salary paid to the mayor.

 No member shall hold any other office or employment the compensation of which is
payable by the city or school department during the term for which he or she was elected.
(Referenda 12/1/75; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10)

Section 5. City council chair

 As described herein the city council shall be led by a chair and vice-chair who shall be
elected annually by majority vote of the members of the city council. The chair shall preside
over meetings of the city council and set the city council agendas in accordance with city council
rules. The vice-chair shall preside over council meetings in the chair’s absence. In the case of an
absence of the chair and vice-chair, the city council shall choose a chair, pro tempore, by a
majority of those members present and voting. In case of a vacancy in the office of chair of the
city council by death, resignation or otherwise, the same shall be filled for the unexpired term by
a majority vote of those members present.

 Together, the chair and vice-chair shall have the authority to organize the council into
various committees and recommend chairs for such committees. The committee members shall
be responsible for appointing a chair for the committee.

Section 5. Mayor’s powers and duties.
The mayor shall be the official head of the city, responsible for providing leadership, and shall
have the following powers and duties:

 (a) To articulate the city’s vision and goals and build coalitions to further such vision and


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 goals. The mayor shall give an annual state of the city address during a special
 meeting of the city council called for that purpose;

 (b) To convene and lead an annual workshop session of the city council to discuss and
 identify the city’s goals and priorities in order to provide guidance for the city
 manager and to inform the public. The city manager shall attend this workshop
 session, and a summary of the session shall be made available to the public;

 (c) To represent the city with other municipalities, levels of government, community and
 neighborhood groups, and the business community;

 (d) To preside as chair of the city council, and vote upon all matters in the same manner
 as other members of the city council, except as provided in article VII, section 8. The
 mayor shall direct the city manager in the preparation of council meeting agendas;

 (e) To facilitate the implementation of city policies through the office of the city
 manager;

 (f) To consult with and provide guidance to the city manager in the preparation of all city
 budgets and to provide comments on such budgets at the time they are presented by
 the city manager to the city council for approval;

 (g) To consult with and provide guidance to the city manager in the preparation of the
 annual capital improvement program plan described in article VI, section 5,
 paragraph (i), and to provide comments on such program plan at the time it is
 presented by the city manager to the city council;

 (h) To facilitate among the city manager, city council, board of public education and the
 public to secure passage by the city council of the annual city and school budgets;

 (i) To exercise veto power over the annual city appropriation as provided in article VII,
 section 8;

 (j) To establish performance guidelines in conjunction with the other members of the
 city council for regular evaluations, no less than annually, by the city council of the
 performance of the city manager, corporation counsel and city clerk, such evaluations
 to be based upon those guidelines. Such performance guidelines shall have
 measurable goals and objectives, taking into consideration, as applicable, the
 achievement of city policies and priorities;

 (k) To chair any subcommittee with at least two (2) other city councilors to recommend
 the appointment or removal of the city manager, corporation counsel or the city clerk,
 but the full city council shall have the final decision in regard to such appointment or
 removal by a vote of at least five (5) members of the council; and

 (l) To appoint the members and chairs of the city council committees and various ad


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 hoc committees and communicate such appointments to the city council, which may
 override such appointments by a vote of at least six (6) council members.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the city manager shall be in charge of the day to day operations
of the city and administration of the city budgets approved by the council. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 6. Absence or disability of mayor; acting mayor.

In the temporary absence or disability of the mayor, the mayor may select an acting mayor from
among the other council members and such person shall perform the duties of the mayor during
such temporary absence or disability for a maximum of sixty consecutive (60) days or return of
the mayor, whichever comes first. If through physical or mental incapacity the mayor is unable to
select an acting mayor, or if the mayor’s absence or disability exceeds sixty (60) consecutive
days, the council shall select an acting mayor from among its membership until such time as the
mayor is able to resume his or her duties or a vacancy is declared pursuant to section 7 below
and a new mayor elected. (Referendum 6/13/78; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)
Section 7 Section 6. Vacancies.

 A vacancy in the membership of the city council shall occur upon the happening of the
following: (1) the death of a member; (2) the effective date of the resignation of a member; (3)
the removal of a member from the district from which he or she was elected; (4) the removal of a
member from the city; (5) the conviction of a member of a felony while in office; or (6) the recall
of a member pursuant to the provisions of article V. The council shall declare a vacancy in its
membership to exist upon the failure of a member to attend any six (6) consecutive regular
meetings of the city council, or at least sixty (60) percent of the regular meetings of the city
council held in any one calendar year unless such member shall be excused (by vote of at least
four (4) six (6) other members) for health reasons or other good cause.

 The council shall declare a vacancy in its membership to exist upon the qualification of
any member for any city or school department office, or the acceptance of any employment with
the city or school department, the compensation for which is payable by the city or school
department.

 A member may in writing addressed to the council resign his or her office effective at a
future date specified in such written resignation. Once submitted to the council, such
resignation may not be withdrawn, and such member's office shall become vacant on such
specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the membership of the city council occurs or is declared more than six (6)
months prior to the next regular municipal election, the vacancy unexpired term shall be filled at
a special election, citywide or for a district, to take place on the same date as the next scheduled
municipal or state election which is no less than 127 days after the date the vacancy occurs or is
declared, unless the council, by a vote of at least six (6) eight (8) of its members, calls a
special election on an earlier date. Such election shall be called and held and nominations made
as in other elections. If a vacancy occurs within six (6) months prior to the next regular election,
the city council shall appoint a qualified person from the same district or at-large, as appropriate,

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to serve until the next regular municipal election. The council shall establish rules and
procedures for appointments to fill such vacancies. (Referenda 11/2/76; 11/4/86; 11/2/99;
11/2/10)

Section 8 Section 7. Meetings of the council.

 The city council shall meet at the usual place for holding meetings on the first Monday in
December following the regular municipal election, or as soon thereafter as possible, and at such
meeting the mayor and councilors-elect shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of their
duties by a justice of the peace, or by the city clerk. The city council shall at such meeting
establish by resolution or rule a regular place and time for holding its meetings, and shall meet
regularly at least twice each month. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)

Section 9 Section 8. Special meetings.

 Special meetings may be called by the mayor, and in case of his or her absence,
disability, or refusal, may be called by five seven (7) (5) or more members of the city council. At
least twenty- four (24) hours notice of the time and place of holding such special meeting shall be
given to all members of the city council. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 10 Section 9. Quorum.

 Five Seven (7) (5) members of the city council shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time. At least twenty-
four (24) hours’ notice of the time and place of holding such adjourned meeting shall be given
to all members who were not present at the meeting from which adjournment was taken.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 11 Section 10. Procedure.

 The city council shall keep a record of its proceedings and shall determine its own rules
of procedure and make lawful regulations for enforcing the same. The meetings of the city
council shall be open to the public in accordance with state law. The city council shall act only
by ordinance, order, or resolve. All ordinances, orders, and resolves, except orders or resolves
making appropriations of money, shall be confined to one subject which shall be clearly
expressed in the title. An appropriation order or resolve shall be confined to the subject of
appropriations only.

 No ordinance and no appropriation order or resolve shall be passed until it has been read
on two separate days, except when the requirement of a second reading on a separate day has
been dispensed with by the vote of at least seven (7) nine (9) members of the city council. The
yeas and nays shall be taken upon the passage of all ordinances and entered on the record of the
proceedings of the city council by the clerk. The yeas and nays shall be taken on the passage of
any order or resolve when called for by any member of the city council. Every ordinance,
order, and resolve shall require on final passage the affirmative vote of at least five seven (7) (5)
members of the city council. No ordinance shall take effect until thirty (30) days after its passage


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and no order or resolve shall take effect until ten (10) days after its passage, except as herein
otherwise provided for emergency ordinances, orders and resolves.

 The city council may, by vote of at least seven (7) nine (9) of its members, pass
emergency ordinances, orders, or resolves to take effect at the time indicated therein, but such
emergency ordinances, orders, or resolves shall contain a section in which the emergency is set
forth and defined, provided, however, that the declaration of such emergency by the city
council shall be conclusive. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 11. Mayoral veto of city council action on city ordinances.

 Within five (5) business days of the meeting at which the city council adopts any new or
amended city ordinance, the mayor may veto such adoption by written communication to the city
council. Such communication shall specify the reasons for such veto and shall, at minimum, be
posted upon the city’s website or similar location and sent to the councilors by electronic mail
and by the same means that agendas are delivered to councilors.

 An order to override the veto shall be placed on the next city council agenda which is at
least five (5) calendar days after the date of the mayor’s veto communication, and such veto may
be overridden by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the city council.

If a veto is overridden, the ordinance will take effect as legally adopted.

Section 12. Annual performance reports.

 The city council shall request an annual report regarding the performance of (1)
constituent services, (2) permitting, and (3) any other city functions the city council requests.
Such reports shall be presented to the city council at a regularly scheduled public meeting and
the public shall have the opportunity to provide feedback specific to the reports.

5. Amend ARTICLE III., BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, by amending Section 1,
Composition, election, tenure of office, compensation, Section 5, School budget, by amending
the first three paragraphs of the current charter and adding a new first paragraph, and Section
6, Vacancies, as follows:

Section 1. Composition, election, tenure of office, compensation.

 The board of public education shall be composed of nine (9) members who shall hold
office, except as hereinafter provided, for a term of three (3) years and until their successors are
elected and qualified. Four (4) shall be elected at large from and by the registered voters of the
entire city, and one One (1) shall be elected from each of the five (5) nine (9) districts heretofore
provided for in section 1 of article II, from and by the registered voters of each such district.

 To transition from the mix of district and at-large seats to all district seats, members who
were elected to at-large seats shall serve until their current terms expire; for the municipal
election in November of 2023, the at-large seat of the member whose term is then expiring shall


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become one of the new district seats; for the municipal election in November 2024, the at-large
seat of the member whose term is then expiring shall become the second of the new district seats;
and for the municipal election in 2025, the remaining two at-large seats of the members whose
terms are then expiring shall become the third and fourth of the new district seats.

 All candidates must be residents of the city for a period of at least three (3) months prior
to the date on or before which nomination papers are to be filed. The candidate from each of the
five (5) nine (9) districts must be a resident of such district for a period of at least three (3)
months prior to the date on or before which the nomination papers are to be filed.

 The city council shall by order establish the amount each member of the school board
shall be entitled to receive as compensation for all services rendered, which compensation shall
be the same as that received by members of the city council, other than the mayor. The city
council shall provide additional compensation to the chair of the school board appropriate to
reflect his or her additional responsibilities as chair. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86;
11/3/87; 11/2/10)

Section 5. School budget.

 Prior to the submission of a school budget, the school board and city council shall
establish a Joint Committee on Budget Guidance, consisting of four (4) city councilors and four
(4) school board members, appointed by the chair of the council and school board chair,
respectively. The purpose of the joint committee is to develop guidance for the city and school
district on budget priorities and constraints, covering a two-year period and updated annually.
The joint committee shall obtain public comment on the guidance prior to submitting the
guidance as a proposed non-binding joint resolution to the city council and school board.

 Not later than three and one-half (3.5) months before the end of the fiscal year, the
superintendent shall submit to the school board budget estimates of the various sums required for
the support of public schools for the ensuing fiscal year and shall thereafter provide the school
board with such information relating to such estimates as the school board shall require.

 During the thirty (30) days following submission of the superintendent’s proposed budget
to the school board, the school board and the city council, or their designated subcommittees,
shall meet jointly at least twice to review the proposed school budget, focusing on its underlying
assumptions and supporting data and the ability of the city to raise the necessary funds for the
support of such proposed budget. The superintendent and the city manager shall provide
information regarding such proposed budget as reasonably requested by the school board and the
city council, or their designated subcommittees.

 The budget submitted by the superintendent to be reviewed jointly by the school board
and the city council shall provide a complete financial plan of all school funds and activities for
the ensuing fiscal year. In organizing the school budget for joint review by the school board, the
superintendent shall utilize the most feasible combination of expenditure classification by fund,
organization, unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. The budget shall begin with a clear
general summary of its contents; shall show in detail all estimated income and all proposed


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expenditures, including debt service for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be so arranged as to
show comparative figures for actual and estimated income and expenditures of the current fiscal
year and actual income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year. The total of proposed
expenditures shall not exceed the total of proposed income.

Section 6. Vacancies.

 A vacancy in the membership of the board of public education shall occur upon the
happening of the following: (1) the death of a member; (2) the effective date of the resignation of
a member; (3) the removal of a member from the district from which he or she was elected; (4)
the removal of a member from the city; (5) the conviction of a member of a felony while in
office; or (6) the recall of a member pursuant to the provision of Article V. The school board
shall declare a vacancy in its membership to exist upon the failure of a member to attend any six
(6) consecutive regular meetings of the school board or at least sixty (60) percent of the regular
meetings of the school board held in any one calendar year unless such member shall be excused
(by a vote of at least four (4) of the members) for health reasons or other good cause. A member
may in writing addressed to the school board resign his or her office effective at a future date
specified in the written resignation. Once submitted to the school board, such resignation may
not be withdrawn and such member's office shall become vacant on the specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the membership of the school board occurs or is declared more than six
(6) months prior to the next regular municipal election, the vacancy unexpired term shall be filled
at a special election, citywide or for a district, to take place on the same date as the next
scheduled municipal or state election which is no less than 127 days after the date the vacancy
occurs or is declared, unless the council, by a vote of at least six eight of its members, calls
a special election on an earlier date and shortens the time for obtaining and filing nomination
petitions established in article IV, section 6. Such election shall be called and held and
nominations made as in other elections. If a vacancy occurs within six (6) months prior to the
next regular election, the school board shall appoint a qualified person from the same district or
at-large, as appropriate, to serve until the next regular municipal election. The school board shall
establish rules and procedures for appointments to fill such vacancies. (Referenda 11/2/76;
11/4/86; 11/2/99; 11/2/10)

6. Amend ARTICLE IV., ELECTIONS, by amending Section 2, Regular municipal election,
and Section 4, Nominations, as follows:

Section 2. Regular municipal election.

 On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each year, the regular
municipal election shall be held and the registered voters of the city or district, as the case may
be, shall ballot for a mayor and for such councilors and for such members of the school board as
may be necessary to fill the offices of those whose terms would then normally expire and fill any
existing vacancy in an unexpired term of office. (Referenda 12/1/75; 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86;
11/7/00; 11/6/01; 11/2/10)

Section 4. Nominations.


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 The nominations of all candidates for elective offices provided for by this charter shall be
by petition. The petition of a candidate for mayor or an at large council seat or at large school
board seat shall be signed by not less than three hundred (300) nor more than five hundred
(500) registered voters of the city. The petition of a candidate for a district council seat or a
candidate for a district school board seat shall be signed by not less than seventy-five (75) nor
more than one hundred fifty (150) registered voters of the respective district. Voters may sign
petitions for more than one (1) candidate for each office to be filled at the election. (Referenda
12/1/75; 11/2/76; 11/4/86; 11/4/08; 11/2/10)

7. Amend ARTICLE V., RECALL, by amending Section 1, Applicability, Section 2, Petition
for recall, Section 4, Calling of recall election, Section 5, Form of ballot, and Section 7,
Election may be ordered, as follows:

Section 1. Applicability.

 The mayor or any Any member of either the city council or the school board may be
recalled and removed from office by the registered voters of the City of Portland, as hereinafter
provided, except that this provision shall not apply to the mayor or a member of either body who
has one (1) year six (6) months or less to serve in his or her term, i.e., any petition to recall a
member must be certified by the clerk no later than November 30 of the year prior to that
member’s next scheduled November re-election date. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Petition for recall.

 In the case of either the mayor, or an at large member of the city council or of the school
board, any five hundred (500) registered voters of the city may affirm and file with the city
clerk an affidavit containing the name of the mayor or of the member of the city council or of the
school board whose removal is sought, together with a statement of the reasons why such
removal is desired. In the case of a district member of the city council or of the school board, any
two hundred and fifty (250) registered voters of the member’s district may affirm and file with
the city clerk an affidavit containing the name of the district member whose removal is sought,
together with a statement of the reasons why such removal is desired. Members of the city
council and of the school board shall not be included on the same affidavit and only one
member’s name shall be on an affidavit.

 Within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of such an affidavit, the city clerk shall prepare
a sufficient number of petitions which shall contain the signature of the city clerk, his or her
official seal, the date, and the name of the person whose removal is sought. In addition, the
statement of reasons for removal referred to above shall either be printed on such petitions or
attached thereto. Such petitions shall be on paper of uniform size with as many individual sheets
as reasonably necessary.

 The city clerk shall file the completed petitions in his or her office. During the thirty (30)
days following their filing, the city clerk shall arrange to have petitions, noting that removal is
being sought as well as the reasons therefor, available for signature both at city hall and also at


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public places as indicated below. Notice of the location of the public places where petitions may
be signed shall be given by publication at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance and such notice
shall contain the specific location of such public place or places, the dates it or they will be
open, and the times during which petitions may be signed. In the case of either a district
councilor or a district school board member, the city clerk shall select one (1) site outside of city
hall, but within the district of the member whose removal is sought, and such location shall be
open for four (4) days between the hours of noon and 8:00 p.m. In the case of the mayor or at
large councilors or members of the school board, the city clerk shall select four (4) sites outside
of city hall and such locations shall be open for four days each between the hours of noon
and 8:00 p.m.

 The city clerk shall designate election clerks to supervise each such site. Election clerks
shall be residents of Portland and at least eighteen (18) years of age. They shall be sworn to the
faithful performance of their duties by the city clerk. Each qualified voter who signs a petition
shall include his or her place of residence, providing either the street and number or a description
sufficient to identify the place.

 To mandate a vote in the case of the mayor or an at large councilor or an at large member
of the school board, the recall petition must be signed by at least three thousand (3,000)
registered voters of the city, or in the case of a district councilor or district member of the school
board, by at least fifteen hundred (1,500) registered voters of that member’s district. (Referenda
12/1/75, 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 4. Calling of recall election.

 If the clerk's certificate should show that the petitions are sufficient, he or she shall
submit them, together with the clerk's certification, 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 ten (10) days of receipt of the clerk's certificate, or on its own in the
case of a council vote to hold a recall election for the mayor under article I-A, section 5, order an
election to be held not less than forty-five (45) nor more than ninety (90) days thereafter; except
that, if a regular municipal election should occur within ninety (90) days after receipt of the
certificate, the city council may, in its discretion, schedule the recall election for the same date as
the regular municipal election. The recall election shall be called and held as other elections
under this charter, except for the specific limitations imposed by this article.

All registered voters in the city may vote on the recall of the mayor or an at large member of the
council or school board; only the registered voters of the applicable district may vote on the
recall of a district member of the council or school board. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 5. Form of ballot.

 Unless the mayor or the member or members whose removal is sought shall have
resigned within ten (10) days after the receipt by the city council of the clerk's certificate or of
the council’s vote to hold a recall election for the mayor, the form of the question to be submitted
to the voters shall, as nearly as possible, be: "Shall (name of official and his or her title) be


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recalled?" (Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 7. Election may be ordered.

 If the mayor or a member of either the city council or school board who is recalled should
either request a recount or dispute the election as permitted by law, then that member shall
remain in office until the recount or dispute has been finally determined; and the provisions of
article I-A, section 4, article II, section 7 6, and article III, section 6, relating to vacancies in the
office of the mayor, city council or school board, shall be stayed. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

8. Amend ARTICLE VI., ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS, as follows:

Section 1. Appointments.

 (a) The following officers shall be appointed by a vote of at least seven (7) members of
 the city council: city clerk and corporation counsel. By a vote of at least seven (7)
 members of the city council, the city council also may appoint constables at large.

 (b) Based on the procedure provided in this article VI, section 1(f), the chief administrator
 shall be nominated for appointment by the mayor and confirmed by a vote of at least
 seven (7) members of the city council.

 (c) Based on the procedure provided in this article VI, section 1(f), department heads
 shall be nominated for appointment by the mayor and confirmed by a vote of at least
 seven (7) members of the city council.

 (d) All attorneys employed in the corporation counsel's office shall be appointed
 nominated for appointment by the corporation counsel, subject to confirmation by a
 vote of at least seven (7) members of the city council. The corporation counsel shall
 have the right to remove any attorney employed in the corporation counsel’s office.

 (e) All other employees shall be appointed and may be removed by the city manager chief
 administrator upon recommendation of the heads of their departments. (Referendum
 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

 (f) The mayor shall declare the intent of the city to appoint any vacant chief administrator
 or department head position. The city staff shall post the declared positions pursuant
 to city procedure and provide the mayor with a list of qualified candidates that applied
 for such appointment. All persons nominated for appointment by the mayor shall be
 nominated solely on the basis of character and qualification to perform the duties of
 the office or position to be filled by the appointment.

Section 2. Organizational powers.

 The city council shall have power to provide by ordinance for the organization, conduct,
and operation of the departments, agencies, offices, and boards of the city, for the creation of


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additional departments, agencies, offices, and boards and for the division of any such
departments, agencies, offices, and boards; and for the alteration, abolition, assignment, or
reassignment of all such departments, divisions, agencies, offices and boards; provided, however,
there shall be a director of finance to perform the functions specified in article VII of this
Charter. The city council shall, by ordinance, designate those department heads responsible
for performing duties required by state law. (Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 3. Civil service rules.

 The city council shall provide by ordinance for a system of civil service rules for the
appointment, promotion, demotion, lay-off, reinstatement, suspension, and removal of the
members of the police department and of the fire department, other than the chiefs of such
departments, and for a civil service commission to administer the same.

Section 4. Compensation and tenure of offices.

 The city council shall fix by order the salaries of the appointees of the city council.
Salaries of the appointees of the city manager chief administrator shall be fixed by the city
manager chief administrator, subject to the approval of the city council. All appointive officers
shall hold office during the pleasure of the appointing power until removed pursuant to this
charter.

Section 5. Appointment; qualifications; powers and duties of the city manager Chief
Administrator.

 The city manager chief administrator shall be nominated for appointment by the mayor
and chosen confirmed by the city council solely on the basis of character and executive
administrative qualifications, and may or may not be a resident of the City of Portland or of the
State of Maine at the time of appointment. Such person shall give bond for the faithful discharge
of his or her duties to the City of Portland and in such sum as the city council shall determine and
direct, and with surety or sureties to be approved by the city council. The premium on such bond
shall be paid by the city. Such person shall be responsible for the administration of all
departments and for the delivery of city services the administrative head of the city and shall be
responsible to the mayor city council for the administration of all departments. The mayor shall
recommend for adoption by the city council rules that govern communications between city staff
and elected officials. Neither the mayor nor members of the city council shall direct, request or
interfere with the appointment or removal of any of the officers or employees of the city for
whom the city manager is responsible, nor shall any of them give an order, publicly or privately,
to any such city officer or employee relating to any matter in the line of that officer’s or
employee’s city employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended to
prevent the city manager from assigning staff to work and communicate directly with
councilors, boards and commissions, council committees, neighborhood and other
groups and organizations, on city work.

 The city manager's chief administrator’s powers and duties shall be as follows:



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 (a) To see that the laws and ordinances are enforced, but shall delegate to the chief of the
 police department the active duties connected therewith regarding criminal conduct.

 (b) To exercise control over all departments, divisions, agencies, and offices created
 herein or that may be hereafter created.

 (c) To hold annual reviews of department heads.

 (d) To implement the policy decisions of the mayor and city council.

 (e) To coordinate city programs and operations and recommend improvements in such
 programs and operations to the council mayor.

 (f) To prepare city budgets, at the direction of the mayor. in consultation with and
 incorporating policy guidance of the mayor, and to present such budgets to the council.
 Upon presentation of the budget by the mayor to the council, the chief administrator
 may provide a memo to the council on behalf of city staff, which memo may include,
 but shall not be required, such advice, guidance, information or requests that the chief
 administrator believes is relevant on behalf of all non-union staff and departments.

 (g) To make appointments as provided in this charter.

 (h) To attend meetings of the city council, except when his or her removal is being
 considered, and recommend for adoption such measures as he or she may deem
 expedient.

 (i) To keep the city council fully advised as to the business and financial condition and
 future needs of the city and to furnish the city council with all available facts, figures,
 and data connected therewith when requested.

 (j) To jointly prepare with the superintendent a five (5) year rolling capital improvement
 plan utilizing the participatory budgeting process established by the city council
 pursuant to article VII, section 5, at the direction of the mayor, for annual presentation
 by the mayor to a joint meeting of the city council and school board, which plan
 includes the following:

 1. A one (1) year plan of specific projects and their cost;

 2. A two (2) through five (5) year plan of specific projects and general
 categories, and amounts of proposed spending and funding sources; and

 3. A discussion of the basis for the plan and the factors which went into its
 development or amendments.; and

 4. A listing and discussion of capital improvements pending or in process of
 construction or acquisition.


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 (k) To prepare and submit to the city council such reports as are requested or he or she
 deems advisable.; and

 (l) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this charter or required by
 ordinance of the city council. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Removal of chief administrator.

 The mayor shall have the right to remove the chief administrator from office. Prior to
any removal from office, the mayor shall inform the city council, during executive session, of
such intention and the reasons for the removal. Following the executive session, the city council
may allow the removal to proceed without taking any further action or may, within two business
days, schedule a hearing to be held within 30 days to discuss the removal of the chief
administrator.

 If the council schedules a hearing in which the removal of the chief administrator is the
topic, the chief administrator shall have the right to be present, speak, be represented by counsel
and present a defense, and such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with state and federal
laws and constitutional requirements.

 Following the hearing, the city council may override the mayor’s decision to remove the
chief administrator from office by a vote of a vote of at least seven (7) members of the city
council.

Section 6 Section 7. Vacancy in office of city manager chief administrator.

 During any vacancy in the office of city manager chief administrator, and during any
absence or disability of the city manager chief administrator of more than sixty (60) days, the
city council shall designate a properly qualified person to perform the duties of city manager
chief administrator and fix such person's compensation. During a temporary absence of sixty
(60) days or less, the city manager chief administrator may designate a qualified person to
perform the duties of manager during such absence. While so acting, such person shall have the
same powers and duties as those given to and imposed on the city manager chief administrator.
Before entering his or her duties, he or she shall give bond to the City of Portland in a sum and
with surety or sureties to be approved by the city council. The premium on such bond is to be
paid by the city. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 7 Section 8. Duties of administrative officers.

 Duties of administrative officers shall be prescribed by the appointive power, but such
duties shall not be inconsistent with this charter or any ordinance enacted by the city council as
provided herein. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 8 Section 9. Continuity in office.



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 Any and all officers, department heads, and employees of the City of Portland on the
effective date of this charter shall continue in such capacity until a successor is appointed and
qualified as provided herein, unless sooner removed by the appointive power designated herein
pursuant to the procedures provided for in this charter. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 10. Removal of officers.

 Officers appointed under section 1(a) of this article may be removed from office by a
vote of at least seven (7) members of the full council.

Section 11. Removal of department heads.

 In consultation with the mayor, the chief administrator shall have the right to remove any
department head. The chief administrator shall provide notice and written explanation to the
review committee within one week of such removal.

Section 12. Review committee.

 The review committee shall consist of members of the city council. The review
committee shall establish performance guidelines for regular evaluations, no less than annually,
by the city council of the performance of the corporation counsel and city clerk, such evaluations
to be based upon those guidelines. Such performance guidelines shall have measurable goals and
objectives, taking into consideration, as applicable, the achievement of city policies and
priorities.

 The mayor shall lead the annual review of the chief administrator in conjunction with the
review committee based upon the established performance guidelines.

 To the extent consistent with state law, the city’s personnel policies, and labor
agreements, the review committee shall hold regular meetings, no less than annually, with the
chief administrator and department heads. The purpose of these meetings shall be to understand
the general working conditions and morale at city hall.

9. Amend ARTICLE VII., BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS, by amending
Section 1, Accounts and records, Section 5, Annual budget, Section 6 Budget content, Section
7, Appropriation resolve, and Section 8 Mayoral veto of general city purposes appropriations
in the appropriation resolve, as follows:

Section 1. Accounts and records.

 Accounts shall be kept by the director of finance, showing the financial transactions of all
departments of the city, and the school department. Accounts shall be kept in such a manner as to
show fully at all times the financial condition of the city. The director of finance shall furnish to
the city manager chief administrator and mayor each month a report containing in detail the
revenues, expenses and expenditures of the city on all accounts, and for each appropriation item
the expenditures made and the obligations incurred during the preceding calendar month and the


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total unencumbered balance. All the accounts of the city and the school department shall be
audited annually by a qualified certified public accountant to be chosen by the city council.
(Referendum 12/1/75; 11/2/10)

Section 5. Annual budget.

 The city council shall develop and implement a participatory budgeting system wherein
a portion of the city budget is allocated based on a process that involves the input from as many
residents of Portland as possible. To achieve such participatory system, the city council may
establish a subcommittee, task force, or any other structure that is necessary and proper for the
design, implementation, and management of a participatory budgeting system.

 Not After the participatory budgeting process, but in no event later than two (2) months
before the end of the fiscal year, the city manager mayor shall submit to the city council a
proposed city budget prepared by the city manager chief administrator and mayor for the ensuing
fiscal year. The mayor shall submit comments on the proposed city budget, along with any
proposed modifications, concurrently with the manager’s submission.

 The city council shall fix a time and place for holding a public hearing upon the proposed
city budget prepared by the manager chief administrator and mayor, and shall give not less than
ten (10) days prior public notice of such hearing, which hearing shall be at least ten (10) days
before the final passage of the appropriation resolve. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Budget content.

 The proposed city budget prepared by the manager chief administrator and mayor shall
provide a complete financial plan of city general and enterprise funds and activities for the
ensuing fiscal year. In organizing the budget, the city manager chief administrator and mayor
shall utilize the most feasible combination of expenditure classification by fund, organization
unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. It shall begin with a clear general summary of its
contents; shall show in detail all estimated income, indicating proposed tax levies, and all
proposed expenditures, including debt service for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be so
arranged as to show comparative figures for actual and estimated income and expenditures of the
current fiscal year and actual income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year.

 The total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of proposed income.
(Referenda 6/13/78; 11/2/10)

Section 7. Appropriation resolve.

 The city council shall adopt the annual appropriation resolve for the next fiscal year on or
before the last day of the twelfth month of the fiscal year currently ending. Such resolve shall
appropriate those amounts deemed necessary for general city purposes and additionally one gross
amount for school purposes as required by section 5 of article III. The total amount appropriated
shall not exceed the estimated revenue of the city.


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 If it fails to adopt such resolve by this date, the city council may make appropriation for
current departmental expenses, chargeable to the appropriation for the year, when passed, to an
amount sufficient to cover the necessary expenses of the various departments until the annual
appropriation resolve is in force. These continuing appropriations shall not be subject to the
mayor’s veto in section 8 below.

 The city council may by resolution appropriate to any purpose or object for which there
shall have been no appropriation for the current year, or for which the appropriation for the
current year has proved insufficient, any accruing revenue of the city not appropriated as
hereinbefore provided and any unencumbered appropriation balance, or portion thereof,
remaining after the purpose of the appropriation shall have been satisfied or abandoned. Such
supplemental appropriations shall not be are subject to the mayor’s veto in section 8 below.
(Referenda 6/13/78; 11/2/10)

Section 8. Mayoral veto of general city purposes appropriations in the appropriation
resolve.

 Within five (5) business days of the meeting at which the city council adopts the annual
appropriation resolve or any supplemental appropriation resolution referenced in section 7 of
article VIII above, the mayor may veto the appropriation for general city purposes or the
supplemental appropriation in such resolve by written communication to the other members of
the city council. Such communication shall specify the reasons for such veto and shall, at
minimum, be posted upon the city’s website or similar location and sent to the councilors by
electronic mail and by the same means that agendas are delivered to councilors.

 Any such veto of the appropriation for general city purposes shall not affect city payment
of debt service obligations on previously authorized bonds, nor shall it affect the school budget
appropriation.

 An order to override the veto shall be placed on the next city council agenda which is at
least five (5) calendar days after the date of the mayor’s veto communication, and such veto may
be overridden by a vote of at least six (6) two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the city council. The
mayor shall not vote on such override item.

 If a veto is overridden, the general city purposes appropriation will take effect on the
first day of the fiscal year, or on the day immediately following the override vote, if such vote
is after the first day of the fiscal year.

 If a veto is not overridden, then at the same meeting the override vote is taken, the
general city purposes appropriation which was vetoed shall become an item for further
consideration by the city council, without the need for a motion for reconsideration, and the city
appropriation may be modified, amended, or otherwise acted upon to secure passage at that
meeting or a subsequent meeting without the need for two readings prior to passage.

 In the event the city council does not override the veto or does not secure passage of the
annual appropriation for general city purposes prior to the start of the fiscal year, or has not


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otherwise acted to provide continuing appropriations under the second paragraph of section 7
above, then the appropriations for general city purposes in effect for the prior fiscal year shall go
into effect as of the first day of the fiscal year, with expenditures chargeable to the appropriation
for the year, until the appropriation for general city purposes is approved. (Referendum 11/2/10)

10. Amend ARTICLE VIII., MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS, by amending Section 1 as
follows:

Section 1. No personal interest.

 Neither the mayor nor any No member of the city council or school board or board or
commission thereof and no officer or employee of the city or school department shall:

 (a) Have a substantial financial interest, direct or indirect, in any contract entered into by
 or on behalf of the City of Portland or the school board, except his or her employment
 contract, or in the sale to or by the city or school department of any land, materials,
 supplies or services when such officer, employee or member exercises on behalf of
 the city or school department any function or responsibility with respect to such
 contract or sale. All contracts or sales made in violation hereof are void, and the city
 treasurer is expressly forbidden to pay any money out of the city treasury on account
 of any such transaction.

 (b) Purchase or accept anything from the city or school department, other than those items
 or services which are offered to the public generally, and then only upon the same
 terms and under the same procedures offered to and used for the general public. This
 shall not include those items or services which are received as compensation, or as a
 part of such person's employment contract, or which are necessary for the
 performance of such person's duties.

 (c) Accept or receive from any person, firm, or corporation acting under a franchise,
 contract, or license from the city or school department, any frank, free pass, free ticket,
 or free service, or accept, directly or indirectly, from any such person, firm, or
 corporation any service upon terms more favorable than those granted to the public
 generally. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)




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BALLOT QUESTION #3—Clean Elections

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to Clean Elections as Summarized Below?
1. Proposed Summary:

These modifications establish a City of Portland Clean Election Fund to provide public campaign
funds to qualified candidates for elected municipal offices, beginning in FY 2023-2024.
Candidate participation shall be voluntary. The city council shall provide an independent
allocation from the city’s budget each year to sustain the Clean Election Fund and the city
council shall by ordinance direct that the Clean Election Fund must:
 • Limit the amount of funds a participating candidate may raise;
 • Be limited to candidates who meet certain requirements, such as demonstrated public
 support and participation in a city-sponsored forum or voter education event; and
 • Require that all unused funds be returned to the Clean Election Fund.

In addition to establishing the Clean Election Fund, these modifications:
 • Prohibit corporate contributions to any candidate for municipal office;
 • Prohibit ballot question contributions or expenditures from any entity that is substantially
 under foreign influence; and
 • Require that all contributions to campaigns be reported to the city clerk and that the city
 clerk create a searchable online database of information contained in filed registrations
 and campaign finance reports.

2. Charter Language

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposals in Question # 3
and only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown
by strikeouts; new language is underlined.

Amend ARTICLE IV., ELECTIONS, to add Section 12, Public financing of municipal
elections, and Section 13, Campaign finance rules, as follow:

Section 12. Public financing of municipal elections.

 The city council shall establish and fully fund a City of Portland Clean Election Fund
(hereinafter, the “Clean Election Fund” or the “Fund”) to provide public campaign funds to
qualified candidates for elected municipal offices. The Clean Election Fund must be available to
candidates in municipal elections beginning in FY 2023-2024. Candidate participation in the
Clean Election Fund shall be voluntary.

 Beginning in FY 2023-2024 to allow for implementation for the November 2023
election, the city council shall provide an independent allocation from the city’s budget each year
to ensure the Clean Election Fund is sustained at a level that facilitates competitive campaigns
for participating candidates who meet qualifying criteria. The Clean Election Fund shall be
administered by the city clerk and the city council shall appropriate sufficient funds to ensure
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there are adequate resources, including paid staff, to effectively administer the Fund.

 The city council shall maintain an ordinance directing the operation of the Clean Election
Fund. The ordinance shall direct that the Clean Election Fund must:

 (a) Limit the amount of private funds a participating candidate may raise;
 (b) Be limited to candidates who
 i. demonstrate public support;
 ii. enter into a binding agreement stating that the candidate will not
 accept private contributions other than those which are permitted by
 the Clean Election Fund; and
 iii. agree to participate in at least one (1) city-sponsored forum or voter
 education event.
 (c) Require that all unused funds from a participating candidate’s campaign be
 returned to the Clean Election Fund within one hundred (100) days after the date
 of the election.

 The city council may adopt additional regulations and ordinances not inconsistent with
this section.

Section 13. Campaign finance rules.

 (a) Corporate Contributions. A business entity may not make contributions to any
 candidate for municipal office. The term “business entity” refers to a firm,
 partnership, corporation, incorporated association, or other organization,
 whether organization as a for-profit or a nonprofit entity. A separate segregated
 fund committee may not make contributions to any candidate for municipal
 office using funds that derive, in whole or in part, from a business entity. Where
 a business entity establishes a separate segregated fund committee, that business
 entity may provide the separate segregated fund committee with the use of
 offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that use does not
 result in additional cost to the business entity.
 (b) Foreign Contributions. The city council shall by ordinance enact a prohibition
 on ballot question contributions or expenditures from any entity that is
 substantially under foreign influence, including any entity owned by a foreign
 government and any entity with substantial foreign ownership. The city council
 shall promulgate rules to specify compliance requirements and otherwise to
 enforce this ordinance.
 (c) Additional Rules by Ordinance. The city council may adopt additional
 regulations and ordinances governing campaign spending, not inconsistent with
 this section.
 (d) Campaign Contributions Reporting. All contributions to campaigns for
 candidates or ballot questions must be reported to the city clerk, in conformance
 with any applicable State law. The clerk must establish a searchable, online, and
 publicly-accessible database of all information included in all registrations and
 campaign finance reports filed with the clerk.


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BALLOT QUESTION # 4—Proportional Ranked Choice Voting

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to Proportional Ranked Choice Voting as Summarized Below?

1. Proposed Summary:

This Charter modification authorizes the city to use a proportional ranked choice voting method
for elections in which more than one person is to be elected to a single office (i.e. a multiple seat
election) and directs the city council to enact an ordinance to establish the proportional ranked
choice voting method.

2. Charter Language

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposal in Question # 4 and
only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown by
strikeouts; new language is underlined.

1. Amend ARTICLE II. City Council, Section 3. Ranked choice voting; instant runoff to add
Section 3(f) as follows:

 (f) For elections conducted by ranked choice voting where more than one person is to be
 elected to a single office (i.e., a multiple seat election), the winners shall be
 determined by a proportional method of ranked choice voting. Such method shall
 provide for candidates to be elected on the basis of thresholds determined by the
 number of seats to be filled plus one, ballots to be counted in rounds, votes to be
 transferred from defeated candidates, and for votes, in fractions or in whole, in excess
 of the threshold to be transferred from elected candidates. The city council shall by
 ordinance establish such a proportional ranked choice voting system.




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BALLOT QUESTION # 5—School Board Budget Autonomy

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to School Board Budget Autonomy as Summarized Below?

1. Proposed Summary:

This Charter modification changes the current school budget adoption process by transferring
school budget adoption authority from the city council to the school board. The city council has
discretion to conduct a public hearing on the proposed school budget and to provide a non-
binding recommendation to the school board for its consideration, which the school board may
or may not adopt, in whole or in part. The adopted school budget continues to be voted upon at
the State-required budget validation referendum election, but if that is discontinued by the voters,
the adopted school budget would be voted upon at a municipal school budget referendum.

2. Charter Language

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposal in Question # 5 and
only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown by
strikeouts; new language is underlined.

Amend ARTICLE III. BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, Section 5, School Budget, in the
next to last and last paragraphs of the current charter, as follows:

 Not later than the last Monday in April of each fiscal year, the school board shall submit
to the city council prepare a budget of the various sums required for the support of the public
schools for the ensuing fiscal year in the format provided above., and shall thereafter provide the
city council with such information relating to such budget as the city council shall require.

 The school board shall hold a A budget hearing on such budget estimates shall be held at
least seven (7) days prior to final action by the city council determining the total amount of the
school budget. Within a reasonable period of time, the city council may, at its discretion and
after holding a public hearing, provide a nonbinding resolution with its recommendations to the
school board for consideration. The school board may or may not adopt, in whole or in part, the
recommendations of the city council. The city council shall thereafter submit the school budget
determined by the school board to a budget validation referendum. If the voters discontinue use
of the budget validation referendum process, the city council shall instead submit the school
budget to a municipal school budget referendum. The warrant calling the budget validation
referendum or the school budget referendum shall include voter information containing the
amount of locally raised funds and the amounts for each cost center summary budget category
proposed by the school board.

 The city council in its appropriation resolve for the ensuing year shall, in addition to
amounts appropriated for other general city purposes, appropriate one gross amount for the
support of the public schools, which amount shall equal the greater of (i) the amount adopted by
the voters at the school budget validation referendum or, if discontinued, at the budget

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referendum, as appropriate, or (ii) not be less than the sum required to be appropriated for such
purposes by the general laws of the state. Such gross amount shall not be less than the sum
requested by the school board except by a vote of at least six (6) members of the city council.
Such appropriation shall be expended under the direction and control of the school board but no
such appropriation shall be exceeded except by consent of the city council or the voters.
(Referendum 6/13/78; 11/2/10)




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BALLOT QUESTION # 6—Peaks Island Council

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to the Peaks Island Council as Summarized Below?

1. Proposed Summary:

This Charter modification requires the city council to maintain the ordinance it has enacted
establishing the Peaks Island Council as an elected advisory body to the city council and setting
forth its powers, duties, membership requirements, and other provisions.

2. Charter Language

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposal in Question # 6 and
only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown by
strikeouts; new language is underlined.

1. Amend ARTICLE VIII. Miscellaneous Provisions, to add Section 1-B., as follows:

Section 1-B. Peaks Island Council.

 The city council shall maintain an ordinance establishing the “Peaks Island Council,”
including powers, duties, membership requirements and other necessary provisions deemed
appropriate by the city council. The Peaks Island Council shall act as an elected advisory body to
the city council.




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BALLOT QUESTION # 7—Civilian Police Review Board

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to the Civilian Police Review Board as Summarized Below?

1. Proposed Summary:

This Charter modification replaces the current Police Citizens Review Subcommittee,
established by current city ordinance, with a civilian police review board consisting of nine or
more members, with powers, duties, funding and staffing as provided in the proposed Charter
language and subject to city council’s enactment of procedural ordinance provisions.

The civilian police review board shall:
 • Be appointed by the city council;
 • Receive complaints directly from civilians for referral to Portland Police Department
 Police Command and/or Internal Affairs for investigation;
 • Review the Department’s Command and Internal Affairs investigation reports for due
 process issues, including issues of fairness, thoroughness and objectivity, and may issue
 its own reports on those investigation reports; and
 • Be funded, as needed by the city council, to provide for part-time or full-time staff,
 including a community liaison and a police liaison.

Appeals of the civilian police review board reports may be taken to the city council.

2. Charter Language for Question

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposal in Question # 7 and
only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown by
strikeouts; new language is underlined.

1. Amend the Table of Contents as follows;

 Art. IX. Civilian Police Review Board, §§ 1 – 3

2. Amend the current CHARTER by adding the following new ARTICLE IX. CIVILIAN
POLICE REVIEW BOARD, as follows:

Article IX: CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARD

Section 1. Purposes, composition, term, appointment, first board, qualifications,
vacancies, removal, compensation.

 (a) Purposes. For the purposes of increasing public trust and confidence in the Portland
 Police Department, there shall be a civilian police review board.




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 (b) Composition, term, appointment, first board. The civilian police review board shall
 be composed of nine (9) or more members who shall hold office, except as hereinafter
 provided, for a term of three (3) years unless appointed to fill a vacancy, and until their
 successors are appointed and qualified, but in no case longer than 120 days after
 expiration of their term. A minimum of four (4) voting members shall be appointed by
 the city council, one (1) voting member shall be appointed by the mayor and three (3)
 non-voting members shall be appointed by the city council. A majority of the total
 number of voting members appointed shall constitute a quorum of the board and the
 board shall act by a majority of voting members present and voting.

 For the first board appointed following its creation, the city council and mayor
 shall first select from the current members of the police citizen review subcommittee,
 currently established by City ordinance, which subcommittee shall be supplanted by the
 board, in making appointments to the board. On the first board, two voting members
 shall serve for a one (1) year term, two voting members shall serve for a two (2) year
 term, and the voting member appointed by the mayor shall serve for a three (3) year term;
 and one non-voting member shall serve for a one (1) year term, one non-voting member
 shall serve for a two (2) year term, and one non-voting member shall serve for a three (3)
 year term. Thereafter, all members shall serve for a term of three (3) years. No person
 shall be appointed to, nor serve, more than three (3) consecutive full terms or nine (9)
 consecutive years, whichever is greater, on the board. Following appointment of the first
 board, the city council shall exercise its power of appointment only after the city clerk
 has published a notice announcing the availability of board positions, describing the
 responsibilities thereof and soliciting applications by qualified persons, in a newspaper of
 general circulation at least 15 days before the city council acts to appoint to the board.

 (c) Qualifications. All candidates for the civilian police review board must be at least 18
 years of age and must be residents of the City for a period of at least three (3) months
 prior to the date on or before which the board member is to be seated.

 (d) Vacancies and Removal. The City Council shall provide by ordinance procedures for
 vacancies and removal of members.

 (e) Training. Prior to assuming their duties hereunder, civilian police review board members
 shall attend training provided by city staff as to the board’s duties and responsibilities,
 applicable state and local law, ordinances and rules and regulations, accepted police
 practices and the police department’s internal affairs investigation process.

 (f) Confidentiality. Each member of the civilian police review board is obligated to
 maintain the confidentiality of all information and documents either provided to or
 reviewed by them, in accordance with state law. Failure to maintain such confidentiality
 will constitute “cause” for removal from the board under (d) above. All reports prepared
 by the board and all requests received by the board for disclosure of any information or
 documents in the custody of the board or its members shall be referred to the corporation
 counsel for review prior to release.



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 (g) Transition. The city council shall promptly consider and enact an ordinance to
 implement this Article, which ordinance upon its effective date also shall repeal the
 existing Police Citizen Review Committee ordinance provisions in Chapter 2, Art. IV,
 Div. 4 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Portland, Maine.

Section 2. Powers and duties.

 (a) Complaints. The civilian police review board shall receive all complaints brought by
 civilians regarding the Portland police department and shall refer such complaints to the
 Portland police internal affairs department. Members of the police department may bring
 complaints to the board, to internal affairs, or to command; the board shall refer any such
 complaints it receives to internal affairs. Portland police department command shall
 review internal affairs draft findings on complaints and shall submit its report on the
 conclusions of any investigation on complaints to the board for consideration no more
 than fourteen (14) days after the findings become final and after any final disciplinary
 action has been taken and all appeals exhausted or settled or the case has been closed
 with no disciplinary action. Neither police officers nor their representatives may file
 complaints regarding disciplinary actions or personnel matters under this subsection.

 (b) Review, reports. The board shall review all final investigation reports submitted by
 internal affairs and/or command staff under Section 2. (a) above for due process issues,
 including but not limited to, issues of fairness, thoroughness, objectivity, and timeliness.
 Although it shall have access to individual internal affairs reports in order to review
 investigative methods and procedures, all reports of the board issued to address
 complaints filed under Section 2. (a) above shall be done in such a manner that particular
 complainants, witnesses and officers are not personally identifiable. Reports of the board
 shall be made available to the public to the extent consistent with the State Freedom of
 Access Act, 1 M.R.S.A. Sec. 401 et seq.

 (c) Appeals. The city council shall by ordinance adopt an appeal process consistent with
 federal, state, and local law for persons aggrieved by a report issued by the civilian police
 review board on complaints filed with the board under Section 2. (a) above to appeal that
 board report to the city council or such other body as the city council may designate or
 create for a hearing, in executive session where required, and for the issuance of an
 advisory opinion which shall not be legally binding on the city, the police department,
 police officers, or individuals, and which hearing and advisory opinion shall not include
 or address any disciplinary proceedings. Neither police officers nor their representatives
 may file appeals regarding disciplinary actions or personnel matters under this
 subsection.

 (d) Policy. The civilian police review board shall be able to make policy recommendations
 to the mayor, the city council, and the chief of police.

 (e) Annual report, communications, additional duties. The civilian police review board
 shall hold a public hearing at least annually to receive comments upon the community
 complaint process and to engage City residents as to the board’s purposes and goals, and


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 shall prepare and present to the mayor, city council, and chief of police an annual report,
 including but not be limited to, policy and funding recommendations, and the number of
 complaints submitted to the board and the number of complaints resolved during the
 previous year. Any recommendations made by the board regarding the police department
 shall be based on policy evaluations, may be assigned by the city council and mayor to
 staff for research, and may be enacted or implemented. The board also may, in its
 discretion, address the city council on an as-needed basis. The city council and mayor
 may add to the board’s duties by ordinance at any time.

 (f) Board Officers & Procedural Rules. The civilian police board shall annually elect one
 of its members to serve as chair, and shall annually elect one of its members to serve as
 vice-chair, to serve in the absence of the chair. The City Council shall by ordinance
 establish rules of procedure and board member roles. The board may recommend such
 rules to the City Council.

Section 3. Funding, staff, resources.

 (a) Funding, staff. The civilian police review board shall be funded as needed by the city
 council through the annual budget. Such funding shall include professional staff,
 including but not limited to a “Community Liaison” and a “Police Liaison” familiar with
 Portland police department standard operating procedures. The city council shall decide
 whether the community liaison and police liaison positions are part-time or full-time
 and/or whether the duties of these positions may be assigned to existing employees. The
 community liaison shall serve at the direction of the board and shall ensure the public is
 aware of the methods for filing complaints, and shall assist the board with carrying out its
 duties, powers and functions, conducting outreach and with other duties as the board may
 assign. The board may request additional funding from the city council at any time. The
 police liaison may be the same person/position as the “technical advisor” described in
 Section 3(b) below.

 (b) Resources. The city shall make available to the board the services of a technical advisor,
 as needed by the board. The technical advisor may be used for the purposes of training;
 briefing the board on accepted police practices, applicable law and issues relevant to the
 discharge of the citizen review function; and educating the board on aspects of the
 internal investigation process. The technical advisor shall be retained by the city
 manager after consultation with the chief of police, representatives of the police unions
 and the chair of the board. Any person who presently maintains any business or
 professional affiliation with the police department shall be disqualified from serving as
 technical advisor. The city shall further make available all internal affairs investigation
 reports and police documents relevant to such investigations which are necessary for the
 board to conduct its duties hereunder. In no case shall the board have access to police
 officers’ personnel records except to the extent that they are part of an internal affairs
 investigation report or are considered a public document under the Maine Freedom of
 Access Act.




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 (c) Coordination. The board shall work in conjunction with the City’s communications
 department, internal affairs, and any other city departments or offices to effectuate all
 powers and duties granted to it in this charter and any additional duties assigned to it by
 the city council or mayor.




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BALLOT QUESTION # 8—Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to Universal Resident Voting as Summarized Below?
1. Proposed Summary:

This modification requires the City Council to form an independent Ethics Commission and to
adopt a Code of Ethics recommended by the Ethics Commission.
 • The Ethics Commission shall have discretionary power to render advisory opinions on
 matters of city business and violations of public trust.
 • The modification also allows the Ethics Commission to recommend the hiring of an
 Accountability Officer to provide education to the public and officials; to serve as an
 independent ombudsperson in resolution of disputes in an advisory capacity; and to
 provide training to city officials on ethical matters.

2. Charter Language for Question

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposal in Question # 8 and
only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown by
strikeouts; new language is underlined.

Amend ARTICLE VIII., MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS, by adding a new Section 1-A.,
Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics, as follows

Section 1-A. Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics

Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics Ordinance. The city council shall enact and maintain
an ordinance that establishes an ethics commission and, with input from the ethics commission,
shall enact a code of ethics ordinance to be administered by the ethics commission. Upon the
effective date of the code of ethics ordinance, the existing code of ethics resolution adopted by
the city council shall be repealed. The ethics commission shall provide impartial oversight and
render decisions and advisory opinions to ensure that standards of ethical conduct are observed
by elected and appointed City officials and City employees.

(a) Ethics Commission Ordinance.

 The city council shall enact an ordinance directing it to create an ethics commission,
appointed by the city council and consisting of seven (7) members who are residents of the City,
serving for three (3) year terms, to undertake the following duties:

 1. Prepare and recommend a code of ethics ordinance to the city council for
 enactment as provided in subsection (b) below;
 2. Review the ethics commission and code of ethics ordinances not less than once
 every three (3) years and make recommendations for any amendments to the city
 council;

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 3. Hear complaints and render written decisions with findings of fact regarding
 alleged violations of the City’s code of ethics ordinance, provided that complaints
 regarding City employees’ ongoing or prior alleged violations or misconduct shall
 be referred to the City for appropriate action under its personnel policies;
 4. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding questions of prospective application
 of the City’s code of ethics ordinance;
 5. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding questions of compliance with the
 City charter;
 6. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding adherence to council and board rules
 and procedures;
 7. On receipt of requests from a majority of the city council or of any board or
 committee, procure a second legal opinion from outside legal counsel; and
 8. Design and oversee program evaluations.

 Elected City officials, candidates for any City elected office, and their immediate family
members are not eligible to be appointed as members of the ethics commission.

 The ethics commission shall meet as needed, but no less than annually.

 The ethics commission ordinance shall establish the process for filing, hearing and
deciding complaints and for soliciting advisory opinions. Complaints may be filed by any
official, employee, or resident of the city, by the accountability officer, or may be initiated by the
ethics commission, in accordance with that process. Requests for advisory opinions may be filed
by any official or employee of the city, in accordance with that process. Receipt of a complaint
or request shall be acknowledged by the ethics commission. If the ethics commission finds any
complaint filed with it to have been based upon allegations it determines to be frivolous,
scurrilous, libelous, unsubstantiated, unfounded, of nuisance, or with malice, it may so determine
and may dismiss the complaint without deciding the merits of the complaint.

 The ethics commission ordinance and complaint process shall protect the identity and
rights of complainants, whistleblowers, and persons complained against in accordance with and
as required by all State and federal laws, regulations, codes, municipal ordinances, and policies,
including but not limited to the Maine Freedom of Access Act, the Maine Whistleblowers’ Act,
and the City of Portland’s personnel policies. The ethics commission shall refer any complaint
alleging corruption, fraud, or abuse of a criminal nature to the appropriate law enforcement
agency.

 The ethics commission shall be an independent body, free from interference from any
City elected and appointed officials and employees. The ethics commission may request funding
from the city council for independent investigations, legal services, staffing, or other demands
pertinent to its mission.

 (b) Code of Ethics.

 The city council shall, with the recommendation of the ethics commission, enact and
maintain a code of ethics ordinance defining the code of ethical conduct for elected and appointed


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City officials and City employees. At a minimum, such code of ethics ordinance shall include
and address:

 1. Standards of Conduct;
 2. Conflicts of Interest;
 3. Confidential Information; and
 4. Disclosure Forms for City elected and appointed officials to complete and file
 with the city clerk and update as appropriate.

 (c) Appointment of Accountability Officer.

 The ethics commission may recommend that the city council appoint an accountability
officer and fund that position. The accountability officer shall: serve as an ombudsperson to
members of the public; provide City information to the public and officials to educate them
about government accountability, integrity, and transparency; provide training for public officials
on ethical matters; and undertake such other duties as may be requested by the ethics
commission and authorized by the city council. The accountability officer may provide
administrative support for the civilian police review board. The accountability officer also shall
receive complaints from the public about alleged government waste, favoritism,
mismanagement, and violations of the public trust; the accountability officer will refer matters
that are within the scope of the ethics commission’s duties to the ethics commission, and vice
versa.

 (d) Violations of the Code of Ethics.

 Violations of the code of ethics ordinance shall be addressed as set out in that ordinance,
provided, however, that any city councilor or mayor found by the ethics commission to be in
violation of or to have violated the ethics code may be reprimanded or censured by the city
council.




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IV. MINORITY REPORTS

1. Minority Report on Governance Proposal for Strong Executive Mayor


 TO: Portland Charter Commission, Portland City Council

 FROM: Commissioners Marpheen Chann, Peter Eglinton, Shay Stewart-Bouley, and
 Dory-Anna Richards Waxman

 DATE: Wednesday, June 29, 2022

 SUBJECT Minority Report on Governance Proposal for Strong Executive Mayor
 :


 I. Introduction

 We are members of the Portland Charter Commission (“Commission”) who represent the
minority opposing the Charter Commission Governance Proposal (“Proposal”) to shift Portland
from a Council-Manager system to a Council-Executive Mayor system. We believe the proposal
goes too far, too fast, for the City of Portland, whose home rule powers over municipal affairs do
not exist in a vacuum and are derived from and delegated to the city by the state of Maine. In
order to provide the public with the basis for our objections to the Proposal, we are filing this
minority report to be included in the Final Report to the Portland City Council.

 II. Original Governance Committee Recommendations On The Right Track

 While the final Proposal reflects a slight improvement over the proposal in the
Commission’s Preliminary Report, we believe it still constitutes a significant departure from the
Governance Committee recommendations introduced earlier in the year. The Governance
Committee followed a thoughtful public process that included values mapping, interviews with
former mayors, testimony from experts on municipal governance structure, former city
managers, and current and former city councilors. This process was supplemented by a
professionally facilitated discussion of weaknesses in our current system and identified possible
solutions. After a months-long public process, the Governance Committee decided against
recommending an executive mayor.

 In fact, we believe that some of the Governance Committee recommendations would
have garnered unanimous approval from the full Charter Commission but for a competing
proposal developed outside of the public process. The original Governance Committee
recommendations included: (1) Clarifying and strengthening the role of the Mayor with regard to
budgetary powers; (2) Establishing a process for both the Mayor and the Council to develop and
introduce policy proposals; (3) Establishing a process to allow for the Mayor and the City


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Council to communicate with City Staff to research and develop policy solutions. In addition, we
agree generally with a process allowing for the impeachment and removal of the Mayor.

III. Experts on Municipal Governance Warn Against “One-Size-Fits-All” Thinking

 Proponents advocating for the concentration of power in one, executive mayor, make the
case that a mayor, as an elected official, is more accountable and answerable to the voters of
Portland, while the city manager is unelected and unaccountable to the voters of Portland. We
believe this argument obscures the nuances of a municipal government operating under home
rule in Maine, ignores the fact that the city manager is appointed by elected officials, and ignores
expert testimony provided.

 At a workshop in February 2022 on council-manager and strong mayor-council forms of
local government, experts on municipal governing structures offered testimony contradicting
arguments that, across the board, a strong mayor-council system is more transparent and more
accountable to voters than a council-manager or council-mayor-manager hybrid system. We
wholeheartedly agree.

 We also object to the notion that the Charter Commission uncritically choose models of
governance from cities in different regions of the United States with their own home rule
jurisprudence and unique histories and patterns of development. We also object to comparisons
with neighboring Westbrook. Westbrook has faced high-profile instances of mayoral overreach
and has a budget, city staff, and population that is less than a third of Portland’s. In fact, we
agree wholeheartedly with Westbrook City Administrator Jerre Bryant that what matters more
when it comes to accountability and transparency in city government are the people elected and
appointed, and not necessarily the structure and positions themselves.

IV. Governance Proposal Gives Mayor Unprecedented Powers to Issue Executive
 Orders

 We also find issue with granting the mayor the power to issue executive orders, a power
untested and unprecedented in Maine’s history of home rule. In our opinion, it would give
Portland’s mayor power that exceeds even that of Westbrook’s mayor. In addition, executive
orders risk creating confusion among city staff in cases where the Mayor’s executive orders are
in contravention to ordinances and policy set by the democratically-elected City Council,
Portland’s legislative body.

 Concerns were also raised regarding the potential of a mayor to interfere and
micromanage day-to-day operations. Giving the mayor the power to issue executive orders at
the municipal level runs counter to those concerns. It also risks conflicting with technical
standards, rules, and procedures that city staff are tasked with administering according to state
and federal laws, regulations, and guidance.

 We believe the power to set policy and ordinances should rest solely with the
democratically elected City Council, of which the Mayor is currently a part, and that the



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implementation and administration of those policies and ordinances are within the realm of a
competent and highly qualified public administrator and city staff.

  V. Governance Proposal Disempowers Portland’s Representative Body

 An accountable and transparent governing structure requires a careful balancing of
powers. The current Governance Proposal aims to weaken the power of the City Manager and
establish an executive Mayor. In our opinion, it goes much further and weakens our
democratically elected legislative body, the City Council. The checks provided, namely in the
provisions outlining the removal of the mayor and a council override of the mayor’s firing of the
Chief Operating Officer, are more stylistic than substantive in nature. Ultimately, we believe the
checks provided would only be utilized in extreme cases, and even in those cases would only
serve to create more confusion, less clarity, and disempowers the City Council.

 We believe checks and balances are important at the municipal level and work only when
they are provided throughout the democratic process, and not just in the eleventh hour when it is
often too late.

VI. Conclusion

 As such, we oppose the Governance Proposal given the lack of demonstrated need for an
executive mayor and believe that more targeted fixes would have garnered near-unanimous
support of the full Commission. We are concerned about the risks of polarization between an
executive mayor and Council, and the possibility of undue political influence over the day-to-day
operations of the city.




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2. Minority Report on Proportional Rank Choice Voting

 While the tabulation of Rank Choice Voting (RCV) is complex and often necessitates the
hiring of a specialist, the tabulation of Proportional Rank Choice Voting (pRCV) is far more
complex and all but requires the hiring of an even more specialized expert. If it were conclusive
that pRCV is the superior method of tabulation in all instances then the trouble and expense of
pRCV would be worthwhile. But the melancholy truth is that there is not a perfect method of
tabulating votes in an election with more than two candidates, much less when there is more than
one open seat, because the weights of the preferences of each voter is difficult to determine by a
ranked list.

 Proponents of pRCV (e.g., the consultants at the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center
who assisted with the drafting of the amendment) cite that pRCV favors minority candidates.
While this may indeed be a good thing, it might also favor extremist candidates whose views are
far outside the plurality of the electorate. Add to this the fact that this system’s byzantine
complexity is nearly impossible to explain succinctly in casual conversation to the average voter.
One fears this topic will soon again be a matter for revision of the city charter.

 Portland currently uses the “instant run-off” method; but the range of options for RCV
are myriad. Some are Tideman's 'Condorcet-Hare', Baldwin's and Nanson's methods, Kemeny-
Young method, and Dodgson's method, among many others. Many of these are considered
accurate; but arcane and computationally complex.

 While experts disagree on what the best or better methods may be, one simple method is
Approval Voting. Voters check off all those candidates who they favor in what is essentially an
unranked list; the votes are tabulated accordingly and the top vote getter(s) gain the seat(s).
Proponents like Approval Voting because it does not require a specialist to tabulate and tends to
favor centrist/consensus candidates. It is a statistically sound method and easy for the voters to
understand which, ultimately, is what one wants in an electoral democracy.

Zack Barowitz
District 3




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3. Minority Report on School Board Budget Autonomy


 TO: Portland Charter Commission, Portland City Council

 FROM: Commissioners Peter Eglinton, Dory-Anna Richards Waxman, and Robert
 O’Brien

 DATE: Wednesday, June 29, 2022

 SUBJECT Minority Report on School Board Budget Autonomy
 :


 We are members of the Portland Charter Commission (“Commission”) who represent the
minority opposing the School Board Budget Autonomy Proposal (“Proposal”) to remove the City
Council from the school district budget approval process. To explain the basis for our objections,
we are filing this minority report to be included in the Final Report to the Portland City Council.
We start with brief biographical summaries that demonstrate direct experience with the school
district, city government, and budget process.

 In addition to volunteering as a parent in Portland Public Schools (PPS), Commissioner
Eglinton served on the Portland School Committee15 for 3.5 years, including as finance
committee chair (1 year) and board chair (2 years); served for 3 years as the PPS Chief
Operations Officer; and was appointed to and served as chair on two PPS groups dealing with
comprehensive planning, school enrollment, and facilities issues. While on the School
Committee, he dealt with significant budgetary issues that required close collaboration with the
City and the need to strengthen the public’s confidence in the fiscal management of the school
district.

 Commissioner Waxman was a parent volunteer in PPS for 18 years, and served on the
Portland School Committee for 3 years, including as communications committee chair and
member of the budget committee and buildings operations committee. During her tenure, the
School Committee dealt with failed high school and middle school renovations, which required
the City Council and the School Committee to work together to find resources to help the schools
function without severely impacting classrooms. These efforts included seeking a bond, with
voter support, for unexpected construction overruns. Ms. Waxman also served on the City
Council for 3 years, including 2 years on the finance committee. She’s been a small business
owner for 35 years.

 Commissioner O’Brien served on the Portland School Committee for 3 years from 2006-
2009. He chaired the policy committee, and served on the finance and facilities committees


15
 Now known as the Portland Board of Public Education.


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during his tenure. He also served on the 2009-2010 Charter Commission. Mr. O’Brien is a
graduate of the Portland Public Schools and currently has two children enrolled in the district.

 These experiences inform our opposition to the Proposal. Although we sometimes wished
the School Committee had autonomy over its budget, we realized then as we do now that having
City Council input and oversight over the total budget amount – not line items – is important for
weighing school needs and the burden on all City residents, most having no children in the
school district. Currently, the Council requires two-thirds vote to reduce the requested school
budget, which is a high bar not often exercised. What can often be frustrating even if the Council
does not vote to reduce the budget is that their input on the school budget comes at the end of the
process, not as guidance with public input before the budget is prepared. This frustration drove a
separate Commission proposal (which we support) to form a Joint Budget Guidance Committee,
with equal representation of school board members and councilors, to seek public input and
identify budget priorities and challenges before the school and city budgets are developed.

 Why is Council approval over the total school budget important? The school budget is a
large fraction of the property tax rate, and the School Board’s role – as defined by the State –
does not include representing the taxpayers. Indeed, on January 2, 2020, Assistant Attorney
General Sarah Foster addressed this point in a memorandum to Maine Department of Education
Commissioner A. Pender Makin on “current state law and the responsiveness of school boards to
the public.”16 The Assistant Attorney General specifically stated that:

 The Maine Constitution affords control over education to the Maine Legislature. School
 boards are creatures of statute, with their duties and responsibilities described therein.
 The nexus
 of the concern about school boards’ “responsibilities for, and responsiveness to, their
 respective
 communities” appears to be the statement, contained in a decision of Maine’s Law Court
 that

 . . . the [school] committee acts as a public board. It in no sense represents the
 town. Its members are chosen by the voters of the town, but after election, they
 are public officers deriving their authority from the law and responsible to the
 state for the good faith and rectitude of their acts.
 Shaw v. Small, 124 Me. 36, 41 (1924). [emphasis added]

 Of course, given the requirement for the public to vote on the school budget and the
desire for resident support for public education, School Board members understandably seek to
be responsive to the school community as well as to the broader public. Even if some feel that
this responsiveness supports budget autonomy, there are lingering legal questions about doing so.
Although the School Board’s legal counsel, DrummondWoodsum, is willing to sign off on the
proposal passed by the Charter Commission, the Commission’s legal counsel (attorney Jim
Katsiaficas of Perkins Thompson) is not. He specifically concludes the following in a
memorandum to the Portland Charter Commission Education Committee on December 14, 2021:

16
 https://legislature.maine.gov/doc/3849, accessed on June 29, 2022.


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 1) the City Charter could be amended to transfer City Council budget approval authority
 to another legislative body such as a voter referendum [with public hearing, or a
 Citywide “town meeting”], 2) but transferring such City Council (“Council”) budget
 approval to the Board of Public Education (“School Board”) is of questionable validity
 because a) the Maine Legislature intended to occupy the field, b) the Legislative intent is
 to create a separation of powers between the School Board and City Council, and c) the
 legislative history of 20-A M.R.S. § 2307 suggests that “other municipal legislative
 body” is not intended to refer to an alternative to the municipal council where a
 municipal council exists...

 Pursuing these legal issues in the courts could be costly, with uncertain benefits. Indeed,
attorney Dan Amory has stated publicly that Portland would be susceptible to state “clawback”
laws for taxes paid with a 25% interest should a judge invalidate the provision.




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V. ISSUES CONSIDERED BUT NOT RECOMMENDED; OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS

 A. Charter Commission Issues Considered But Not Recommended

 1. Councilor Pay Increase

 This proposal, intended to establish greater equity for and access to public offices, would
have raised the compensation of City Councilors to match a 20-hour work week at a reasonable
rate of pay for a worker in the city. It failed in a close vote, although later action did add a lesser
increase to the governance proposal. The position of city councilor remains unaffordable for
many Portlanders whose energy and talents might make them effective contributors in the role.

 2. Universal Resident Voting

 This proposal would have allowed Portland residents of voting age to participate in
municipal elections and referenda regardless of citizenship status. The Elections Committee
undertook an extensive process in development of this proposal to allow voting by all Portland
residents, whether or not U.S. citizens, in municipal elections. Non-citizens are unable to vote in
State and federal elections. The Committee believes that extending the right to vote in municipal
elections to all Portland residents is a matter of fundamental fairness, so that all who live in and
contribute to the community may vote on how the community is governed.

 Commissioner Washburn as well as the Committee's legal advisor consulted with Beth
Stickney, Co-founder of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project and currently an immigration
law and policy consultant, to create protections within the Charter language that would help
(though not ensure) safeguards are in place to inform and educate non-citizens of their rights in
municipal elections as well as of restrictions and consequences for voting in state/federal
elections.

 The Committee and the Commission are aware of concerns 1) whether the proposal is a
lawful exercise of municipal home rule charter authority where State law establishes voter
qualifications, and 2) whether there could be unintended consequences and impacts upon
immigrants who register and vote in municipal elections, but a majority of the Commission
believes this is an important measure to promote justice that should be brought to the voters to
decide. It received considerable support but was not able to attract a legal certification.
Portland’s immigrant and asylum-seeker families are an important part of the city’s future, and
more work is needed to increase their voice in its government and education.

 3. Mayor’s Economic Development Duties

 PURPOSE. To ensure the elected mayor has access to early conversations between city
staff and prospective developers of large-scale projects where details are being agreed upon for a
final proposal to the Planning Board and City Council.




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 RATIONALE. The elected mayor’s role may represent the public’s interest in the
development before the parameters of the proposal are solidified. The mayor’s involvement may
touch upon increased asks of the developer for environmental/energy, preservation, public
amenities, affordable housing, labor, taxation, subsidies, massing and scale, business types,
design, or any number of aspects available for negotiation if a project needs accommodations
from the city.

 LEADERSHIP. Because the mayor has a seat at the table with the development team,
the mayor may meet with neighbors and with councilors representing the district where the
development will occur, and be able to convey those legitimate concerns early on to developers,
likely leading to an improved and more palatable project that will meet less resistance as it
approaches a vote on the council.

 The mayor would also be expected to champion the project before the council to reduce
the frequency and magnitude of last-minute challenges or demands on the project that might
threaten its viability. This would require the mayor to gauge support, opposition, or reservations
of councilors throughout the project evolution.

 The mayor’s inclusion in the economic development process would legitimize the
mayor’s role in serving as diplomat for the City of Portland with investors scouting the city, as
mayors do in many other cities.

 DESIRED OUTCOMES. With the mayor’s early and increased participation in the
crafting of development deals, the city will ideally experience fewer controversial and divisive
votes on the city council approving developments, making investments in Portland less risky and
more predictable; concerned citizens will have a vehicle to have their grievances assuaged; and
residents will have a more advantageous proposal with increased public value reflected in the
development.

 4. Executive Committee

 This proposal would have established a new institution: the Executive Committee. This
committee would be made up of the mayor and two councilors elected by the council. The
Executive Committee is intended to solve concerns around cronyism, patronage, and the spoils
system. The committee would nominate key officials in city government: department heads, the
city clerk, corporation counsel, and the Chief Operating Officer. Subordinate city staff would, in
turn, be hired by these officials, such that no Portland mayor can unilaterally hire officials.

 Under the current system, the chief executive, the city council appoints the city manager,
the city clerk, and the corporation counsel — but the city manager is the sole appointer of
department heads, subject to council confirmation. Under the proposed system, that power would
not reside in one office, but would be shared by the three members of the Executive Committee.

 In addition to checking and balancing the mayor’s power, the Executive Committee
would also have the role of legitimizing the mayor’s power of presiding over council meetings.
Some commissioners raised the prospect of the mayor serving as “illegitimate council-chair,”


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since the voters — and not the council — elect the mayor. The presence in the Executive
Committee of leadership elected by the council is designed to solve this issue. Under this system,
it will be three voices — one chosen by the people (the mayor) and two chosen by the council —
that constitute the council’s leadership.
 B. Other Considerations

 1. Staff for Mayor and Council.

 Under the current charter the Council and/or the Mayor may have their own aides (i.e.,
advisors and administrators who answer solely to them and not to a city manager/ chief
administrator) who may advise them on matters of policy. While elected officials can and should
seek policy guidance from the civil service, it would nevertheless behoove our elected officials
to retain their own staff to aid them in their decision making for several reasons:

 • Political aides are devoted to making elected officials more effective.
 • Protects city staff and civil servants from political interference and "deal-making."
 • The role of the civil service is to give the best possible policy guidance regardless of the
 political implications. The elected officials should receive the staff recommendations but
 make their own decisions as to their political feasibility; political advisors serve an
 invaluable role in this regard. City staff should not be baking political considerations into
 their recommendations although they may be consulted to those ends.
 • If elected officials cannot seek advice from their own trusted staff people then they will
 seek advice from outside of government often in the form of special interests and
 lobbyists.
 • Political staffers can offer specialized expertise and fresh perspectives to complement the
 institutional knowledge of the civil service.

 It should be noted that currently the city manager has staff to aid not just in
administration but in policy, communications, constituent services, and specialty areas.

 2. Ballot Questions & Citizen Initiatives

 Because the process of citizens initiatives and citizens veto is long and complex and the
election comes at an expense; government is a collaboration between members of the public and
elected officials; and the right to bring ballot questions is fundamental to democracy; therefore,
the Portland City Council shall consider ballot questions before their certification in the manner
thus described.

 After the petitioners submit the question to the City Clerk, the City Council shall set a
hearing in which the petitioners and/or their representatives or designees shall present the
question.

 At this hearing the council shall:

 1. Consider the question/initiative and language.
 2. Check for congruence between the title and the content.

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 3. Discuss the timeline.
 4. Consider adoption or whether to enter into a negotiation with the petitioners wherein
 the petitioner would agree to withdraw the question should the council adopt
 acceptable policy.

 Secondly, if the council decides to put a competing measure on the ballot such that the
choices are A. Citizen Measure, B. Competing Measure, or C. None of the above. The winner
ought to be determined by the highest vote getter rather than the majority, as the latter is difficult
to achieve in a 3-way race.




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V. FULL CITY CHARTER WITH ALL RECOMMENDED DELETIONS AND
ADDITIONS, ASSUMING ALL BALLOT QUESTIONS PASS.




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 PART I CHARTER*




 *Editor's note--Historical references are cited in
parentheses at the end of each section. Such references cite only
the various amendments adopted by referenda conducted pursuant to
home rule powers granted by P.L. 1970, c. 563 (30 M.R.S.A. § 1911
et seq.). Prior to 1970 and home rule the charter and its various
amendments were enacted by the Maine Legislature and such are not
cited in said parentheses. A history of the charter and amendments
is attached as Appendix A.

 State law reference(s)--Home rule, 30 M.R.S.A. § 2101 et seq.

 Preamble and Land Acknowledgement
Art. I. Grant of Powers to the City, §§ 1, 2
Art. I-A. Mayor, §§ 1--5
Art. II. City Council; Mayor, Ranked Choice Voting §§ 1—11
Art. III. Board of Public Education, §§ 1--6
Art. IV. Elections, §§ 1—11
Art. V. Recall, §§ 1--7
Art. VI. Administrative Officers, §§ 1--8
Art. VII. Business and Financial Provisions, §§ 1--16
Art.VIII.Miscellaneous Provisions, §§ 1—5
Art. IX. Civilian Police Review Board, §§ 1-3


 PREAMBLE

 We, the People of Portland, Maine, establish this Charter to
secure the benefits of local governance and to provide for the
general health, safety and welfare of our community. In so
doing, we build a government that meets the needs of the people it
serves and whose character it reflects. Our government shall
further cooperation, encourage leadership, solicit our input and
support the active participation of our residents in their
governance. Our government shall be effective and accountable and
shall promote equal rights and representative democracy.

Our government shall provide public education that enables all
residents to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to
participate fully in Portland’s civic, intellectual, cultural and
economic life, in order to enrich and strengthen our community and
our common future.


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(Referendum 11/2/10)

 We, the people of Portland, Maine, establish this Charter to
secure the benefits of local governance and to provide for the
health, safety, and common good of all people in our community. In
so doing, we seek to build a representative, responsive, and
effective government that encourages leadership and participation
from all members of that community, with an emphasis on
accountability, equity, and inclusion, and a system of public
education that supports Portland’s civic, intellectual, cultural,
and economic life.

 Land Acknowledgement

 Portland is located in the unceded territory of the Aucocisco
Band of the Wabanaki, which also includes the Abenaki, Maliseet,
Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot people. European colonizers
displaced Wabanaki people by force and went on to displace and
harm indigenous peoples throughout what is now Maine and the
United States. We acknowledge that displacement and that harm with
sorrow, even as we celebrate and honor the Wabanaki knowledge and
culture that continue to thrive in the Tribal Nations that have
and always will call this place, the Dawnland, their home.




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 ARTICLE I. GRANT OF POWERS TO THE CITY

Section 1. Corporate existence retained.

 The inhabitants of the City of Portland shall continue to be
a body politic and corporate by the name of the City of Portland,
and shall have, exercise, and enjoy all the rights, immunities,
powers, privileges, and franchises and shall be subject to all the
duties, liabilities and obligations provided for herein, or
otherwise, pertaining to or incumbent upon such city as a municipal
corporation or to the inhabitants or municipal authorities thereof;
and may enact reasonable by-laws, regulations, and ordinances for
municipal purposes, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws
of the State of Maine, and impose penalties for the breach thereof
as such by-laws, regulations, or ordinances shall provide. Such
penalties shall not limit nor diminish in any way the city’s
authority to seek and obtain higher or different penalties
provided by state or other law. (Referenda 12/4/72; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Powers and duties.

 The administration of all the fiscal, prudential, and
municipal affairs of the City of Portland, with the government
thereof, except the general management, care, conduct, and control
of the schools of such city which shall be vested in a board of
public education as hereinafter provided (also referred to herein
as the “school board”), and also except as otherwise provided by
this charter, shall be and are vested in the mayor and in one body
of ninetwelve members, which shall constitute and be called the
city council, all of whom shall be inhabitants of the city, and
shall be sworn in the manner hereinafter prescribed.

 The executive powers of the city shall be vested in the mayor
and exercised through the chief administrator and the several
departments and boards of the city, under the mayor’s general
oversight.

 The legislative powers of the city shall be vested in the
city council. The mayor and the members of the city council shall
be and constitute the municipal officers of the City of Portland
for all purposes required by statute, and, except as otherwise
herein specifically provided, shall have all powers and authority
given to, and perform all duties required of, municipal officers
and mayors of cities under the laws of this state.

 All other powers now or hereafter vested in the inhabitants
of such city, and all powers granted by this charter, except as


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herein otherwise provided, shall be vested in the city council.
(Referendum 11/2/10)




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 ARTICLE I-A. MAYOR

Section 1. Election, tenure of office.

 The position of mayor shall be elected by majority vote as
provided in section 3 of article II. The candidate(s) for mayor
shall be nominated in the same manner as at large members of the
council. The term of mayor shall be four (4) years, with a
maximum limit of two consecutive terms. The election and position
of mayor shall be a non-partisan, full-time position.

 Notwithstanding the prior paragraph, for the municipal
election in November of 2023, the election for mayor shall be for
a one-time five-year term ending in 2028. Thereafter, the mayor
shall be elected every four (4) years in line with the U.S.
presidential election.

Section 2. Compensation of the mayor.

 Prior to the date nomination papers are available for the
first mayoral election, the city council shall set the mayor’s
compensation and shall re-set it prior to the date nomination
papers are available for each mayoral election thereafter. During
the mayor’s term, the city council may adjust the mayor’s
compensation, but no such order re-setting the mayor’s
compensation shall take effect during the then current municipal
year, and no such payment of compensation shall be made in
advance. At minimum, the mayor shall be paid compensation
consisting of a salary which is no less than two (2) times the
median household income for Portland as most recently published by
the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, or successor
index thereto, at the time such compensation is set or adjusted,
plus customary city benefits.

 The mayor shall not hold any other office or employment the
compensation of which is payable by the city or school department
during the term for which he or she was elected.

Section 3. Mayor’s powers and duties.

 The mayor shall be the chief executive officer of the city,
responsible for providing leadership, and shall have the following
powers and duties:

 (a) To articulate the city’s vision and goals and build
 coalitions to further such vision and goals. The mayor
 shall give an annual state of the city address during a
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 purpose;

 (b) To attend, with the chief administrator, the annual
 workshop session of the city council to discuss and
 identify the city’s goals and priorities. A summary of the
 session shall be made available to the public;

 (c) To represent the city with other municipalities, levels of
 government, community and neighborhood groups, and other
 communities;

 (d) To ensure the implementation of city policies and keep the
 city council informed as to the progress on all city
 council directives, the general financial standing of the
 city, the current status of all negotiations, and
 recommendations for city council action;

 (e) To direct the chief administrator in the preparation of
 all city budgets and present the budget to the city council
 for approval;

 (f) To direct the chief administrator in the preparation of
 the annual capital improvement program plan described in
 article VI, section 5, paragraph (j), and to present such
 program plan to the city council;

 (g) To facilitate among the chief administrator, city council,
 board of public education and the public to secure passage
 of the annual city and school budgets;

 (h) To exercise veto power over the annual city appropriation
 as provided in article VII, section 8;

 (i) To exercise veto power over city council actions regarding
 city ordinances or amendments thereto as provided in
 article II, section 11;

 (j) To be the public figurehead for the city. In this role
 the mayor shall serve as:

 a. the official representative of the city in Augusta,
 nationally and internationally; and

 b. the official spokesperson for the city; and

 (k) To submit ordinances, orders, and resolves for city
 council consideration pursuant to the same rules and
 procedures that pertain to councilor-sponsored ordinances,


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 orders, and resolves.

 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the chief administrator shall
manage the day-to-day operations of the city and administration of
the city budgets presented by the mayor and approved by the city
council, including, but not limited to, exercising control over
all departments, divisions, agencies, and offices created herein
or that may be hereafter created.

 All directives issued by the mayor pursuant to this charter
implementing city council approved ordinances, orders, and
resolves, and affecting the outcomes of any city services,
policies, procedures, or programs lasting more than 30 days (or
multiple directives of a similar nature occurring within a 30-day
period), shall be submitted in writing to the chief administrator
as an “Executive Order.” Such Executive Orders shall appear on the
next council agenda as a communication prior to taking effect. The
council may schedule a public hearing and may take action on such
Executive Order or allow the Executive Order to remain.

Section 4. Vacancy of the mayor.

 A vacancy in the office of mayor shall occur upon the
happening of the following: (1) the death of the mayor; (2) the
effective date of the resignation of the mayor; (3) the removal of
mayor from the city; (4) the conviction of the mayor of a felony
while in office; (5) the recall of the mayor pursuant to the
provisions of section 5 of this article and article V; or (6) the
removal of the mayor by the council pursuant to section 5 of this
article.

 The council shall declare a vacancy in the office of mayor to
exist upon the qualification of the mayor for any city or school
department office, or the acceptance of any employment with the
city or school department, the compensation for which is payable
by the city or school department.

 The mayor may in writing addressed to the council resign his
or her office effective at a future date specified in such written
resignation. Once submitted to the council, such resignation may
not be withdrawn, and the mayor’s office shall become vacant on
such specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs or is declared
prior to the next regular municipal election, the vacancy shall be
filled by corporation counsel until a special election to take
place on the same date as the next scheduled municipal or state
election which is no less than 127 days after the date the vacancy


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occurs or is declared, unless the council, by a vote of at
least eight (8) of its members, calls a special election on an
earlier date; provided that if the vacancy occurs with six (6)
months or fewer remaining in the then mayor’s term, then there
shall be no special election to fill the vacancy. Such election
shall be called and held and nominations made as in other
elections.

Section 5. Censure, removal or recall of the mayor.

 The mayor may be censured or removed from office by the city
council for cause. The city council also may order a recall
election for the mayor to be conducted pursuant to article V.

 At any meeting of the city council, it shall be in order for
any member thereof to give written notice, approved by seven (7)
or more members of the city council, of the intention to move at
the next meeting thereof occurring within not less than fourteen
(14) days, an order that the mayor be censured or removed from
office.

 Such notice shall specify as particularly as possible the
acts complained of and shall, if approved, be entered by the city
clerk in the minutes of the city council. The clerk shall within
two (2) days serve a copy thereof upon the mayor at the mayor’s
residence and electronically, and shall provide an electronic copy
to each of the members of the city council.

 At any subsequent hearing or meeting of the city council in
which the censure or removal of the mayor is the topic, the mayor
shall have the right to be present, speak, be represented by
counsel, and present a defense. Such proceedings shall be
conducted in accordance with state and federal laws and
constitutional requirements.

 Any vote to censure, remove the mayor from office, or order a
recall election shall require a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the
full city council.




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 ARTICLE II. CITY COUNCIL


Section 1. City to be divided into election districts.

 For the purpose of all elections the city, including its
islands, shall be divided into five (5)nine (9) districts to
establish compact and contiguous districts of approximately equal
population.

 The city council for voting purposes may by ordinance divide
the election districts into voting districts. (Referenda 11/2/76;
6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/11)


Section 2. Composition, election, tenure of office.

 The city council shall be composed of nine (9)twelve (12)
members, including the mayorchair and vice chair who each shall be
one of the nine (9)twelve (12) members of the city council, and
shall hold office for a term of three (3) years and until their
successors are elected and qualified, except as provided below for
the term of mayor and for one at large seatfor the four new
districts in the election of 20132023 only. Four (4)Three (3)
members, including the mayor, shall be elected at large from and
by the registered voters of the entire city, and one (1) shall be
elected from each of the five (5)nine (9) districts heretofore
provided for, from and by the registered voters of each district.
References in this charter to the city council, councilors,
council, its members or membership, shall be deemed to include the
mayor, unless otherwise specifically provided.

 For the municipal election in November of 20132023, one of
the two at large seats up for election shall have a one-time four
year term ending in 2017. Thereafter, the council term shall return
to be three (3) years for this seat. The city clerk shall
designate which seat shall be for the four (4) year term prior to
the availability of nomination papers for the 2013 election, and
nomination papers shall be separately issued for reach of the two
at large seats. Each at large candidate may take out and file
nomination papers for only one of the at large seats. The
municipal ballot will list the 4-year and 3-year council seats as
separate questions.one of the new districts shall have a one-time,
one year term ending in 2024, two of the new districts shall have
a one-time, two year term ending in 2025, and one of the new


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districts shall be elected for the standard three year term.
Thereafter, the council term for all seats shall return to be
three (3) years for the respective seats. The city clerk shall
designate which seats shall be for the one (1) year term, two (2)
year term, and three (3) year term, and nomination papers shall be
issued for each seat.


 All candidates must be residents of the city for a period of
at least three (3) months prior to the date on or before which
nomination papers are to be filed. The candidate from each of the
five (5)n i n e ( 9 ) districts must be a resident of such
district for a period of at least three (3) months prior to the
date on or before which the nomination papers are to be filed.

 Beginning with the regular municipal election in November,
2011, the at large position then up for election shall be
designated as the mayor’s position and shall continue as the
mayor’s position thereafter. The position of mayor only shall be
elected by majority vote as provided in section 3 of this article.
The candidate(s) for mayor shall be nominated in the same manner as
other at large members of the council. The term of mayor shall be
four (4) years, with a maximum limit of two
consecutive terms. The election and position of mayor shall be a
non-partisan, full-time position. (Referenda 12/1/75; 6/13/78;
11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10; 11/6/12)

Section 3. Ranked choice voting; instant runoff tabulation.

 For the positions of mayor, city councilor, and school board
member, the city clerk shall implement a ranked choice voting
protocol according to these guidelines:

 (a) The ballot shall give voters the option of ranking
 candidates in order of choice.

 (b) If a candidate receives a majority, i.e. at least one
 more than fifty percent (50%) of the first choice
 votes cast, that candidate is elected.

 (c) If no candidate receives a majority of first choice
 votes, an instant runoff re-tabulation shall be
 promptly conducted by the city clerk and completed
 within five (5) business days of the election. The
 instant runoff re-tabulation shall be conducted in
 successive rounds, with the majority determined for
 each successive round by the number of votes cast in
 that round. The candidate with the fewest votes after


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 each successive round in which no candidate receives
 a majority of the votes cast in that round shall be
 eliminated, and the votes in the successive rounds
 shall be re-tabulated among the remaining candidates
 until one candidate receives a majority of the votes
 cast in that round. In each successive round, each
 voter's ballot shall count as a single vote for
 whichever candidate the voter has ranked highest who
 has not been eliminated in a prior round, if any.

 (d) After the first round, a majority is determined as at
 least one (1) more than fifty percent (50%) of the
 votes cast for a remaining candidate in a particular
 round.

 (e)
 The city clerk may adopt additional regulations
 consistent with this subsection to implement these
 provisions. The ballot shall contain instructions on
 how to vote for each office.
(Referenda 11/2/2010; 3/3/2020)

 (f) For elections conducted by ranked choice voting where
 more than one person is to be elected to a single
 office (i.e., a multiple seat election), the winners
 shall be determined by a proportional method of ranked
 choice voting. Such method shall provide for
 candidates to be elected on the basis of thresholds
 determined by the number of seats to be filled plus
 one, ballots to be counted in rounds, votes to be
 transferred from defeated candidates, and for votes,
 in fractions or in whole, in excess of the threshold
 to be transferred from elected candidates. The city
 council shall by ordinance establish such a
 proportional ranked choice voting system.

Section 4. Compensation of councilors and mayor.

 Except as otherwise provided in the paragraph below for the
mayor’s compensation, the The city council shall by order
establish the amount each member shall be entitled to receive as
compensation for all services rendered, and specify when any
compensation shall be payable, but no such order increasing their
compensation, including that of the mayor, shall take effect during
the then current municipal year, and no such payment of
compensation shall be made in advance. At minimum, each member of
the city council shall be paid compensation at a level which is no
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 Prior to the date nomination papers are available for the
first mayoral election, the city council shall set the mayor’s
compensation and shall re-set it prior to the date nomination
papers are available for each mayoral election thereafter. During
the mayor’s term, the city council may adjust the mayor’s
compensation. At minimum, the mayor shall be paid compensation
consisting of a salary which is no less than one and one-half
(1.5) times the median household income for Portland as most
recently published by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community
Survey, or successor index thereto, at the time such compensation
is set or adjusted, plus customary city benefits.

 No member shall hold any other office or employment the
compensation of which is payable by the city or school department
during the term for which he or she was elected. (Referenda
12/1/75; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10)

Section 5. City council chair

 As described herein the city council shall be led by a chair
and vice-chair who shall be elected annually by majority vote of
the members of the city council. The chair shall preside over
meetings of the city council and set the city council agendas in
accordance with city council rules. The vice-chair shall preside
over council meetings in the chair’s absence. In the case of an
absence of the chair and vice-chair, the city council shall choose
a chair, pro tempore, by a majority of those members present and
voting. In case of a vacancy in the office of chair of the city
council by death, resignation or otherwise, the same shall be
filled for the unexpired term by a majority vote of those members
present.

 Together, the chair and vice-chair shall have the authority
to organize the council into various committees and recommend
chairs for such committees. The committee members shall be
responsible for appointing a chair for the committee.

Section 5. Mayor’s powers and duties.

 The mayor shall be the official head of the city, responsible
for providing leadership, and shall have the following powers and
duties:

 (l) To articulate the city’s vision and goals and build
 coalitions to further such vision and goals.  The mayor
 shall give an annual state of the city address during a
 special meeting of the city council called for that
 purpose;


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 (m) To convene and lead an annual workshop session of the city
 council to discuss and identify the city’s goals and
 priorities in order to provide guidance for the city
 manager and to inform the public. The city manager shall
 attend this workshop session, and a summary of the session
 shall be made available to the public;

 (n) To represent the city with other municipalities, levels of
 government, community and neighborhood groups, and the
 business community;

 (o) To preside as chair of the city council, and vote upon all
 matters in the same manner as other members of the city
 council, except as provided in article VII, section 8. The
 mayor shall direct the city manager in the preparation of
 council meeting agendas;

 (p) To facilitate the implementation of city policies through
 the office of the city manager;

 (q) To consult with and provide guidance to the city manager
 in the preparation of all city budgets and to provide
 comments on such budgets at the time they are presented by
 the city manager to the city council for approval;

 (r) To consult with and provide guidance to the city manager
 in the preparation of the annual capital improvement
 program plan described in article VI, section 5, paragraph
 (i), and to provide comments on such program plan at the
 time it is presented by the city manager to the city
 council;

 (s) To facilitate among the city manager, city council, board
 of public education and the public to secure passage by
 the city council of the annual city and school budgets;




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 (t) To exercise veto power over the annual city appropriation
 as provided in article VII, section 8;

 (u) To establish performance guidelines in conjunction with
 the other members of the city council for regular
 evaluations, no less than annually, by the city council
 of the performance of the city manager, corporation
 counsel and city clerk, such evaluations to be based upon
 those guidelines. Such performance guidelines shall have
 measurable goals and objectives, taking into
 consideration, as applicable, the achievement of city
 policies and priorities;

 (v) To chair any subcommittee with at least two (2) other
 city councilors to recommend the appointment or removal
 of the city manager, corporation counsel or the city
 clerk, but the full city council shall have the final
 decision in regard to such appointment or removal by a
 vote of at least five (5) members of the council; and

 (w) To appoint the members and chairs of the city council
 committees and various ad hoc committees and communicate
 such appointments to the city council, which may override
 such appointments by a vote of at least six (6) council
 members.

  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the city manager shall be in
charge of the day to day operations of the city and administration
of the city budgets approved by the council. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 6. Absence or disability of mayor; acting mayor.

 In the temporary absence or disability of the mayor, the
mayor may select an acting mayor from among the other council
members and such person shall perform the duties of the mayor
during such temporary absence or disability for a maximum of sixty
consecutive (60) days or return of the mayor, whichever comes
first. If through physical or mental incapacity the mayor is unable
to select an acting mayor, or if the mayor’s absence or disability
exceeds sixty (60) consecutive days, the council shall select an
acting mayor from among its membership until such time as the
mayor is able to resume his or her duties or a vacancy is declared
pursuant to section 7 below and a new mayor elected. (Referendum
6/13/78; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)




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Section 7.Section 6. Vacancies.

 A vacancy in the membership of the city council shall occur
upon the happening of the following: (1) the death of a member;
(2) the effective date of the resignation of a member; (3) the
removal of a member from the district from which he or she was
elected; (4) the removal of a member from the city; (5) the
conviction of a member of a felony while in office; or 6) the
recall of a member pursuant to the provisions of article V. The
council shall declare a vacancy in its membership to exist upon
the failure of a member to attend any six (6) consecutive regular
meetings of the city council, or at least sixty (60) percent of
the regular meetings of the city council held in any one calendar
year unless such member shall be excused (by vote of at least four
(4)six (6) other members) for health reasons or other good cause.

 The council shall declare a vacancy in its membership to
exist upon the qualification of any member for any city or school
department office, or the acceptance of any employment with the
city or school department, the compensation for which is payable
by the city or school department.

 A member may in writing addressed to the council resign his or
her office effective at a future date specified in such written
resignation. Once submitted to the council, such resignation may
not be withdrawn, and such member's office shall become vacant on
such specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the membership of the city council occurs or
is declared more than six (6) months prior to the next regular
municipal election, the vacancy unexpired term shall be filled at a
special election, citywide or for a district, to take place on the
same date as the next scheduled municipal or state election which
is no less than 127 days after the date the vacancy occurs or is
declared, unless the council, by a vote of at least six (6)
eight (8) of its members, calls a special election on an earlier
date. Such election shall be called and held and nominations made
as in other elections. If a vacancy occurs within six (6) months
prior to the next regular election, the city council shall appoint
a qualified person from the same district or at-large, as
appropriate, to serve until the next regular municipal election.
The council shall establish rules and procedures for appointments
to fill such vacancies. (Referenda 11/2/76; 11/4/86; 11/2/99;
11/2/10)

Section 8Section 7. Meetings of the council.



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 The city council shall meet at the usual place for holding
meetings on the first Monday in December following the regular
municipal election, or as soon thereafter as possible, and at such
meeting the mayor and councilors-elect shall be sworn to
the faithful discharge of their duties by a justice of the peace,
or by the city clerk. The city council shall at such meeting
establish by resolution or rule a regular place and time for
holding its meetings, and shall meet regularly at least twice each
month. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)

Section 9 Section 8. Special meetings.

 Special meetings may be called by the mayor, and in case of
his or her absence, disability, or refusal, may be called by five
seven (7) (5) or more members of the city council. At least
twenty- four (24) hours notice of the time and place of holding
such special meeting shall be given to all members of the city
council. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 10 Section 9. Quorum.

Five Seven (7) (5) members of the city council shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, but a smaller number may
adjourn from time to time. At least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice
of the time and place of holding such adjourned meeting shall be
given to all members who were not present at the meeting from
which adjournment was taken. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 11 Section 10. Procedure.

The city council shall keep a record of its proceedings and shall
determine its own rules of procedure and make lawful regulations
for enforcing the same. The meetings of the city council shall be
open to the public in accordance with state law. The city council
shall act only by ordinance, order, or resolve. All ordinances,
orders, and resolves, except orders or resolves making
appropriations of money, shall be confined to one subject which
shall be clearly expressed in the title. An appropriation order or
resolve shall be confined to the subject of appropriations only.

No ordinance and no appropriation order or resolve shall be passed
until it has been read on two separate days, except when the
requirement of a second reading on a separate day has been
dispensed with by the vote of at least seven (7) nine (9)
members of the city council. The yeas and nays shall be taken upon
the passage of all ordinances and entered on the record of the
proceedings of the city council by the clerk. The yeas and nays
shall be taken on the passage of any order or resolve when called
for by any member of the city council. Every ordinance,


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order, and resolve shall require on final passage the affirmative
vote of at least five seven (7) (5) members of the city council.
No ordinance shall take effect until thirty (30) days after its
passage and no order or resolve shall take effect until ten (10)
days after its passage, except as herein otherwise provided for
emergency ordinances, orders and resolves.

The city council may, by vote of at least seven (7) nine (9) of
its members, pass emergency ordinances, orders, or resolves to
take effect at the time indicated therein, but such emergency
ordinances, orders, or resolves shall contain a section in which
the emergency is set forth and defined, provided, however, that
the declaration of such emergency by the city council shall be
conclusive. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 11. Mayoral veto of city council action on city
ordinances.

 Within five (5) business days of the meeting at which the city
council adopts any new or amended city ordinance, the mayor may
veto such adoption by written communication to the city council.
Such communication shall specify the reasons for such veto and
shall, at minimum, be posted upon the city’s website or similar
location and sent to the councilors by electronic mail and by the
same means that agendas are delivered to councilors.

 An order to override the veto shall be placed on the next
city council agenda which is at least five (5) calendar days after
the date of the mayor’s veto communication, and such veto may be
overridden by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members
of the city council.

 If a veto is overridden, the ordinance will take effect as
legally adopted.

Section 12. Annual performance reports.

 The city council shall request an annual report regarding the
performance of (1) constituent services, (2) permitting, and (3)
any other city functions the city council requests. Such reports
shall be presented to the city council at a regularly scheduled
public meeting and the public shall have the opportunity to
provide feedback specific to the reports.




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 ARTICLE III. BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION


Section 1. Composition, election, tenure of office, compensation.

 The board of public education shall be composed of nine (9)
members who shall hold office, except as hereinafter provided, for
a term of three (3) years and until their successors are elected
and qualified. Four (4) shall be elected at large from and by the
registered voters of the entire city, and one One (1) shall be
elected from each of the five (5) nine (9) districts heretofore
provided for in section 1 of article II, from and by the registered
voters of each such district.

 To transition from the mix of district and at-large seats to
all district seats, members who were elected to at-large seats
shall serve until their current terms expire; for the municipal
election in November of 2023, the at-large seat of the member
whose term is then expiring shall become one of the new district
seats; for the municipal election in November 2024, the at-large
seat of the member whose term is then expiring shall become the
second of the new district seats; and for the municipal election
in 2025, the remaining two at-large seats of the members whose
terms are then expiring shall become the third and fourth of the
new district seats.

 All candidates must be residents of the city for a period of
at least three (3) months prior to the date on or before which
nomination papers are to be filed. The candidate from each of the
five (5) nine (9) districts must be a resident of such district
for a period of at least three (3) months prior to the date on or
before which the nomination papers are to be filed.

 The city council shall by order establish the amount each
member of the school board shall be entitled to receive as
compensation for all services rendered, which compensation shall be
the same as that received by members of the city council, other
than the mayor. The city council shall provide additional
compensation to the chair of the school board appropriate to
reflect his or her additional responsibilities as chair.
(Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10)




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Section 2. Chair.

 On the first Monday in December following the regular
municipal election, or as soon thereafter as possible, the board
of public education shall elect one of its members as chair for the
ensuing year and until a successor is elected and qualified, and
may fill for the unexpired term any vacancy as chair that may
occur.

 At a date and time to be mutually agreed upon by the chair of
the school board and the mayor, the chair shall deliver an annual
address on the “state of the public education system in Portland”
to the city council and the public. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78;
11/7/00; 11/2/10)

Section 3. Organization.

 The school board shall meet for organization on the first
Monday in December following the regular municipal election, or as
soon thereafter as possible. The members-elect shall be sworn to
the faithful discharge of their duties by a justice of the peace
or by the city clerk, and a record made thereof. The members shall
at such meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible, establish a
regular place and time for holding meetings and shall meet
regularly at such place and time. Five members of the school
board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business,
but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time. At least
twenty-four (24) hours notice of the time and place of holding
such adjourned meeting shall be given to all members who were not
present at the meeting from which adjournment was taken.
(Referenda 6/13/78; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)

Section 4. Powers and duties.

 The board of public education shall have all the powers, and
perform all the duties in regard to the care and management,
including sound fiscal management, conduct, and control of the
public schools of the city, which are now conferred and imposed
upon school committees and school boards by the laws of this
state, except as otherwise provided in this charter. (Referendum
11/2/10)

Section 5. School budget.




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 Prior to the submission of a school budget, the school board
and city council shall establish a Joint Committee on Budget
Guidance, consisting of four (4) city councilors and four (4)
school board members, appointed by the chair of the council and
school board chair, respectively. The purpose of the joint
committee is to develop guidance for the city and school district
on budget priorities and constraints, covering a two-year period
and updated annually. The joint committee shall obtain public
comment on the guidance prior to submitting the guidance as a
proposed non-binding joint resolution to the city council and
school board.

 Not later than three and one-half (3.5) months before the end
of the fiscal year, the superintendent shall submit to the school
board budget estimates of the various sums required for the support
of public schools for the ensuing fiscal year and shall thereafter
provide the school board with such information relating to such
estimates as the school board shall require.

 During the thirty (30) days following submission of the
superintendent’s proposed budget to the school board, the school
board and the city council, or their designated subcommittees,
shall meet jointly at least twice to review the proposed school
budget, focusing on its underlying assumptions and supporting data
and the ability of the city to raise the necessary funds for the
support of such proposed budget. The superintendent and the city
manager shall provide information regarding such proposed budget
as reasonably requested by the school board and the city council,
or their designated subcommittees.

 The budget submitted by the superintendent to be reviewed
jointly by the school board and the city council shall provide a
complete financial plan of all school funds and activities for the
ensuing fiscal year. In organizing the school budget for joint
review by the school board, the superintendent shall utilize the
most feasible combination of expenditure classification by fund,
organization, unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. The
budget shall begin with a clear general summary of its contents;
shall show in detail all estimated income and all proposed
expenditures, including debt service for the ensuing fiscal year;
and shall be so arranged as to show comparative figures for actual
and estimated income and expenditures of the current fiscal year
and actual income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year.
The total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of
proposed income.

 Not later than the last Monday in April of each fiscal year,
the school board shall submit to the city council prepare a budget


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of the various sums required for the support of the public schools
for the ensuing fiscal year in the format provided above., and
shall thereafter provide the city council with such information
relating to such budget as the city council shall require.

 The school board shall hold a A budget hearing on such budget
estimates shall be held at least seven (7) days prior to final
action by the city council determining the total amount of the
school budget. Within a reasonable period of time, the city
council may, at its discretion and after holding a public hearing,
provide a nonbinding resolution with its recommendations to the
school board for consideration. The school board may or may not
adopt, in whole or in part, the recommendations of the city
council. The city council shall thereafter submit the school
budget determined by the school board to a budget validation
referendum. If the voters discontinue use of the budget
validation referendum process, the city council shall instead
submit the school budget to a municipal school budget referendum.
The warrant calling the budget validation referendum or the school
budget referendum shall include voter information containing the
amount of locally raised funds and the amounts for each cost
center summary budget category proposed by the school board.

 The city council in its appropriation resolve for the ensuing
year shall, in addition to amounts appropriated for other general
city purposes, appropriate one gross amount for the support of the
public schools, which amount shall equal the greater of (i) the
amount adopted by the voters at the school budget validation
referendum or, if discontinued, at the budget referendum, as
appropriate, or (ii) not be less than the sum required to be
appropriated for such purposes by the general laws of the state.
Such gross amount shall not be less than the sum requested by the
school board except by a vote of at least six (6) members of the
city council. Such appropriation shall be expended under the
direction and control of the school board but no such
appropriation shall be exceeded except by consent of the city
council or the voters. (Referendum 6/13/78; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Vacancies.

 A vacancy in the membership of the board of public education
shall occur upon the happening of the following: (1) the death of
a member; (2) the effective date of the resignation of a member;
(3) the removal of a member from the district from which he or she
was elected; (4) the removal of a member from the city; (5) the
conviction of a member of a felony while in office; or (6) the
recall of a member pursuant to the provision of Article V. The
school board shall declare a vacancy in its membership to exist


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upon the failure of a member to attend any six (6) consecutive
regular meetings of the school board or at least sixty (60) percent
of the regular meetings of the school board held in any one
calendar year unless such member shall be excused (by a vote of at
least four (4) of the members) for health reasons or other good
cause. A member may in writing addressed to the school board
resign his or her office effective at a future date specified in
the written resignation. Once submitted to the school board, such
resignation may not be withdrawn and such member's office shall
become vacant on the specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the membership of the school board occurs or
is declared more than six (6) months prior to the next regular
municipal election, the vacancy unexpired term shall be filled at a
special election, citywide or for a district, to take place on the
same date as the next scheduled municipal or state election which
is no less than 127 days after the date the vacancy occurs or is
declared, unless the council, by a vote of at least six eight
of its members, calls a special election on an earlier date and
shortens the time for obtaining and filing nomination petitions
established in article IV, section 6. Such election shall be
called and held and nominations made as in other elections. If a
vacancy occurs within six (6) months prior to the next regular
election, the school board shall appoint a qualified person from
the same district or at-large, as appropriate, to serve until the
next regular municipal election. The school board shall establish
rules and procedures for appointments to fill such vacancies.
(Referenda 11/2/76; 11/4/86; 11/2/99; 11/2/10)


 ARTICLE IV. ELECTIONS


Section 1. Continuity in office.

 In the event redistricting of the city shall cause a then
council member or school board member to reside in a district
other than that from which such person was elected, the office of
such member shall not thereby be considered vacated but such
member shall continue in office until a successor is duly elected
and qualified. Each district councilor and district school board
member in office on the effective date of any such redistricting
shall be deemed to represent the newly constituted district of the
same numerical designation as that formerly represented and shall
continue to serve in that capacity until expiration of his or her
term. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Regular municipal election.


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 On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of
each year, the regular municipal election shall be held and the
registered voters of the city or district, as the case may be,
shall ballot for a mayor and for such councilors and for such
members of the school board as may be necessary to fill the
offices of those whose terms would then normally expire and fill
any existing vacancy in an unexpired term of office. (Referenda
12/1/75; 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/7/00; 11/6/01; 11/2/10)

Section 3. Wardens and ward clerks.

 The wardens and ward clerks shall be nominated by the city
clerk and appointed by order of the city council. They shall be and
remain residents of the city and all other qualifications for
appointment shall be as provided in Title 21-A of the Maine
Revised Statutes. They shall hold their office for one year from
the date of appointment, unless a shorter term is specified by the
order of appointment, and until others have been chosen and
qualified in their stead. The warden and the ward clerk shall be
sworn to the faithful performance of their duties by a person
qualified under the statutes of the state to administer oaths, and
a certificate of such oath shall be entered by the clerk on the
records of such ward. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86,
11/4/08; 11/2/10)

Section 4. Nominations.

 The nominations of all candidates for elective offices
provided for by this charter shall be by petition. The petition of
a candidate for mayor or an at large council seat or at large
school board seat shall be signed by not less than three hundred
(300) nor more than five hundred (500) registered voters of the
city. The petition of a candidate for a district council seat or a
candidate for a district school board seat shall be signed by not
less than seventy-five (75) nor more than one hundred fifty
(150) registered voters of the respective district. Voters may sign
petitions for more than one (1) candidate for each office to be
filled at the election. (Referenda 12/1/75; 11/2/76; 11/4/86;
11/4/08; 11/2/10)


Section 5. Form of nomination petition.

 The signatures to nomination petitions need not all be affixed
to one nomination petition, but to each separate petition there
shall be attached an affidavit of the circulator thereof stating
the number of signers of each petition, and that each signature


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appended thereto was made in his or her presence and is the
genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be. With
each signature shall be stated the place of residence of the
signer giving the street and number of the street, or other
description sufficient to identify the same. The form of the
nomination petition shall be substantially as follows:

 To the city clerk of the City of Portland

We, the undersigned voters of the City of Portland,
hereby nominate, __________ whose residence is _____ for the
office of _________ to be voted for at the election to be held in
the City of Portland on the _________ day of __________, ________,
and we individually certify that we are qualified to vote for a
candidate for the above office.

Name ___ Street and Number _____ , being duly sworn,
deposes and says, that he (she) is the circulator
of the foregoing nomination petition containing ______ signatures,
and that the signatures appended thereto were made in his or her
presence and are the signatures of the persons whose names they
purport to be.

(Signed) ________________________.


Subscribed and sworn to before me this ______
day of ____, _____.




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 Attorney, State of Maine Bar #
Notary Public

If this petition is deemed insufficient by the city clerk, he or
she shall forthwith notify by mail _ at . (Referendum
11/2/10)


Section 6. Filing of nomination petitions, and acceptance of
nomination.

 The city clerk shall make nomination petitions available to
the candidates one hundred and twenty-seven (127) days prior to
the election. The nomination petitions for any one (1) candidate
must be assembled and united into one (1) petition and filed with
the city clerk during normal business hours not earlier than
eighty-five (85) nor later than seventy-one (71) days before the
date of election. No nomination shall be valid unless the
candidate shall file with the city clerk in writing at the time of
filing of such nomination petitions his or her consent accepting
nomination, agreeing not to withdraw and, if elected, to qualify.
Such nomination petitions and consent, once filed may not be
withdrawn. Any challenge to a nomination petition must be
submitted to the city clerk in writing, setting forth the specific
reasons for the objection, no later than five (5) days, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, from its date of filing,
or it is barred. No person shall take out nomination papers for
more than one position at the same election, nor be nominated, nor
shall any person consent to being nominated, at the same election
for any other elective office provided for by this charter, and no
person shall simultaneously hold more than one (1) elective office
provided for by this charter. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78;
11/4/86; 11/6/01; 11/4/08; 11/2/10)

Section 7. Form of ballot.

 All official ballots for use in all municipal elections shall
be prepared by the city clerk and furnished by the city,
consistent with the voting machines used and the form of any state
ballot(s), and the use of ranked choice voting. Ballots for use in
elections under this charter shall contain the names of the
various candidates, with their residence, and the office for
which they are candidates, and instructions on how to mark the
ballot. The candidates for each office shall be grouped under the
title of each office, plainly and distinctly marked. There shall


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be as many blank spaces under the name of each office as there are
vacancies to be filled. The procedure for counting write-in votes
shall be governed by Title 21-A, Maine Revised Statutes, unless
inconsistent with article II, section 3, in which case the
charter provisions shall govern. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event of an emergency such as the illness, death or
disqualification of a nominee for municipal office prior to the
general election, the time frame for accepting a declared write-in
candidate may be shortened by the city clerk. Such ballots may also
contain such measures as may be submitted to the voters of the city
by the legislature or by the city council and shall be without
party mark or designation.

 In preparing all ballots for election under this charter, the
city clerk shall arrange the names of all qualified candidates for
each office in alphabetical order according to surnames.
(Referenda 11/2/2010; 3/3/2020))

Section 8. Specimen ballots.

 The city clerk shall cause specimen or sample ballots to be
prepared and to be posted in public places in each ward and voting
precinct and advertised in the newspapers not later than ten (10)
days prior to the municipal election. Such specimen ballots shall
be printed on colored paper and marked "Specimen Ballot," and
shall contain the names of the certified candidates with the
residence of each, instructions to voters, and such measures as may
be submitted to the voters by the legislature or by the city
council. Such specimen ballots shall also be without party mark or
designation. (Referendum 11/6/01; 11/2/10)

Section 9. Count of ballots.

 Upon closing of the polls, ballots shall be counted in
accordance with Title 21-A, Maine Revised Statutes, unless
inconsistent with article II, section 3, in which case the charter
provisions shall govern, and the results thereof delivered to the
city clerk by the wardens. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 10. Canvass of returns.




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 The city clerk shall examine the records of the several
voting places and within forty-eight (48) hours after such
election shall determine and declare the successful candidates as
follows: The person or persons, not exceeding the number to be
voted for at any one time for any office, having the majority of
votes cast at such election, shall be determined and declared to
be elected. If no candidate for mayor, city council, or school
board has a majority of the votes cast as provided in article II,
section 3, the city clerk shall conduct an instant runoff
tabulation as provided in such section until the candidate with
the majority of votes cast is determined. The city clerk shall
provide written notice of the election results to all candidates.
(Referenda 11/6/01; 11/2/10; 3/3/2020)

Section 11. State election laws applicable.

 The laws of the state in Title 21-A of the Revised Statutes
relating to the qualifications of electors, registration, the
manner of voting, the duties of election officials, and all other
particulars in respect to preparation for conducting and managing
elections, so far as they may be applicable, shall govern all
municipal elections in the City of Portland, except as provided
below regarding 42-day pre-election reports and as otherwise
provided herein.

 In addition to the reports required for municipal candidates
by Title 21-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, 42-day pre-election
reports must be filed by municipal candidates no later than 11:59
p.m. on the 42nd day before the date on which a general election is
held and must be complete as of the 49th day before that date.

 Nothing in this charter shall prohibit the use of electronic
or revised voting methods and procedures to the extent authorized
by state and/or federal law. (Referenda 11/4/08; 11/6/2018)

Section 12. Public financing of municipal elections.

 The city council shall establish and fully fund a City of
Portland Clean Election Fund (hereinafter, the “Clean Election
Fund” or the “Fund”) to provide public campaign funds to qualified
candidates for elected municipal offices. The Clean Election Fund
must be available to candidates in municipal elections beginning
in FY 2023-2024. Candidate participation in the Clean Election
Fund shall be voluntary.

 Beginning in FY 2023-2024 to allow for implementation for the


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November 2023 election, the city council shall provide an
independent allocation from the city’s budget each year to ensure
the Clean Election Fund is sustained at a level that facilitates
competitive campaigns for participating candidates who meet
qualifying criteria. The Clean Election Fund shall be administered
by the city clerk and the city council shall appropriate
sufficient funds to ensure there are adequate resources, including
paid staff, to effectively administer the Fund.

 The city council shall maintain an ordinance directing the
operation of the Clean Election Fund. The ordinance shall direct
that the Clean Election Fund must:

 (a) Limit the amount of private funds a participating
 candidate may raise;
 (b) Be limited to candidates who
 i. demonstrate public support;
 ii. enter into a binding agreement stating that the
 candidate will not accept private contributions
 other than those which are permitted by the Clean
 Election Fund; and
 iii. agree to participate in at least one (1) city-
 sponsored forum or voter education event.
 (c) Require that all unused funds from a participating
 candidate’s campaign be returned to the Clean Election
 Fund within one hundred (100) days after the date of the
 election.

 The city council may adopt additional regulations and
ordinances not inconsistent with this section.

Section 13. Campaign finance rules.

 (a) Corporate Contributions. A business entity may not make
 contributions to any candidate for municipal office. The
 term “business entity” refers to a firm, partnership,
 corporation, incorporated association, or other
 organization, whether organization as a for-profit or a
 nonprofit entity. A separate segregated fund committee
 may not make contributions to any candidate for
 municipal office using funds that derive, in whole or in
 part, from a business entity. Where a business entity
 establishes a separate segregated fund committee, that
 business entity may provide the separate segregated fund
 committee with the use of offices, telephones, computers
 and similar equipment when that use does not result in
 additional cost to the business entity.
 (b) Foreign Contributions. The city council shall by


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 ordinance enact a prohibition on ballot question
 contributions or expenditures from any entity that is
 substantially under foreign influence, including any
 entity owned by a foreign government and any entity with
 substantial foreign ownership. The city council shall
 promulgate rules to specify compliance requirements and
 otherwise to enforce this ordinance.
 (c) Additional Rules by Ordinance. The city council may
 adopt additional regulations and ordinances governing
 campaign spending, not inconsistent with this section.
 (d) Campaign Contributions Reporting. All contributions to
 campaigns for candidates or ballot questions must be
 reported to the city clerk, in conformance with any
 applicable State law. The clerk must establish a
 searchable, online, and publicly-accessible database of
 all information included in all registrations and
 campaign finance reports filed with the clerk.

 ARTICLE V. RECALL

Section 1. Applicability.

 The mayor or anyAny member of either the city council or the
school board may be recalled and removed from office by the
registered voters of the City of Portland, as hereinafter
provided, except that this provision shall not apply to the mayor
or a member of either body who has one (1) year six (6) months or
less to serve in his or her term, i.e., any petition to recall a
member must be certified by the clerk no later than November 30 of
the year prior to that member’s next scheduled November re-
election date. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Petition for recall.

 In the case of either the mayor, or an at large member of the
city council or of the school board, any five hundred (500)
registered voters of the city may affirm and file with the city
clerk an affidavit containing the name of the mayor or of the
member of the city council or of the school board whose removal is
sought, together with a statement of the reasons why such removal
is desired. In the case of a district member of the city council
or of the school board, any two hundred and fifty (250) registered
voters of the member’s district may affirm and file with the city
clerk an affidavit containing the name of the district member
whose removal is sought, together with a statement of the reasons
why such removal is desired. Members of the city council and of
the school board shall not be included on the same affidavit and
only one member’s name shall be on an affidavit.


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 Within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of such an
affidavit, the city clerk shall prepare a sufficient number of
petitions which shall contain the signature of the city clerk, his
or her official seal, the date, and the name of the person whose
removal is sought. In addition, the statement of reasons for
removal referred to above shall either be printed on such petitions
or attached thereto. Such petitions shall be on paper of uniform
size with as many individual sheets as reasonably necessary.

 The city clerk shall file the completed petitions in his or
her office. During the thirty (30) days following their filing,
the city clerk shall arrange to have petitions, noting that removal
is being sought as well as the reasons therefor, available for
signature both at city hall and also at public places as indicated
below. Notice of the location of the public places where petitions
may be signed shall be given by publication at least forty-eight
(48) hours in advance and such notice shall contain the specific
location of such public place or places, the dates it or they
will be open, and the times during which petitions may be
signed. In the case of either a district councilor or a district
school board member, the city clerk shall select one (1) site
outside of city hall, but within the district of the member whose
removal is sought, and such location shall be open for four (4)
days between the hours of noon and 8:00 p.m. In the case of the
mayor or at large councilors or members of the school board, the
city clerk shall select four (4) sites outside of city hall and
such locations shall be open for four days each between the hours
of noon and 8:00 p.m.

 The city clerk shall designate election clerks to supervise
each such site. Election clerks shall be residents of Portland and
at least eighteen (18) years of age. They shall be sworn to the
faithful performance of their duties by the city clerk. Each
qualified voter who signs a petition shall include his or her
place of residence, providing either the street and number or a
description sufficient to identify the place.

 To mandate a vote in the case of the mayor or an at large
councilor or an at large member of the school board, the recall
petition must be signed by at least three thousand (3,000)
registered voters of the city, or in the case of a district
councilor or district member of the school board, by at least
fifteen hundred (1,500) registered voters of that member’s
district. (Referenda 12/1/75, 11/4/86; 11/2/10)


Section 3. Verification of recall petition.


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 At the expiration of the thirty (30) day period for signing
petitions described in section 2, the city clerk shall declare the
petition closed and, within ten (10) days thereafter, shall
ascertain whether or not the petitions have been signed by the
requisite number of registered voters. The city clerk shall attach
his or her certificate, showing the results of such examination, to
the petitions.

 If the clerk's certificate should show that the petitions are
insufficient, he or she shall advise both the city council and
also the person or persons whose removal was sought of that fact. A
finding of insufficiency shall not prejudice the filing of a new
petition for the same purpose, except that such new petition shall
not be filed within twelve (12) months from the date of the receipt
of the clerk's certificate by the city council. (Referenda
11/4/86; 11/2/10)


Section 4. Calling of recall election.

 If the clerk's certificate should show that the petitions are
sufficient, he or she shall submit them, together with the clerk's
certification, 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
ten (10) days of receipt of the clerk's certificate, or on its own
in the case of a council vote to hold a recall election for the
mayor under article I-A, section 5, order an election to be held
not less than forty-five (45) nor more than ninety (90) days
thereafter; except that, if a regular municipal election should
occur within ninety (90) days after receipt of the certificate,
the city council may, in its discretion, schedule the recall
election for the same date as the regular municipal election. The
recall election shall be called and held as other elections under
this charter, except for the specific limitations imposed by this
article.

All registered voters in the city may vote on the recall of the
mayor or an at large member of the council or school board; only
the registered voters of the applicable district may vote on the
recall of a district member of the council or school board.
(Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 5. Form of ballot.

 Unless the mayor or the member or members whose removal is
sought shall have resigned within ten (10) days after the receipt


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by the city council of the clerk's certificate or of the council’s
vote to hold a recall election for the mayor, the form of the
question to be submitted to the voters shall, as nearly as
possible, be: "Shall (name of official and his or her title) be
recalled?" (Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 6. Count of ballots.

 In case a majority of those voting for and against the recall
of any official shall vote in favor of recalling such official, he
or she shall be thereby removed, and, in that event, the candidate
to succeed such person for the balance of the unexpired term shall
be determined as provided for in the case of a vacancy in the
office.

 If a majority of those voting should decline to recall a
particular official, then no proceedings, seeking the recall of
that same official, shall be initiated under this article within
twelve (12) months from the date of the election in which his or
her recall was sought. (Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 7. Election may be ordered.

 If the mayor or a member of either the city council or school
board who is recalled should either request a recount or dispute
the election as permitted by law, then that member shall remain in
office until the recount or dispute has been finally determined;
and the provisions of article I-A, section 4, article II, section
7 6, and article III, section 6, relating to vacancies in the
office of the mayor, city council or school board, shall be stayed.
(Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)


 ARTICLE VI. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Section 1. Appointments.

 (a) The following officers shall be appointed by a vote of at
 least seven (7) members of the city council: city clerk
 and corporation counsel. By a vote of at least seven (7)
 members of the city council, the city council also may
 appoint constables at large.

 (b) Based on the procedure provided in this article VI,
 section 1(f), the chief administrator shall be nominated
 for appointment by the mayor and confirmed by a vote of at
 least seven (7) members of the city council.



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 (c) Based on the procedure provided in this article VI,
 section 1(f), department heads shall be nominated for
 appointment by the mayor and confirmed by a vote of at
 least seven (7) members of the city council.

 (d) All attorneys employed in the corporation counsel's office
 shall be appointed nominated for appointment by the
 corporation counsel, subject to confirmation by a vote of
 at least seven (7) members of the city council. The
 corporation counsel shall have the right to remove any
 attorney employed in the corporation counsel’s office.

 (e) All other employees shall be appointed and may be removed
 by the city manager chief administrator upon
 recommendation of the heads of  their  departments.
 (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

 (f) The mayor shall declare the intent of the city to appoint
 any vacant  chief administrator  or department  head
 position. The city staff shall post the declared
 positions pursuant to city procedure and provide the mayor
 with a list of qualified candidates that applied for such
 appointment. All persons nominated for appointment by the
 mayor shall be nominated solely on the basis of character
 and qualification to perform the duties of the office or
 position to be filled by the appointment.


Section 2. Organizational powers.

 The city council shall have power to provide by ordinance for
the organization, conduct, and operation of the departments,
agencies, offices, and boards of the city, for the creation of
additional departments, agencies, offices, and boards and for the
division of any such departments, agencies, offices, and boards;
and for the alteration, abolition, assignment, or reassignment of
all such departments, divisions, agencies, offices and boards;
provided, however, there shall be a director of finance to perform
the functions specified in article VII of this Charter. The city
council shall, by ordinance, designate those department heads
responsible for performing duties required by state law.
(Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 3. Civil service rules.

 The city council shall provide by ordinance for a system of
civil service rules for the appointment, promotion, demotion, lay-
off, reinstatement, suspension, and removal of the members of the


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police department and of the fire department, other than the
chiefs of such departments, and for a civil service commission to
administer the same.

Section 4. Compensation and tenure of offices.

 The city council shall fix by order the salaries of the
appointees of the city council. Salaries of the appointees of the
city manager chief administrator shall be fixed by the city
manager chief administrator, subject to the approval of the city
council. All appointive officers shall hold office during the
pleasure of the appointing power until removed pursuant to this
charter.

Section 5. Appointment; qualifications; powers and duties of the
city manager Chief Administrator.

The city manager chief administrator shall be nominated for
appointment by the mayor and chosen confirmed by the city council
solely on the basis of character and executive administrative
qualifications, and may or may not be a resident of the City of
Portland or of the State of Maine at the time of appointment. Such
person shall give bond for the faithful discharge of his or her
duties to the City of Portland and in such sum as the city council
shall determine and direct, and with surety or sureties to be
approved by the city council. The premium on such bond shall be
paid by the city. Such person shall be responsible for the
administration of all departments and for the delivery of city
services the administrative head of the city and shall be
responsible to the mayor city council for the administration of
all departments. The mayor shall recommend for adoption by the
city council rules that govern communications between city staff
and elected officials. Neither the mayor nor members of the city
council shall direct, request or interfere with the appointment or
removal of any of the officers or employees of the city for whom
the city manager is responsible, nor shall any of them give an
order, publicly or privately, to any such city officer or employee
relating to any matter in the line of that officer’s or employee’s
city employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein is intended to prevent the city manager from assigning
staff to work and communicate directly with councilors, boards
and commissions, council committees, neighborhood and other
groups and organizations, on city work.

The city manager's chief administrator’s powers and duties shall
be as follows:

 (a) To see that the laws and ordinances are enforced, but


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 shall delegate to the chief of the police department the
 active duties connected therewith regarding criminal
 conduct.

 (b) To exercise control over all departments, divisions,
 agencies, and offices created herein or that may be
 hereafter created.

 (c) To hold annual reviews of department heads.

 (d) To implement the policy decisions of the mayor and city
 council.

 (e) To coordinate city programs and operations and recommend
 improvements in such programs and operations to the
 council mayor.

 (f) To prepare city budgets, at the direction of the mayor.
 in consultation with and incorporating policy guidance of
 the mayor, and to present such budgets to the council.
 Upon presentation of the budget by the mayor to the
 council, the chief administrator may provide a memo to the
 council on behalf of city staff, which memo may include,
 but shall not be required, such advice, guidance,
 information or requests that the chief administrator
 believes is relevant on behalf of all non-union staff and
 departments.

 (g) To make appointments as provided in this charter.

 (h) To attend meetings of the city council, except when his
 or her removal is being considered, and recommend for
 adoption such measures as he or she may deem expedient.

 (i) To keep the city council fully advised as to the business
 and financial condition and future needs of the city and
 to furnish the city council with all available facts,
 figures, and data connected therewith when requested.

 (j) To jointly prepare with the superintendent a five (5) year
 rolling capital improvement plan utilizing the
 participatory budgeting process established by the city
 council pursuant to article VII, section 5, at the
 direction of the mayor, for annual presentation by the
 mayor to a joint meeting of the city council and school
 board, which plan includes the following:

 1. A one (1) year plan of specific projects and their


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 cost;

 2. A two (2) through five (5) year plan of specific
 projects and general categories, and amounts of proposed
 spending and funding sources; and

 3. A discussion of the basis for the plan and the
 factors which went into its development or amendments.;
 and

 4. A listing and discussion of capital improvements
 pending or in process of construction or acquisition.

 (k) To prepare and submit to the city council such reports as
 are requested or he or she deems advisable; and

 (l) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this
 charter or required by ordinance of the city council.
 (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Removal of chief administrator.

 The mayor shall have the right to remove the chief
administrator from office. Prior to any removal from office, the
mayor shall inform the city council, during executive session, of
such intention and the reasons for the removal. Following the
executive session, the city council may allow the removal to
proceed without taking any further action or may, within two
business days, schedule a hearing to be held within 30 days to
discuss the removal of the chief administrator.

 If the council schedules a hearing in which the removal of
the chief administrator is the topic, the chief administrator
shall have the right to be present, speak, be represented by
counsel and present a defense, and such hearing shall be conducted
in accordance with state and federal laws and constitutional
requirements.

 Following the hearing, the city council may override the
mayor’s decision to remove the chief administrator from office by
a vote of a vote of at least seven (7) members of the city
council.

Section 6 Section 7. Vacancy in office of city manager chief
administrator.

During any vacancy in the office of city manager chief
administrator, and during any absence or disability of the city


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manager chief administrator of more than sixty (60) days, the city
council shall designate a properly qualified person to perform the
duties of city manager chief administrator and fix such person's
compensation. During a temporary absence of sixty (60) days or
less, the city manager chief administrator may designate a
qualified person to perform the duties of manager during such
absence. While so acting, such person shall have the same powers
and duties as those given to and imposed on the city manager chief
administrator. Before entering his or her duties, he or she shall
give bond to the City of Portland in a sum and with surety or
sureties to be approved by the city council. The premium on such
bond is to be paid by the city. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 7 Section 8. Duties of administrative officers.

Duties of administrative officers shall be prescribed by the
appointive power, but such duties shall not be inconsistent with
this charter or any ordinance enacted by the city council as
provided herein. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 8 Section 9. Continuity in office.

Any and all officers, department heads, and employees of the City
of Portland on the effective date of this charter shall continue
in such capacity until a successor is appointed and qualified as
provided herein, unless sooner removed by the appointive power
designated herein pursuant to the procedures provided for in this
charter. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 10. Removal of officers.

Officers appointed under section 1(a) of this article may be
removed from office by a vote of at least seven (7) members of the
full council.

Section 11. Removal of department heads.

In consultation with the mayor, the chief administrator shall have
the right to remove any department head. The chief administrator
shall provide notice and written explanation to the review
committee within one week of such removal.

Section 12. Review committee.

The review committee shall consist of members of the city council.
The review committee shall establish performance guidelines for
regular evaluations, no less than annually, by the city council of
the performance of the corporation counsel and city clerk, such


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evaluations to be based upon those guidelines. Such performance
guidelines shall have measurable goals and objectives, taking into
consideration, as applicable, the achievement of city policies and
priorities.

The mayor shall lead the annual review of the chief administrator
in conjunction with the review committee based upon the
established performance guidelines.

To the extent consistent with state law, the city’s personnel
policies, and labor agreements, the review committee shall hold
regular meetings, no less than annually, with the chief
administrator and department heads. The purpose of these meetings
shall be to understand the general working conditions and morale
at city hall.




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 ARTICLE VII. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Accounts and records.

 Accounts shall be kept by the director of finance, showing
the financial transactions of all departments of the city, and the
school department. Accounts shall be kept in such a manner as to
show fully at all times the financial condition of the city. The
director of finance shall furnish to the city manager chief
administrator and mayor each month a report containing in detail
the revenues, expenses and expenditures of the city on all
accounts, and for each appropriation item the expenditures made
and the obligations incurred during the preceding calendar month
and the total unencumbered balance. All the accounts of the city
and the school department shall be audited annually by a qualified
certified public accountant to be chosen by the city council.
(Referendum 12/1/75; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Collaboration between city and schools.

 To the extent practicable and lawful, the city and the school
department shall endeavor to share staff and resources and
otherwise cooperate with one another in order to provide better
city and school services in a cost effective manner. (Referendum
11/2/10)

Section 3. Reports.

 The director of finance shall publish each month a set of
financial statements reflecting the financial condition of the
city and the school department, and such other financial
information as may be required by the city council.

 The director of finance shall produce a comprehensive
financial report on an annual basis which conforms to “Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles.” (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 4. Fiscal year.

 The fiscal year of the city shall be July 1 through June 30,
or such other fiscal year as the city council shall determine.
(Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/10))



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Section 5. Annual budget.
 The city council shall develop and implement a participatory
budgeting system wherein a portion of the city budget is
allocated based on a process that involves the input from as many
residents of Portland as possible. To achieve such participatory
system, the city council may establish a subcommittee, task
force, or any other structure that is necessary and proper for
the design, implementation, and management of a participatory
budgeting system.

Not After the participatory budgeting process, but in no event
later than two (2) months before the end of the fiscal year, the
city manager mayor shall submit to the city council a proposed city
budget prepared by the city manager chief administrator and mayor
for the ensuing fiscal year. The mayor shall submit comments on the
proposed city budget, along with any proposed modifications,
concurrently with the manager’s submission.

The city council shall fix a time and place for holding a public
hearing upon the proposed city budget prepared by the manager
chief administrator and mayor, and shall give not less than ten
(10) days prior public notice of such hearing, which hearing shall
be at least ten (10) days before the final passage of the
appropriation resolve. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Budget content.

 The proposed city budget prepared by the manager chief
administrator and mayor shall provide a complete financial plan of
city general and enterprise funds and activities for the ensuing
fiscal year. In organizing the budget, the city manager chief
administrator and mayor shall utilize the most feasible
combination of expenditure classification by fund, organization
unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. It shall begin
with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in detail
all estimated income, indicating proposed tax levies, and all
proposed expenditures, including debt service for the ensuing
fiscal year; and shall be so arranged as to show comparative
figures for actual and estimated income and expenditures of the
current fiscal year and actual income and expenditures of the
preceding fiscal year.

 The total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total
of proposed income. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/2/10)

Section 7. Appropriation resolve.

 The city council shall adopt the annual appropriation resolve

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for the next fiscal year on or before the last day of the twelfth
month of the fiscal year currently ending. Such resolve shall
appropriate those amounts deemed necessary for general city
purposes and additionally one gross amount for school purposes as
required by section 5 of article III. The total amount
appropriated shall not exceed the estimated revenue of the city.

 If it fails to adopt such resolve by this date, the city
council may make appropriation for current departmental expenses,
chargeable to the appropriation for the year, when passed, to an
amount sufficient to cover the necessary expenses of the various
departments until the annual appropriation resolve is in force.
These continuing appropriations shall not be subject to the mayor’s
veto in section 8 below.

 The city council may by resolution appropriate to any purpose
or object for which there shall have been no appropriation for the
current year, or for which the appropriation for the current year
has proved insufficient, any accruing revenue of the city not
appropriated as hereinbefore provided and any unencumbered
appropriation balance, or portion thereof, remaining after the
purpose of the appropriation shall have been satisfied or
abandoned. Such supplemental appropriations shall not be are
subject to the mayor’s veto in section 8 below. (Referenda
6/13/78; 11/2/10)

Section 8. Mayoral veto of general city purposes appropriations in
the appropriation resolve.

 Within five (5) business days of the meeting at which the city
council adopts the annual appropriation resolve or any
supplemental appropriation resolution referenced in section 7 of
article VIII above, the mayor may veto the appropriation for
general city purposes or the supplemental appropriation in such
resolve by written communication to the other members of the city
council. Such communication shall specify the reasons for such veto
and shall, at minimum, be posted upon the city’s website or
similar location and sent to the councilors by electronic mail and
by the same means that agendas are delivered to councilors.

 Any such veto of the appropriation for general city purposes
shall not affect city payment of debt service obligations on
previously authorized bonds, nor shall it affect the school budget
appropriation.

 An order to override the veto shall be placed on the next
city council agenda which is at least five (5) calendar days after
the date of the mayor’s veto communication, and such veto may be


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overridden by a vote of at least six (6) two-thirds (2/3) of the
members of the city council. The mayor shall not vote on such
override item.

 If a veto is overridden, the general city purposes
appropriation will take effect on the first day of the fiscal
year, or on the day immediately following the override vote, if
such vote is after the first day of the fiscal year.

 If a veto is not overridden, then at the same meeting the
override vote is taken, the general city purposes appropriation
which was vetoed shall become an item for further consideration by
the city council, without the need for a motion for
reconsideration, and the city appropriation may be modified,
amended, or otherwise acted upon to secure passage at that meeting
or a subsequent meeting without the need for two readings prior to
passage.

 In the event the city council does not override the veto or
does not secure passage of the annual appropriation for general
city purposes prior to the start of the fiscal year, or has not
otherwise acted to provide continuing appropriations under the
second paragraph of section 7 above, then the appropriations for
general city purposes in effect for the prior fiscal year shall go
into effect as of the first day of the fiscal year, with
expenditures chargeable to the appropriation for the year, until
the appropriation for general city purposes is approved.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 9. Unexpended appropriations.

 All appropriations in the annual budget shall lapse at the
close of the fiscal year unless specifically continued by order of
the city council, and the unexpended appropriations shall be
transferred to the appropriate fund balance account. (Referendum
11/2/10)

Section 10. Borrowing.

 The borrowing of money by and for the city shall be limited
as to form and purpose by section 11 and section 12 of this
article. The credit of the city shall in no manner be loaned to
any individual, association or corporation. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 11. Bond issues.

 Money may be borrowed, within the limits fixed by the
constitution and statutes of the state, now or hereafter applying


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to Portland, by the issue and sale of bonds or notes pledged on
the credit of the city, or on the revenues or assets of the
projects financed with the proceeds of such borrowings, the
proceeds to be used for the acquisition of land, the construction,
reconstruction, major alteration, extraordinary repairs, and
equipment of buildings and other permanent public improvements,
the purchase of departmental equipment, for economic development to
the extent determined by the City Council to serve a valid public
purpose, to create reserves to settle workers' compensation
obligations, to fund, refund, pay or to create reserves for the
payment of the city’s unfunded pension fund liabilities and for
the payment of refunding bonds, notes and other evidences of
indebtedness previously issued, or for any other purpose permitted
by state law.

 No order providing for the issue of bonds shall be passed
without public notice given by posting notice of the same in two
(2) public places in the City of Portland and publishing such
notice at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in
Portland at least two (2) weeks before final action of the city
council. In addition, the city council may, in its discretion,
provide that such notice shall be published on the city's website
and in such other additional media as the city council determines
are appropriate to notify the general public of the public
hearing.

 Any order authorizing the issue of bonds must be approved by
vote of at least seven (7) members of the city council. (Referenda
11/4/86; 11/5/91; 11/8/94; 11/2/99; 11/2/10)

Section 12. Temporary loans.

 Money may be borrowed in anticipation of receipts from taxes
during any fiscal year but the aggregate amount of such loans
outstanding at any one (1) time shall not exceed eighty
percent of the revenue received from taxes during the preceding
fiscal year. All such loans shall be paid within the year out of
the receipts from taxes for the fiscal year in which the loans are
made. Money may be borrowed in anticipation of money to be
received from the sale of bonds to be issued, in case such bond
issue has been authorized; all such loans shall be subject to the
provisions of the laws of the State of Maine in relation thereto.
This section shall not limit in any way the power granted to towns
and cities to borrow money as contained in the Revised Statutes of
the State of Maine and acts amendatory thereof and additional
thereto. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 13. Payments.


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 The director of finance shall establish adequate financial
controls to reasonably ensure that all payrolls, bills and other
claims and demands against the city are in proper form, correctly
computed, duly certified and legally due and payable.

 The director of finance may require any claimant to make oath
to the validity of his or her claim, may investigate any claim and
for such purpose or purposes may examine witnesses under oath.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 14. Bonds of officers.

 The city council shall require a bond with sufficient surety
or sureties, satisfactory to the city council, from all persons
trusted with the collection, custody or disbursement of any of the
public moneys; and may require such bond from such other officials
as it may deem advisable; the premium charges for such bonds to be
paid by the city. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 15. Collection and custody of city moneys.

 All moneys received by any officer, employee or agent of the
city belonging to the city, or for or in connection with the
business of the city, shall forthwith be paid by the officer,
employee or agent receiving the same into the city treasury, and
shall then be deposited by the director of finance with a federally
insured banking institution or institutions or insured credit
union or unions. All interest from all deposits of money belonging
to the city shall accrue to the benefit of the city. (Referendum
11/2/10)

Section 16. Voter referendum required for certain city council
actions.

 (a) The city council shall submit the following to voter
 referendum:

 (1) Orders or resolves authorizing the issuance of general
 obligation securities of the city in a principal amount
 greater than five one-hundredths of one (1) percent of the
 last certified state valuation of the city for a single
 capital improvement or item of capital equipment; or

 (2) Orders or resolves directly or indirectly obligating the
 city to expend, over a term greater than one (1)
 municipal year, municipal tax funds in excess of an amount
 greater than seven and one-half one-hundredths of one (1)


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 percent of the last certified state valuation of the city
 for a single capital improvement or item of capital
 equipment.

 (b) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to
 any order or resolve authorizing (i) the refunding of any
 securities or other obligations of the city; (ii) the
 issuance of general obligation securities, or other direct
 or indirect obligations, of the city for streets,
 sidewalks, or storm or sanitary sewers; or (iii) any
 construction or financing of improvements or equipment
 needed as a result of fire, flood, disaster or other
 declared emergency. For purposes of this section, the city
 council may by vote of at least seven (7) of its members
 adopt emergency orders or resolves authorizing
 construction or financing of improvements or equipment
 needed as a result of fire, flood, disaster or other
 emergency and such orders or resolves shall contain a
 section in which the emergency is set forth and defined;
 provided, however, that the declaration of such emergency
 by the city council shall be conclusive.

 (c) Any order or resolve described in subsection (a) of this
 section shall be approved by separate action of the city
 council.

 (d) No order or resolve described in subparagraph (a) of this
 section, not excepted by subparagraph (b), shall become
 effective until approved by a majority of voters voting at
 a regular or special municipal election. In the event that
 the total number of votes cast for and against the
 question for the referred order or resolve should be less
 than ten (10) percent of the registered voters of the
 city, then such order or resolve shall be deemed to be
 approved and effective.

 (e) The form of the ballot question for the referred order or
 resolve shall be substantially as follows:

 Shall the order or resolve entitled "
 ", be approved?
(Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)




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 ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1. No personal interest.

 Neither the mayor nor anyNo member of the city council or
school board or board or commission thereof and no officer or
employee of the city or school department shall:

 (a) Have a substantial financial interest, direct or indirect,
 in any contract entered into by or on behalf of the City
 of Portland or the school board, except his or her
 employment contract, or in the sale to or by the city or
 school department of any land, materials, supplies or
 services when such officer, employee or member exercises
 on behalf of the city or school department any function or
 responsibility with respect to such contract or sale. All
 contracts or sales made in violation hereof are void, and
 the city treasurer is expressly forbidden to pay any money
 out of the city treasury on account of any such
 transaction.

 (b) Purchase or accept anything from the city or school
 department, other than those items or services which are
 offered to the public generally, and then only upon the
 same terms and under the same procedures offered to and
 used for the general public. This shall not include those
 items or services which are received as compensation, or
 as a part of such person's employment contract, or which
 are necessary for the performance of such person's duties.

 (c) Accept or receive from any person, firm, or corporation
 acting under a franchise, contract, or license from the
 city or school department, any frank, free pass, free
 ticket, or  free service, or  accept, directly  or
 indirectly, from any such person, firm, or corporation any
 service upon terms more favorable than those granted to
 the public generally. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 1-A. Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics

  Ethics Commission and Code of Ethics Ordinance. The city council
shall enact and maintain an ordinance that establishes an ethics
commission and, with input from the ethics commission, shall enact
a code of ethics ordinance to be administered by the ethics
commission. Upon the effective date of the code of ethics
ordinance, the existing code of ethics resolution adopted by the


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city council shall be repealed. The ethics commission shall
provide impartial oversight and render decisions and advisory
opinions to ensure that standards of ethical conduct are observed
by elected and appointed City officials and City employees.

 (a) Ethics Commission Ordinance.

 The city council shall enact an ordinance directing it to
create an ethics commission, appointed by the city council and
consisting of seven (7) members who are residents of the City,
serving for three (3) year terms, to undertake the following
duties:

 1. Prepare and recommend a code of ethics ordinance to the
 city council for enactment as provided in subsection (b)
 below;
 2. Review the ethics commission and code of ethics
 ordinances not less than once every three (3) years and
 make recommendations for any amendments to the city
 council;
 3. Hear complaints and render written decisions with
 findings of fact regarding alleged violations of the
 City’s code of ethics ordinance, provided that
 complaints regarding City employees’ ongoing or prior
 alleged violations or misconduct shall be referred to
 the City for appropriate action under its personnel
 policies;
 4. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding questions of
 prospective application of the City’s code of ethics
 ordinance;
 5. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding questions of
 compliance with the City charter;
 6. Hear and render advisory opinions regarding adherence to
 council and board rules and procedures;
 7. On receipt of requests from a majority of the city
 council or of any board or committee, procure a second
 legal opinion from outside legal counsel; and
 8. Design and oversee program evaluations.

 Elected City officials, candidates for any City elected
office, and their immediate family members are not eligible to be
appointed as members of the ethics commission.

 The ethics commission shall meet as needed, but no less than
annually.

 The ethics commission ordinance shall establish the process
for filing, hearing and deciding complaints and for soliciting


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advisory opinions. Complaints may be filed by any official,
employee, or resident of the city, by the accountability officer,
or may be initiated by the ethics commission, in accordance with
that process. Requests for advisory opinions may be filed by any
official or employee of the city, in accordance with that process.
Receipt of a complaint or request shall be acknowledged by the
ethics commission. If the ethics commission finds any complaint
filed with it to have been based upon allegations it determines to
be frivolous, scurrilous, libelous, unsubstantiated, unfounded, of
nuisance, or with malice, it may so determine and may dismiss the
complaint without deciding the merits of the complaint.

 The ethics commission ordinance and complaint process shall
protect the identity and rights of complainants, whistleblowers,
and persons complained against in accordance with and as required
by all State and federal laws, regulations, codes, municipal
ordinances, and policies, including but not limited to the Maine
Freedom of Access Act, the Maine Whistleblowers’ Act, and the City
of Portland’s personnel policies. The ethics commission shall
refer any complaint alleging corruption, fraud, or abuse of a
criminal nature to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

 The ethics commission shall be an independent body, free from
interference from any City elected and appointed officials and
employees. The ethics commission may request funding from the city
council for independent investigations, legal services, staffing,
or other demands pertinent to its mission.

 (b) Code of Ethics.

 The city council shall, with the recommendation of the
ethics commission, enact and maintain a code of ethics ordinance
defining the code of ethical conduct for elected and appointed
City officials and City employees. At a minimum, such code of
ethics ordinance shall include and address:

 1. Standards of Conduct;
 2. Conflicts of Interest;
 3. Confidential Information; and
 4. Disclosure Forms for City elected and appointed
 officials to complete and file with the city clerk and
 update as appropriate.

 (c) Appointment of Accountability Officer.

 The ethics commission may recommend that the city council
appoint an accountability officer and fund that position. The
accountability officer shall: serve as an ombudsperson to members


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of the public; provide City information to the public and
officials to educate them about government accountability,
integrity, and transparency; provide training for public officials
on ethical matters; and undertake such other duties as may be
requested by the ethics commission and authorized by the city
council. The accountability officer may provide administrative
support for the civilian police review board. The accountability
officer also shall receive complaints from the public about
alleged government waste, favoritism, mismanagement, and
violations of the public trust; the accountability officer will
refer matters that are within the scope of the ethics commission’s
duties to the ethics commission, and vice versa.

 (d) Violations of the Code of Ethics.

 Violations of the code of ethics ordinance shall be addressed
as set out in that ordinance, provided, however, that any city
councilor or mayor found by the ethics commission to be in
violation of or to have violated the ethics code may be
reprimanded or censured by the city council.

Section 1-B. Peaks Island Council.

 The city council shall maintain an ordinance establishing the
“Peaks Island Council,” including powers, duties, membership
requirements and other necessary provisions deemed appropriate by
the city council. The Peaks Island Council shall act as an elected
advisory body to the city council.


Section 2. Ordinances, rules and regulations continued.

 All ordinances in force at the time that this charter takes
effect, not inconsistent with this charter, shall continue in
force until amended or repealed. All rules and regulations of the
municipal officers or of any office of the City of Portland in
force at the time that this charter takes effect, not inconsistent
with the provisions hereof, shall continue in force until amended
or repealed.

Section 3. Continuity of actions.

 All rights, actions, proceedings, prosecutions and contracts
of the city or any of its departments, pending or unexecuted when
this charter goes into effect and not inconsistent therewith shall
be enforced, continued or completed in all respects as though
begun or executed hereunder.



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Section 4. Summons before city council and civil service
commission.

 The clerks of the supreme judicial and superior courts may
issue summonses or subpoenas for witnesses to attend and to produce
books, documents and papers at any meeting of the city council or
of the civil service commission of the City of Portland at which a
hearing is had in any matter regarding any alleged dereliction,
which summonses shall be served as summonses are required to be
served in matters before the supreme judicial or superior courts.
Failure to obey a summons or subpoena shall be punished by the
appropriate court in the same manner as contempt is punished under
the general law. (Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 5. Effect of private and special laws.

 Private and special laws which apply to the City of Portland
in effect on November 4, 1986 shall continue in force until amended
or repealed. (Referendum 11/4/86)


 Article IX. CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARD

Section 1. Purposes, composition, term, appointment, first
board, qualifications, vacancies, removal, compensation.

 (a) Purposes. For the purposes of increasing public trust
 and confidence in the Portland Police Department, there shall
 be a civilian police review board.

 (b) Composition, term, appointment, first board. The
 civilian police review board shall be composed of nine (9) or
 more members who shall hold office, except as hereinafter
 provided, for a term of three (3) years unless appointed to
 fill a vacancy, and until their successors are appointed and
 qualified, but in no case longer than 120 days after
 expiration of their term. A minimum of four (4) voting
 members shall be appointed by the city council, one (1)
 voting member shall be appointed by the mayor and three (3)
 non-voting members shall be appointed by the city council. A
 majority of the total number of voting members appointed
 shall constitute a quorum of the board and the board shall
 act by a majority of voting members present and voting.

 For the first board appointed following its creation,
 the city council and mayor shall first select from the
 current members of the police citizen review subcommittee,
 currently established by City ordinance, which subcommittee


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 shall be supplanted by the board, in making appointments to
 the board. On the first board, two voting members shall
 serve for a one (1) year term, two voting members shall serve
 for a two (2) year term, and the voting member appointed by
 the mayor, shall serve for a three (3) year term; and one
 non-voting member shall serve for a one (1) year term, one
 non-voting member shall serve for a two (2) year term, and
 one non-voting member shall serve for a three (3) year term.
 Thereafter, all members shall serve for a term of three (3)
 years. No person shall be appointed to, nor serve, more than
 three (3) consecutive full terms or nine (9) consecutive
 years, whichever is greater, on the board. Following
 appointment of the first board, the city council shall
 exercise its power of appointment only after the city clerk
 has published a notice announcing the availability of board
 positions, describing the responsibilities thereof and
 soliciting applications by qualified persons, in a newspaper
 of general circulation at least 15 days before the city
 council acts to appoint to the board.

 (c) Qualifications. All candidates for the civilian police
 review board must be at least 18 years of age and must be
 residents of the City for a period of at least three (3)
 months prior to the date on or before which the board member
 is to be seated.

 (d) Vacancies and Removal. The City Council shall provide by
 ordinance procedures for vacancies and removal of members.

 (e) Training. Prior to assuming their duties hereunder,
 civilian police review board members shall attend training
 provided by city staff as to the board’s duties and
 responsibilities, applicable state and local law, ordinances
 and rules and regulations, accepted police practices and the
 police department’s internal affairs investigation process.

 (f) Confidentiality. Each member of the civilian police
 review board is obligated to maintain the confidentiality of
 all information and documents either provided to or reviewed
 by them, in accordance with state law. Failure to maintain
 such confidentiality will constitute “cause” for removal from
 the board under (d) above. All reports prepared by the board
 and all requests received by the board for disclosure of any
 information or documents in the custody of the board or its
 members shall be referred to the corporation counsel for
 review prior to release.




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 (g) Transition. The city council shall promptly consider and
 enact an ordinance to implement this Article, which ordinance
 upon its effective date also shall repeal the existing Police
 Citizen Review Committee ordinance provisions in Chapter 2,
 Art. IV, Div. 4 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Portland,
 Maine.

Section 2. Powers and duties.

 (a) Complaints. The civilian police review board shall
 receive all complaints brought by civilians regarding the
 Portland police department and shall refer such complaints to
 the Portland police internal affairs department. Members of
 the police department may bring complaints to the board, to
 internal affairs, or to command; the board shall refer any
 such complaints it receives to internal affairs. Portland
 police department command shall review internal affairs draft
 findings on complaints and shall submit its report on the
 conclusions of any investigation on complaints to the board
 for consideration no more than fourteen (14) days after the
 findings become final and after any final disciplinary action
 has been taken and all appeals exhausted or settled or the
 case has been closed with no disciplinary action. Neither
 police officers nor their representatives may file complaints
 regarding disciplinary actions or personnel matters under
 this subsection.

 (b) Review, reports. The board shall review all final
 investigation reports submitted by internal affairs and/or
 command staff under Section 2. (a) above for due process
 issues, including but not limited to, issues of fairness,
 thoroughness, objectivity, and timeliness. Although it shall
 have access to individual internal affairs reports in order
 to review investigative methods and procedures, all reports
 of the board issued to address complaints filed under Section
 2. (a) above shall be done in such a manner that particular
 complainants, witnesses and officers are not personally
 identifiable. Reports of the board shall be made available
 to the public to the extent consistent with the State Freedom
 of Access Act, 1 M.R.S.A. Sec. 401 et seq.

 (c) Appeals. The city council shall by ordinance adopt an
 appeal process consistent with federal, state, and local law
 for persons aggrieved by a report issued by the civilian
 police review board on complaints filed with the Board under
 Section 2. (a) above to appeal that Board report to the city
 council or such other body as the city council may designate
 or create for a hearing, in executive session where required,


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 Article VIII Rev. 12-6-12

 and for the issuance of an advisory opinion which shall not
 be legally binding on the city, the police department, police
 officers, or individuals, and which hearing and advisory
 opinion shall not include or address any disciplinary
 proceedings. Neither police officers nor their
 representatives may file appeals regarding disciplinary
 actions or personnel matters under this subsection.

 (d) Policy. The civilian police review board shall be able
 to make policy recommendations to the mayor, the city
 council, and the chief of police.

 (e) Annual report, communications, additional duties. The
 civilian police review board shall hold a public hearing at
 least annually to receive comments upon the community
 complaint process and to engage City residents as to the
 board’s purposes and goals, and shall prepare and present to
 the mayor, city council, and chief of police an annual
 report, including but not be limited to, policy and funding
 recommendations, and the number of complaints submitted to
 the board and the number of complaints resolved during the
 previous year. Any recommendations made by the board
 regarding the police department shall be based on policy
 evaluations, may be assigned by the city council and mayor to
 staff for research, and may be enacted or implemented. The
 board also may, in its discretion, address the city council
 on an as-needed basis. The city council and mayor may add to
 the board’s duties by ordinance at any time.

 (f) Board Officers & Procedural Rules. The civilian police
 board shall annually elect one of its members to serve as
 chair, and shall annually elect one of its members to serve
 as vice-chair, to serve in the absence of the chair. The City
 Council shall by ordinance establish rules of procedure and
 board member roles. The board may recommend such rules to
 the City Council.

Section 3. Funding, staff, resources.

 (a) Funding, staff. The civilian police review board shall
 be funded as needed by the city council through the annual
 budget. Such funding shall include professional staff,
 including but not limited to a “Community Liaison” and a
 “Police Liaison” familiar with Portland police department
 standard operating procedures. The city council shall decide
 whether the community liaison and police liaison positions
 are part-time or full-time and/or whether the duties of these
 positions may be assigned to existing employees. The


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 Code of Ordinances
 Article VIII Rev. 12-6-12

 community liaison shall serve at the direction of the board
 and shall ensure the public is aware of the methods for
 filing complaints, and shall assist the board with carrying
 out its duties, powers and functions, conducting outreach and
 with other duties as the board may assign. The board may
 request additional funding from the city council at any time.
 The police liaison may be the same person/position as the
 “technical advisor” described in Section 3(b) below.

 (b) Resources. The city shall make available to the board
 the services of a technical advisor, as needed by the board.
 The technical advisor may be used for the purposes of
 training; briefing the board on accepted police practices,
 applicable law and issues relevant to the discharge of the
 citizen review function; and educating the board on aspects
 of the internal investigation process. The technical advisor
 shall be retained by the city manager after consultation with
 the chief of police, representatives of the police unions and
 the chair of the board. Any person who presently maintains
 any business or professional affiliation with the police
 department shall be disqualified from serving as technical
 advisor. The city shall further make available all internal
 affairs investigation reports and police documents relevant
 to such investigations which are necessary for the board to
 conduct its duties hereunder. In no case shall the board
 have access to police officers’ personnel records except to
 the extent that they are part of an internal affairs
 investigation report or are considered a public document
 under the Maine Freedom of Access Act.

 (c) Coordination. The board shall work in conjunction with
 the City’s communications department, internal affairs, and
 any other city departments or offices to effectuate all
 powers and duties granted to it in this charter and any
 additional duties assigned to it by the city council or
 mayor.




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 Code of Ordinances
 Article VIII Rev. 12-6-12


 APPENDIX A

 Charter Legislative History

  1. Town of Portland incorporated by Act of Commonwealth of
 Massachusetts on July 4, 1786; Town of Portland Records, p.
 1
  2. City of Portland incorporated by adoption of charter on
 March 26, 1832; original charter can be found in Chapter
 248, Special Laws of Maine 1832, p. 380; amendments as
 follows:
c. 325, S.L. 1833, p. 501
c. 500, S.L. 1834, p. 749
c. 402, S.L. 1838, p. 511
c. 541, S.L. 1839, p. 648




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 Code of Ordinances
 Article VIII Rev. 12-6-12


c. 33, P & SL 1842, p. 25
c. 200, P & SL 1845, p. 258
c. 266, P & SL 1845, p. 310
c. 233, P & SL 1849, p. 333
c. 330, P & SL 1850, p. 458
c. 167, P & SL 1853, p. 158
c. 35, P & SL 1857, p. 48
c. 103, P & SL 1857, p. 93
c. 109, P & SL 1857, p. 100
A total revision of the charter was accomplished in 1863; c. 275,
P & SL 1863, p. 257; amendments as follows:
c. 348, P & SL 1870, p. 316
c. 647, P & SL 1871, p. 624
c. 21, P & SL 1875, p. 16
c. 8, P & SL 1881, p. 9
c. 86, P & SL 1881, p. 86
(c. 450, P & SL 1897, p. 707--Revision of charter rejected by
voters in
1897)
 c. 384, P & SL 1901, p. 569
 c. 68, P & SL 1903, p. 116
 (c. 287, P & SL 1905, p. 328--abolishing common council
 rejected by
voters April 24, 1905)
c. 344, P & SL 1907, p. 638
c. 427, P & SL 1907, p. 758
(c. 148, P & SL 1921, p. 513--"Murray Bill" charter revision
rejected by voters September 13, 1921)
(c. 149, P & SL 1921, p. 532--"Brewster Bill" charter revision
rejected by voters September 13, 1921)
A total revision of the charter was accomplished in 1923 by
adoption by voters of "Brewster Bill" on September 11, 1923; c.
109, P & SL 1923, p. 596; ("Nichols Bill" c.104, P & SL 1923, p.
557 was rejected same date); amendments as follows:
c. 56, P & SL 1929, p. 484
(c. 112, P & SL 1929, p. 604--Mayor--Alderman form rejected by
voters on September 10, 1929)
c. 31, P & SL 1931, p. 353
c. 50, P & SL 1945, p. 629
c. 113, P & SL 1945, p. 736
c. 144, P & SL 1945, p. 71
c. 72, P & SL 1947, p. 722
c. 72, P & SL 1949, p. 765
c. 103, P & SL 1949, p. 803
c. 28, P & SL 1953, p. 528
c. 108, P & SL 1955, p. 756
c. 88, P & SL 1957, p. 707


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 Code of Ordinances
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c. 143, P & SL 1959, p. 873
A total revision of the charter was accomplished in 1961; c. 194,
P & SL 1961, p 1125; amendments as follows:
c. 64, P & SL 1963, p. 966
c. 65, P & SL 1963, p. 967
c. 157, P & SL 1963, p. 1187
c. 177, P & SL 1963, § 1, p. 1291
(c. 6, P & SL 1965, p. 649 rejected by voters on December 6, 1965)
c. 7, p & SL 1965, p. 650
c. 81, P & SL 1965, p. 760




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 Code of Ordinances
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(c. 127, P & SL 1965, p. 849 rejected by voters on December 6,
1965)
c. 221, P & SL 1967, p. 136
c. 83, P & SL 1969, p. 1628
c. 136, P & SL 1969, p. 1792
c. 146, P & SL 1969, p. 1820
(c. 185, P & SL 1969, p. 1958 rejected by voters on November 3,
1970)
State constitutional law reference--Municipal home rule,
 Const. of Maine, Art. VIII, Pt. 2.

 Referend 12/4/72 Art. I,
 a 1
 Referend 12/1/75 Art. II, 2
 a
 Art. IV, 2
 Art. IV, 4
 Art. V,
 2
 Art. VII 1
 ,
 Referend 11/2/76** Art. II, 1
 a
 Art.
 II, 4
 Art.
 III 1,2,5
 ,
 Art. IV, 2,3,4,
 6
 Art. V,
 2
Referenda 6/13/78 Art. II, 1,2,3,5
Art. III, 1,2,3,4
Art. IV, 1,2,3,6
Art. VII,3,4,5,6
Referenda 11/4/86***Art. II, 1,2,4,5
Art. III, 1,5
Art. IV, 1,2,3,4,6,7,9
Art. V, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Art. VI, 1,2,5
Art. VII 7-10 (Rpld)
Art. VI, 11-12 (Rnbd as Art. VI,
7-8)
Art. VII, 3,4,9,10,16
Art. VIII, 1,4,5
Art. VIII, 6 (Rpld)
Referenda 11/3/87 Art. II, 2
Art. III, 1


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 Code of Ordinances
 Article VIII Rev. 12-6-12

Referenda 11/5/91 Art. VII, 9 Referenda 11/8/94 Art. VII, 9
Referenda 11/2/99 Art. II, 4
Art. III, 5
Art. VII, 9
Referenda 11/7/00 Art. II, 3,5
Art. III, 2,3
Art. IV, 2
Referenda 11/6/01 Art, IV, 2,6,8,10 Referenda 11/4/08 Art. IV,
3,4,5, 6,7,11
Referenda 11/2/10**** Charter Revisions recommended
by the Portland Charter Commission established on November 4,
2008, and passed by the voters on November 2,2010


**Editor's note--The amendment establishing district councilor
elections became effective January 1, 1976, except that for the
purpose of nomination and election of district councilors such
amendment shall apply as the presently occupied district seats
become available thereafter by normal expiration of term or by
vacancy and to every district election thereafter.


***Editor's note--A referendum passed Nov. 4, 1986 and effective
July 1, 1987, repealed former sections 7 through 10 of article VI
to eliminate references to obsolete offices (assistant assessors,
director of public welfare) and renumbered former sections 11 and
12 as 7 and 8 respectively. Former sections 7 through 10 derived
from the legislation enumerated in the first editor's note to this
Charter.

***Editor's note--A referendum passed Nov. 4, 1986, effective July
1, 1987, amended section 4 of article VIII to clarify the summons-
subpoena power and to provide that failure to obey either a
summons or a subpoena will subject offenders to contempt. Former
section 5 of this article was deleted as a result of the amendment
to section 4 and a new section 5 added to preserve certain rights
granted to the city by special acts of the legislature. Former
section 6 was deleted to conform to 30 M.R.S.A. § 1915(4) which
establishes the effective date of Charter revisions. See the
editor's note to the Charter for derivations of deleted sections.


****Editor’s note--Portland voters approved a referendum passed on
November 4, 2008 to establish a Portland Charter Commission to
make recommendations to revise the Portland City Charter. Those
recommendations were subsequently passed by the voters on November
2, 2010, and incorporated the provisions on the popularly elected
mayor in Article 2, as well as making changes to the School and
Elections articles and technical amendments throughout the

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document.




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Portland Charter Commission – Final Report


VI. ATTORNEY LEGAL OPINIONS




{P2036921.8}


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 : MEMORANDUM
 To: Michael Kebede, Esq.
 chair, itt;iPilft zazt-zz chwter commission

 From: John Brautigarn, Esq.

 Date: July 7,2Q22

 Re: Opinion of Attprney re: Legplitv of Prop;sed Charter Modificatipns


 Pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. $ 2103(5XDX4), it is my opinion that the Charter language in
 BALLOT QLJESTION #3 (attached) does not contain any provision prohibited by the United
 States Constitution, the Constitution of Maine or the general laws.

 (n
-+#fia^
 YohnBrautigam
 Maine Bar #8223




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 Page 206
BALLOT QUESTION #3—Clean Elections

1. Proposed Summary

QUESTION #3

Shall the Municipality Approve the Charter Modifications Recommended by the Charter
Commission Relating to Clean Elections as Summarized Below?
Summary: These modifications establish a City of Portland Clean Election Fund to provide
public campaign funds to qualified candidates for elected municipal offices, beginning in FY
2023-2024. Candidate participation shall be voluntary. The city council shall provide an
independent allocation from the city’s budget each year to sustain the Clean Election Fund and
the city council shall by ordinance direct that the Clean Election Fund must:
 • Limit the amount of funds a participating candidate may raise;
 • Be limited to candidates who meet certain requirements, such as demonstrated public
 support and participation in a city-sponsored forum or voter education event; and
 • Require that all unused funds be returned to the Clean Election Fund.
In addition to establishing the Clean Election Fund, these modifications:
 • Prohibit corporate contributions to any candidate for municipal office;
 • Prohibit ballot question contributions or expenditures from any entity that is substantially
 under foreign influence; and
 • Require that all contributions to campaigns be reported to the city clerk and that the city
 clerk create a searchable online database of information contained in filed registrations
 and campaign finance reports.

2. Charter Language

Note: This contains only the provisions related to the Commission proposals in Question # 3
and only those sections which will be changed if this question is adopted. Deletions are shown
by strikeouts; new language is underlined.

Amend ARTICLE IV., ELECTIONS, to add Section 12, Public financing of municipal
elections, and Section 13, Campaign finance rules, as follow:

Section 12. Public financing of municipal elections.

The city council shall establish and fully fund a City of Portland Clean Election Fund
(hereinafter, the “Clean Election Fund” or the “Fund”) to provide public campaign funds to
qualified candidates for elected municipal offices. The Clean Election Fund must be available to
candidates in municipal elections beginning in FY 2023-2024. Candidate participation in the
Clean Election Fund shall be voluntary.

Beginning in FY 2023-2024 to allow for implementation for the November 2023 election, the


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city council shall provide an independent allocation from the city’s budget each year to ensure
the Clean Election Fund is sustained at a level that facilitates competitive campaigns for
participating candidates who meet qualifying criteria. The Clean Election Fund shall be
administered by the city clerk and the city council shall appropriate sufficient funds to ensure
there are adequate resources, including paid staff, to effectively administer the Fund.

The city council shall maintain an ordinance directing the operation of the Clean Election Fund.
The ordinance shall direct that the Clean Election Fund must:

 (a) Limit the amount of private funds a participating candidate may raise;
 (b) Be limited to candidates who
 i. demonstrate public support;
 ii. enter into a binding agreement stating that the candidate will not
 accept private contributions other than those which are permitted by
 the Clean Election Fund; and
 iii. agree to participate in at least one (1) city-sponsored forum or voter
 education event.
 (c) Require that all unused funds from a participating candidate’s campaign be
 returned to the Clean Election Fund within one hundred (100) days after the date
 of the election.

The city council may adopt additional regulations and ordinances not inconsistent with this
section.


Section 13. Campaign finance rules.

 (a) Corporate Contributions. A business entity may not make contributions to any
 candidate for municipal office. The term “business entity” refers to a firm,
 partnership, corporation, incorporated association, or other organization, whether
 organization as a for-profit or a nonprofit entity. A separate segregated fund
 committee may not make contributions to any candidate for municipal office
 using funds that derive, in whole or in part, from a business entity. Where a
 business entity establishes a separate segregated fund committee, that business
 entity may provide the separate segregated fund committee with the use of
 offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that use does not
 result in additional cost to the business entity.
 (b) Foreign Contributions. The city council shall by ordinance enact a prohibition
 on ballot question contributions or expenditures from any entity that is
 substantially under foreign influence, including any entity owned by a foreign
 government and any entity with substantial foreign ownership. The city council
 shall promulgate rules to specify compliance requirements and otherwise to
 enforce this ordinance.
 (c) Additional Rules by Ordinance. The city council may adopt additional
 regulations and ordinances governing campaign spending, not inconsistent with
 this section.



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 (d) Campaign Contributions Reporting. All contributions to campaigns for
 candidates or ballot questions must be reported to the city clerk, in conformance
 with any applicable State law. The clerk must establish a searchable, online, and
 publicly-accessible database of all information included in all registrations and
 campaign finance reports filed with the clerk.




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 Agnieszka A. Dixon 84 Marginal Way, Suite 600
 Admitted in ME Portland, Maine 04101-2480
 207.772.1941 Main
 E. William Stockmeyer 207.772.3627 Fax
 Admitted in ME, NH




June 29, 2022

Delivery via email to mkebede@portlandmaine.gov and jkatsiaficas@perkinsthompson.com

City of Portland Charter Commission
c/o Perkins Thompson
P.O. Box 426
Portland, ME 04112
Attn: James N. Katsiaficas, Esq.

RE: Opinion on Proposed School Budget Charter Revision

Dear Charter Commission:

We serve as counsel to Portland Public Schools. At the request of Portland Public Schools, we provide
this opinion to the Charter Commission with respect to the proposed City of Portland Charter revision
to the school budget adoption procedures, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “School Budget
Charter Revision”).

It is our understanding that the Charter Commission intends to use this opinion to satisfy the statutory
requirement that its final report to the City Council “include . . . [a] written opinion by an attorney
admitted to the bar of [Maine] that the proposed charter or charter revision does not contain any
provision prohibited by the United State Constitution, the Constitution of Maine or the general laws.”
30-A M.R.S.A. § 2103(5)(D).

This letter is in three parts. In Part A, we summarize the School Budget Charter Revision and address
some preliminary matters; in Part B, we explain our legal analysis; and in Part C we provide our legal
opinion.

A. PRELIMINARY MATTERS

 1. What is the School Budget Charter Revision?

The School Budget Charter Revision directs the School Board to submit its proposed budget to a public
hearing and to the City Council. After receiving public comment and City Council recommendations,
if any, the School Board then determines the school budget. The City Council then submits the School
Board’s total budget directly to the City of Portland voters for final approval at a budget validation
referendum (BVR) or, if the City voters elect to eliminate the BVR, at a municipal school budget
referendum. The School Budget Charter Revision would thus change the City Council’s role to an
advisory one in the school budget process. The School Board, rather than the City Council, would
determine the total proposed school budget that is submitted to the City voters. The City voters would
continue to hold final authority to approve the total school budget at a referendum.


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 2. Who is our client?

In all matters with respect to the Charter Commission, we have been clear that our client is Portland
Public Schools. That includes this opinion letter.

 3. May the Charter Commission rely upon our opinion?

Although the Charter Commission is not our client, we recognize that the Charter Commission intends
to include our opinion in its final report to the City Council. On the question of whether a charter
commission may rely upon the opinion only of its own attorney, and may not rely on the opinion of
another party’s attorney, we note that the only statutory limitation is that the attorney be a member of
the Maine Bar. We further note that the home rule chapter in Title 30-A, where the provision for charter
revisions and the requirement for a legal opinion are housed, “shall be liberally construed to accomplish
its purposes.” 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2109. We also note that the Maine Law Court appears to have largely
addressed this question in Nasberg, a case that involved the parallel situation of a petitioned charter
amendment.1 See Nasberg v. Augusta, 662 A.2d 227 (Me. 1995). In Nasberg, the Augusta city
attorney wrote an opinion to the mayor and city council that a proposed charter amendment violated
the Maine Constitution. The city council advised the charter amendment proponents that in order to
get the amendment on the ballot, “they would have to obtain a written opinion by an attorney stating
that the proposed charter amendment did not violate any law or constitutional provision.” Id. at 228.
The proponents then sought an injunction ordering the city to place the amendment on the ballot.
The Court noted, however, that the proponents did so “[w]ithout securing an attorney’s letter.” Id.
The Superior Court granted the city’s motion to dismiss, and the Maine Law Court affirmed.
Accordingly, in circumstances where the city attorney did not provide “an attorney’s letter,” the failure
to secure a written opinion from another member of the bar to accompany the charter report was the
basis of the dismissal. The Court thus effectively said that the written opinion could be provided by
an attorney other than the city attorney. For these reasons, we believe the Charter Commission may
rely upon this opinion letter for purposes of its final report to the City Council.

 4. Is there a conflict of interest?

As previously stated, we are counsel only to the Portland Public Schools, but we acknowledge
responsibility to be objective in this opinion letter. In this type of circumstance, a lawyer may have a
conflict of interest if there is a significant risk that the representation of the client (Portland Public
Schools) would be materially limited by the lawyer’s responsibilities to a third party (the Charter
Commission); however, even with the existence of such a conflict of interest, in appropriate
circumstances, the lawyer may represent the client with the client’s informed consent, confirmed in
writing. Under the circumstances here, we do not believe there is a significant risk that our duties to
Portland Public Schools would be materially limited by our responsibilities to provide an objective
opinion letter to the Charter Commission. In any case, we have explained the matter to Superintendent
Xavier Botana and School Board Chair Emily Figdor, who requested this letter on behalf of the School
Board, and we have obtained informed, written consent to prepare and submit this letter to the Charter
Commission.

1
  The Nasberg case involved a charter amendment by petition under section 2104 rather than a charter commission
revision under section 2103, but the two sections use identical language to require a “written opinion by an attorney
admitted to the bar of this State.” Compare 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2103(5)(D)(4) (attorney opinion for charter commission
revisions) with § 2104(5)(B) (attorney opinion for petitioned charter amendments).




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 5. How is this opinion letter different from our Memoranda to Portland Public Schools?

We have provided various memoranda to Portland Public Schools on proposals to change the budget
approval process by charter revision (collectively, “DW Memoranda”). The following DW
Memoranda have been circulated previously and the subject of public discussion, and for convenience,
they are attached to this letter:

 Memorandum 1: “Portland Charter—School Governance, Policy, and Management Matters,”
  dated August 11, 2021 (providing a general overview of school governance and charter authority,
  including the responsibility of the city council or “other municipal legislative body” to determine
  the total school budget);

 Memorandum 2: “Portland Charter—School Governance, Policy, and Management: The School
  Budget Approval Process and Bonding Authority,” dated November 5, 2021 (addressing whether
  the “other municipal legislative body” could be the voters);

 Memorandum 3: “Proposals for Charter Provisions Regarding School Budget Approval Procedures
  and School Bonding Authority,” dated January 24, 2022 (addressing whether the “other municipal
  legislative body” could be the school board); and

 Memorandum 4: “Charter Revisions Regarding School Budget Approval Procedures—Review of
  Charter Commission Education Committee Proposal,” dated April 4, 2022 (providing additional
  legal analysis regarding the role of the school board as the “other municipal legislative body”).

The DW Memoranda address various subjects, while our opinion in this letter is limited to the School
Budget Charter Revision. We express no opinion except as expressly set forth in Part C of this letter.

 6. Is our opinion letter a so-called “clean” opinion or a reasoned opinion?

This is a reasoned opinion different in function from a third party legal opinion in a commercial
transaction. As a reasoned opinion, it reflects our judgment on the current state of the law and our
opinion that a court faced with this issue would likely rule that the School Budget Charter Revision is
not prohibited by Maine law. This is not a guarantee. As we have noted in our DW Memoranda, there
are arguments favoring other legal views on this matter and, consequently, the matter is not without
legal risk. We refer you, for example, to the arguments advanced by Attorneys Jim Katsiaficas and
Emily Arvizu in their memoranda to the Charter Commission dated December 14, 2021 and April 13,
2022. Portions of our analysis in Part B of this letter address these arguments.

B. ANALYSIS

This Part B provides a summary of our analysis and reasoning for our legal opinion in Part C.

 1. Municipal charter power is broad and entitled to a presumption of validity.

The Legislature intended municipal home rule authority—including the power to enact and revise a
municipal charter—to be a broad grant of local authority. The municipal statute provides that the home
rule power, “being necessary for the welfare of the municipalities and their inhabitants, shall be



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liberally construed to accomplish its purposes.” 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2109. Thus, charters are entitled to
a presumption of validity by Maine courts under home rule principles articulated in the York decision
and many other cases. See School Committee of Town of York v. Town of York, 626 A.2d 935, 939
(Me. 1993) (holding that there is no express or implied denial of a municipality’s home rule power to
enact a charter provision divesting school committee of authority to determine school budget presented
to voters and placing that authority in a separate budget committee). Accordingly, the burden rests on
the person attacking a charter provision to prove that it exceeds municipal home rule authority, and not
on the municipality to prove that it does not.

 2. No provision of the School Budget Charter Revision is expressly prohibited by the
 U.S. Constitution, the Maine Constitution, or the general laws of Maine.

The general grant of charter power is circumscribed (i) when state law expressly prohibits local
regulation or (ii) when state law is silent with respect to local regulation and a court determines that
the Legislature intended to prohibit local regulation because such local action would frustrate the
purpose of a state law. Together, these limitations are known as the doctrine of preemption.

The first category (express preemption) is obvious because the prohibitions to locally regulate a subject
area or the division of regulatory powers are expressly written into state law. With respect to the
School Budget Charter Revision, we could find no provision in the United States Constitution, the
Maine Constitution, or the general laws that expressly prohibit the School Budget Charter Revision.

To the contrary, the express language of the relevant law states that the school budget meeting “must
be a meeting of the municipal council or other legislative body established by the charter with authority
to approve the budget.” 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2307(1) (emphasis added). This provision expressly defers
to charters to establish a legislative body with authority to approve the school budget. We see no
express denial here of Portland’s charter authority to allow the School Board to be the “other municipal
legislative body” for purposes of the school budget meeting.

 3. No provision of the School Budget Charter Revision appears to be prohibited by
 necessary implication by the U.S. Constitution, the Maine Constitution, or the general
 laws of Maine.

With respect to the second category (implicit preemption), the analysis is more complex, but over a
dozen Maine court cases are on point. These can be summed up as follows: First, and as previously
stated, the general rule is that a charter is presumed valid. Second, it is not enough for a court to find
that there is a conflict or an inconsistency between a state law and a charter provision. In order for
municipal legislation to fail, a court must find that the Legislature has enacted a comprehensive and
exclusive scheme for regulating the same subject matter (i.e., that it has intended to “exclusively
occupy the field”) and that the local regulation is so inconsistent with state law that it would frustrate
the purpose or actual operation of state law.2


2
 See Portland Pipe Line Corp. v. City of S. Portland, 2020 ME 125, 240 A.3d 364; Dubois Livestock, Inc. v. Town of
Arundel, 2014 ME 122, 103 A.3d 556; State of Maine v. Brown, 2014 ME 79, 95 A.3d 82; Smith v. Town of Pittston,
2003 ME 46, 820 A.2d 1200; Sawyer Envtl. Recovery Facilities v. Town of Hampden, 2000 ME 179, 760 A.2d 257;
Perkins v. Town of Ogunquit, 1998 ME 42, 709 A.2d 106; International Paper Co. v. Town of Jay, 665 A.2d 998 (Me.
1995); School Committee of Town of York v. Town of York, 626 A.2d 935, 939 (Me. 1993); Central Maine Power v.
Town of Lebanon, 5711 A.2d 1189 (Me. 1990); Midcoast Disposal, Inc. v. Town of Union, 537 A.2d 1149 (Me. 1988);



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In the DW Memoranda, much of our preemption analysis focuses on Section 2307 of Title 20-A, which
provides that “[n]otwithstanding any other law, municipal school budgets . . . must follow the same
school budget requirements as regional school units.” These requirements are described in detail in
our November 5, 2021 DW Memorandum but, in short, the school board prepares and approves a
budget, which is then submitted to the budget meeting. Alone, that sentence of section 2307 arguably
requires a budget meeting of voters, as that is the requirement for regional school units. In the case of
charter municipalities, however,3 the budget meeting is a “meeting of the municipal council or other
municipal legislative body established by the charter with authority to approve the budget.” 20-A
M.R.S.A. § 2307(1) (emphasis added).

Based on our review of Section 2307 and its context within the municipal and school statutes, the
legislative history of Section 2307, and applicable case law, it does not appear that the School Budget
Charter Revision is prohibited by necessary implication by Maine’s general laws for the following
reasons:

 First, subsection 1 of section 2307 plainly does not prescribe what body can serve as the municipal
 legislative body for purposes of determining the total school budget. Rather, Section 2307 appears
 to prescribe a role of a municipal legislative body (i.e., to approve the school budget), but not its
 identity—this is left for a charter municipality to specify through its charter powers. Likewise,
 nowhere else does the school statute, nor does the municipal statute, circumscribe the identity of a
 municipal legislative body. In fact, the state law definition of “municipal legislative body” plainly
 provides that such a body can be a town meeting, a city council, or something else—namely, “[t]hat
 part of a municipal government that exercises legislative powers under a law or charter.” 30-A
 M.R.S.A. § 2001. Indeed, several municipalities in Maine have at one time or another established
 municipal legislative bodies that were something other than the familiar “town meeting” or
 “council” forms of a legislative body.

 Second, in the vast majority of school systems across the state, the statutory scheme provides no
 decision-making role at all for municipal officers in the school budget approval process. Although
 not official numbers, we estimate 86 school districts (RSUs, MSADs, and CSDs) in Maine, whose
 members include towns as well as about 25 charter municipalities. We count ten school districts
 composed of single municipalities (including Old Orchard Beach and Orono, both themselves
 charter municipalities). These operate under completely separate governance for school and
 municipal functions. According to our count, there are 136 town meeting towns operating as single
 municipality school systems. In all these cases, elected school boards are able to submit their
 proposed budgets directly to their voters for approval and no municipal officials are involved in
 the process. We have found only 24 charter municipalities that are municipal school units like
 Portland. It can be fairly said that the School Budget Charter Revision will align the City’s school
 budget approval process more closely to the statutory process the Legislature enacted for use all
 over Maine.



Tisei v. Town of Ogunquit, 491 A.2d 564 (Me. 1985); Ullis v. Town of Boothbay Harbor, 452 A.2d 153 (Me. 1983);
Schwanda v. Bonney, 418 A.2d 163 (Me. 1980); Begin v. Town of Sabattus, 409 A.2d 1269 (Me. 1979).
3
  Notably, subsection 1 of section 2307 defers to home rule authority of charter municipalities to establish an “other
legislative body . . . with authority to approve the budget,” but not to home rule authority of town meeting towns to
do something similar by ordinance. This distinction between types of municipalities suggests that no implicit purpose
would be frustrated by the School Budget Charter Revision.




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 Third, case law seems to support the School Budget Charter Revision. In the York decision—the
 single case where the Maine Law Court has considered whether a municipality may use its charter
 powers to change the school budget approval process—the Court upheld the charter amendment
 against legal attack.4 Notably, the Court called the school budget submitted to voter referendum
 “advisory” and so it is. Every year, in a few school units, Maine voters reject the school board’s
 proposed budget at the BVR. The school board must then prepare a revised budget and resubmit
 the budget to the voters. Likewise, under the School Budget Charter Revision, the voters are
 ultimately responsible for adopting the “advisory” school budget (either through the BVR, or if the
 BVR is eliminated by the voters, at a municipal school budget referendum).

 Fourth, we do not read Section 2307 or the school statute as a whole as mandating by implication
 a role for a school board that is separate and distinct from the role of a municipal legislative body.
 Section 2(2) of Title 20-A provides that the state policy for education is that “[i]t is the intent of
 the Legislature that the control and management of the public schools be vested in the legislative
 and governing bodies of local school administrative units as long as those units are in compliance
 with state statutes.” Nowhere, however, does Title 20-A define or delimit “legislative bodies.”
 Further, school boards are defined to mean “the governing body with statutory powers and duties.”
 20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1(28), (29) (emphasis added). It appears to us that Title 20-A reserves to school
 boards considerable statutory authority to exercise not only governing powers but also statutory
 powers that are legislative in nature. These include the statutory power to “adopt policies that
 govern the school administrative units,” 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1001(1-A); the power to enter into
 multiple year contracts of different kinds, see e.g., 20-A M.R.S.A. § 15915 (service contracts and
 financing contracts for certain building systems up to 20 years in term); and even the authority for
 some types of school boards to issue bonds. See 20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1311(7), 1490(7) (MSAD and
 RSU boards, bonding authority under 1% of valuation); 20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1654(2)(B), 1702
 (CSDs board bonding authority). We discern no implied separation of governing and legislative
 powers into separate bodies in Title 20-A generally, but rather a situation where the governing
 body has “statutory powers and duties,” many of which would be generally understood to be
 legislative in nature.

 Fifth, we note that Section 2307(1) and (2) are exceptions to the mandate that municipal school
 units must follow the same school budget procedures as regional school units: Section 2307(1)
 clarifies that, notwithstanding the statutory mandate, charter municipalities are not restricted to the
 town meeting for the first part of the school budget approval, but may use their own legislative
 body—namely, the “municipal council or other municipal legislative body established by the
 charter.” Section 2307(2) clarifies that municipal charters may circumscribe the role of a municipal
 council or other municipal legislative body to determining the total amount of the school budget.
 Thus, Section 2307 gives charter municipalities substantially more discretionary authority than
 other school administrative units to specify the details of the school budget approval process.
 Applying the liberal construction governing implied limits on home rule authority, it is appropriate

4
  Specifically, the Court upheld a town charter provision that created an elected municipal budget committee, separate
from the school committee and the select board, vested with the power to amend the individual articles of the school
budget and the total budget before it was submitted to voters for ultimate approval at referendum. See Town of York,
626 A.2d at 937, 942 & n. 4. The Court determined that the charter provision establishing this budget approval process
was valid because there was no direct conflict between it and any statute and because it did not interfere with the
purpose of the school statute or the municipal statute. Id. at 946. As we noted in the August 11, 2021 DW
Memorandum, since the York decision, the school budget approval process was modified to require a budget meeting
followed by a budget validation referendum.




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 to ascribe broad intent to the legislative exception in section 2307(1), and so we do not believe the
 School Budget Charter Revision to be prohibited.

C. OPINION

Subject to and based upon the foregoing, including without limitation our legal analysis and reasoning
in Part B of this letter and the DW Memoranda, and the qualifications and limitations expressed therein,
in our opinion the School Budget Charter Revision does not contain any provision prohibited by the
United States Constitution, the Maine Constitution, or the general laws. For purposes of this opinion,
“prohibited” means in violation of the law, expressly or by necessary implication, extant as of the date
of this letter. Cf. Nasberg, 662 A.2d at 229 (stating that “[t]he intent of the requirement for an
attorney’s letter is to prevent clearly unconstitutional provisions from being placed on municipal
ballots,” but declining to address the constitutionality of the written opinion requirement). We provide
this letter for the purpose stated above and for no other purpose.

Very truly yours,



Agnieszka A. Dixon E. William Stockmeyer

cc: Xavier Botana, Superintendent of Schools (via email)
 Emily Figdor, School Board Chair (via email)




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 EXHIBIT A


Amend ARTICLE III., BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, Section 5, School Budget, as follows:
Prior to the submission of a school budget, the school board and city council shall establish a Joint
Committee on Budget Guidance, consisting of four city councilors and four school board members,
appointed by the Mayor and school board chair, respectively. The purpose of the joint committee
is to develop guidance for the city and school district on budget priorities and constraints, covering
a two-year period and updated annually. The joint committee shall obtain public comment on the
guidance prior to submitting the guidance as a proposed non-binding joint resolution to the city
council and school board for their approval.
Not later than three and one-half (3.5) months before the end of the fiscal year, the superintendent
shall submit to the school board budget estimates of the various sums required for the support of
public schools for the ensuing fiscal year and shall thereafter provide the school board with such
information relating to such estimates as the school board shall require.
During the thirty (30) days following submission of the superintendent’s proposed budget to the
school board, the school board and the city council, or their designated subcommittees, shall meet
jointly at least twice to review the proposed school budget, focusing on its underlying assumptions
and supporting data and the ability of the city to raise the necessary funds for the support of such
proposed budget. The superintendent and the city manager shall provide information regarding
such proposed budget as reasonably requested by the school board and the city council, or their
designated representatives.
The budget submitted by the superintendent to be reviewed jointly by the school board and the city
council shall provide a complete financial plan of all school funds and activities for the ensuing
fiscal year. In organizing the school budget for joint review by the school board, the superintendent
shall utilize the most feasible combination of expenditure classification by fund, organization, unit,
program, purpose or activity, and object. The budget shall begin with a clear general summary of
its contents; shall show in detail all estimated income and all proposed expenditures, including
debt service for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be so arranged as to show comparative figures
for actual and estimated income and expenditures of the current fiscal year and actual income and
expenditures of the preceding fiscal year. The total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the
total of proposed income.
Not later than the last Monday in April of each fiscal year, the school board shall submit to the city
council prepare a budget of the various sums required for the support of the public schools for the
ensuing fiscal year in the format provided above, and shall thereafter provide the city council with
such information r elating to such budget as the city council shall require.
The school board shall hold aA budget hearing on such budget estimates shall be held at least
seven (7) days prior to final action by the city council determining the total amount of the school
budget. Within a reasonable period of time, the city council may, at its discretion and after holding
a public hearing, provide a nonbinding resolution with its recommendations to the school board
for consideration. The school board may or may not adopt, in whole or in part, the
recommendations of the city council. The city council shall thereafter submit the school budget
determined by the school board to a budget validation referendum. If the voters discontinue use
of the budget validation referendum process, the city council shall instead submit the school budget
to a municipal school budget referendum. The warrant calling the budget validation referendum
or the school budget referendum shall include voter information containing the amount of locally



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raised funds and the amounts for each cost center summary budget category proposed by the school
board.
The city council in its appropriation resolve for the ensuing year shall, in addition to amounts
appropriated for other general city purposes, appropriate one gross amount for the support of the
public schools, which amount shall equal the greater of (i) the amount adopted by the voters at the
budget validation referendum or, if discontinued, at the school budget referendum or (ii) not be
less than the sum required to be appropriated for such purposes by the general laws of the state.
Such gross amount shall not be less than the sum requested by the school board except by a vote
of at least six (6) members of the city council. Such appropriation shall be expended under the
direction and control of the school board but no such appropriation shall be exceeded except by
consent of the city council or the voters. (Referendum 6/13/78; 11/2/10)




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 MEMORANDUM

 TO: Xavier Botana, Superintendent
 Portland Public Schools
 FROM: Melissa Hewey, Agnieszka Dixon, and Elek Miller
 Drummond Woodsum
  DATE: August 11, 2021
 RE: Portland Charter—School Governance, Policy, and Management Matters

As the newly elected City of Portland Charter Commission (the “Commission”) begins its work to evaluate
and recommend modifications to the City of Portland Charter (the “Portland Charter”), you have asked us
to provide an overview of the law governing the powers and duties of the Commission to address matters
of school governance, policy, and management.
In Part I of this memorandum, we provide a legal overview of the Constitutional and statutory limits on the
authority to amend the Portland Charter with respect to matters of school governance, policy, and
management. In Part II, we identify and discuss the existing provisions in the Portland Charter which
concern the school board, and we compare those provisions with the charter language of other populous
Maine charter cities.
Finally, in Part III, we conclude that, while the Commission has broad authority to recommend
modifications to the provisions of the Portland Charter for consideration by the voters, that authority is
constrained with respect to matters of education. We therefore recommend that the school board continue
to evaluate the Commission’s work through the lens of the legal framework presented next, and to seek
legal review of any proposals affecting school governance, policy, or management.
I. AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO EDUCATIONAL MATTERS—
 A LEGAL OVERVIEW
At the outset, it should be understood that the scope of the Commission’s authority is constrained by the
Maine Constitution and state law, which extensively regulates public education in the state and thereby
limits the scope of any charter commission’s authority over matters of education.
 A. The Legislature has plenary control over public education.
In Maine, the Legislature has plenary authority over public education. School Committee of the Town of
Winslow v. Inhabitants of the Town of Winslow, 404 A.2d 988, 991-992 (Me. 1979). Exercising this
authority, the Legislature has created a system of local school administrative units to provide free public
education to Maine children. A “school administrative unit” is defined by statute as “the state-approved
unit of school administration and includes a municipal school unit.” 20-A M.R.S. § 1(26). A “municipal
school unit” is defined as a state-approved unit of school administration composed of a single municipality.
20-A M.R.S. § 1(19). Public education in Portland is provided by the Portland municipal school unit, which
is a creature of the Legislature and not a subdivision or department of city government.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court, acting as the Law Court, has made it clear that municipal school boards
“are agents of the state and are legally distinguished from municipalities.” Pickering v. Town of Sedgwick,


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628 A.2d 149, 150 (Me. 1993). The separate roles of the municipal school unit and the municipal
government are well-defined and do not overlap.
The school board is the governing body of a municipal school unit. See 20-A M.R.S. § 1(28). State law
provides that “the control and management of the public schools shall be vested in the legislative and
governing bodies of local school administrative units, as long as those units are in compliance with
appropriate state statutes.” See 20-A M.R.S. § 2(2). Thus, the school board has sole authority to oversee the
affairs of a municipal school unit, including adoption of policies, management of the schools (including
custody, care, and repair of school buildings), selection of the superintendent (who is the chief
administrative officer of the municipal school unit), employment of administrators, and employment of
teachers. See 20-A M.R.S. §§ 1001, 1051, 13201, and 13302. As discussed in greater detail in Part I.C,
below, a city council has no statutory duties or authority with respect to public education, with the exception
of approving the total amount of the school budget to be submitted to the voters in a budget validation
referendum provided that a municipal charter confers that authority upon the council. See 20-A M.R.S.
§ 2307(2). The authority to allocate funds within the total budget and expend those funds is reserved to the
school board. Id.
The school board is not subordinate to the city council but derives its duties and authority directly from the
Legislature. “Its members,” the Law Court has observed, “are chosen by the voters of the town, but after
election they are public officers deriving their authority for the law and responsible to the State for the good
faith and rectitude of their acts.” Shaw v. Small, 124 Me. 36, 41 (1924).
 B. The Commission’s authority over public education is circumscribed by the Maine
 Constitution and state law.
While the Legislature has plenary authority over public education and has delegated local control over
education to school administrative units and their elected school boards, the home rule provisions of the
Maine Constitution and state law authorize the voters of a municipality, by charter, to impose local
regulation of public education only if Legislature has not expressly prohibited local regulation or where the
Legislature “has intended to occupy the field and the legislation would frustrate the purpose of a state law.”
School Committee of Town of York v. Town of York, 626 A.2d 935, 939 (Me. 1993).1
The Law Court reaffirmed this home rule limitation last year, stating that the Maine Constitution grants
municipalities the power to amend their charters “on all matters, not prohibited by Constitution or general
law, which are local and municipal in character” and further stating that the Constitution “commits the
general power to promote education to the Legislature . . . .” MSAD 6 Bd. of Dir’s v. Town of Frye Island,
2020 ME 45, ¶¶ 17, 19, 229 A.3d. 514, 520-21 (internal quotations omitted). In the Frye Island case, the
Court held that a town could not attempt to withdraw from its school administrative unit by amending its
charter because such a charter provision implicated public school funding—“an issue falling squarely
within the Legislature’s purview”—and was therefore not a valid exercise of the municipality’s home rule
authority. Id. ¶¶ 19, 22 & n.7.


1 In the York case, the Law Court upheld a charter provision that created a municipal budget committee, separate

from the school board and the select board, with the power to approve the school budget before it was submitted
to voters for approval. “The Legislature,” the Court wrote, “is free to delegate to municipalities all of its authority
over education so long as the delegation is not unconstitutional.” Town of York, at 940. Since the charter
provision did not conflict with the Constitution or state law regulating school budget approval, the Court said
that the creation of the budget committee with authority over the school budget was within the authority of the
charter commission. Subsequent to the York decision, the Legislature enacted a detailed statutory process for
school budget approval assigning specific roles to the school board and the municipal legislative body, which
presumably overruled the York decision to the extent that the York charter provision conflicts with that detailed
process. That process is summarized in the next section.


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 C. A charter may modify the school budget approval process, but not the power of the school
 board to direct expenditures of education funds or the responsibility of the municipal
 legislative body to determine the total school budget.
Maine law now provides that municipal school budgets “must follow the same school budget requirements
as regional school units.” 20-A M.R.S. § 2307. We are all now familiar with the school budget procedures
that have been followed for over a decade, including school board formulation and approval of a budget
organized by specific cost centers and warrant articles prescribed by law. The approved school board budget
is then submitted to the “budget meeting.” In charter municipalities such as Portland, the budget meeting is
a “meeting of the municipal council or other municipal legislative body established by the charter with
authority to approve the budget.” 20-A M.R.S. § 2307(1). The final step in budget approval is the budget
validation referendum decided by the voters (although the voters may eliminate that step by referendum).
State law specifically provides:
 In charter municipalities where the municipal charter confers upon a municipal council or
 other municipal legislative body the authority to determine the total amount of the school
 budget and confers upon the school committee or school board the authority to direct the
 expenditure of those funds for school purposes, the municipal council or other municipal
 legislative body shall determine the total amount of the school budget to be submitted to a
 budget validation referendum and the school committee or school board shall determine
 the allocation of the approved school budget among the cost centers of the cost center
 summary budget format.
20-A M.R.S. § 2307(2). In short, in a charter municipality like Portland, the municipal council or other
municipal legislative body acts only on the total amount of the school budget, and the school board
determines the budget allocation among cost centers. This delegation of authority over the school budget
between the school board, on the one hand, and the municipal council or other municipal legislative body,
on the other hand, is a subject matter where the Legislature appears to have “occupied the field”—and, in
our view, a charter provision that alters it would likely be invalid.
Although, in our view, a charter provision may not modify the school board’s power to direct the
expenditure of funds for school purposes, other charter provisions concerning the budget approval process
may likely be modified or altogether eliminated. In that regard, it has been asked whether the Portland
Charter may be revised to eliminate the city council’s responsibility to determine the total school budget.
As noted above, state law provides that the budget meeting to approve a municipal school budget must be
a meeting of either “the municipal council or other municipal legislative body.” 20-A M.R.S. § 2307(1)
(emphasis added). Accordingly, we believe the Portland Charter may lawfully assign the final authority to
approve the school budget to a municipal legislative body other than the city council.
We note that we know of no precedent within a city charter2 regarding the form that such an alternative
legislative body may take, however. In Maine, legislative bodies typically consist of (i) a town meeting

2 We do know of at least one town charter which provides a municipal legislative body that is not a town council.

The Town of York, which has a rather unique “Town Manager—Town Meeting by Secret Ballot Vote” form of
local government, provides in its charter that its municipal legislative body is the town meeting consisting of the
voters. See York Charter, Art. II, § 1 (available at www.yorkmaine.org/DocumentCenter/View/691/Home-Rule-
Charter-PDF). There, an elected budget committee prepares the town budget and the school committee prepares
the school budget, but final authority for approving a composite town and school budget, in line-item format,
rests with the voters at a secret ballot budget referendum after public hearing. See id., Art. II, §§ 4, 5, 10, 12. If
the voters vote down a given line-item, the charter calls on the Town’s Board of Selectmen—that is, its governing
body—to appropriate an amount equal to the budgeted appropriation for that line-item during the previous fiscal
year. See id., Art. II, § 14.C.


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composed of all voters of a town, (ii) the school budget meeting composed of all voters of the member
municipalities of a school administrative unit, or (iii) a representative council established by charter.
Any proposal to establish a municipal legislative body, separate and distinct from a representative council,
to approve the school budget would need to be thoroughly vetted against the statutory role of the school
board, the continuing requirement for a budget validation referendum, and the statutory meaning of the
phrase “municipal legislative body” in 20-A M.R.S.A. § 2307, among other legal considerations.
II. OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE PORTLAND CHARTER CONCERNING THE SCHOOL
 BOARD—A DISCUSSION AND A COMPARISON
The Portland Charter includes other provisions affecting the duties and powers of the school board, which
we discuss next. For your reference, we have prepared, in Appendix A, a table that identifies the key
Portland Charter provisions affecting school boards and compares them with the charter provisions of other
populous charter cities in Maine—namely, Auburn, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, and Sanford.
In Appendix B, we have attached a copy of the Portland Charter showing the provisions affecting the school
board highlighted in yellow.
 A. In general, control over public schools is expressly delegated to the school board.
The Portland Charter, like all of the charters that we reviewed, contains a general provision excepting from
the city council’s authority all duties and powers concerning the management, care, and control of the city’s
public schools, and vesting that power and duty in the school board:
 The administration of all the fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of the City of Portland,
 with the government thereof, except the general management, care, conduct, and control
 of the schools of such city which shall be vested in a board of public education as
 hereinafter provided (also referred to herein as the “school board”), and also except as
 otherwise provided by this charter, shall be and are vested in one body of nine members,
 which shall constitute and be called the city council, all of whom shall be inhabitants of
 the city, and shall be sworn in the manner hereinafter prescribed.
Portland Charter, Art. I, § 2 (emphasis added); see also Biddeford Charter, Art. I, § 2 (same), Lewiston
Charter, § 1.02(a) (same). Importantly, the Portland Charter does not purport to address educational policy
or operation of the schools, and this approach is consistent with the Legislature’s scheme which assigns
local responsibility for public education to the elected school board. Indeed, the Portland Charter explicitly
acknowledges the broad responsibilities of the school board with regard to public education:
 The board of public education shall have all the powers, and perform all the duties in regard
 to the care and management, including sound fiscal management, conduct, and control of
 the public schools of the city, which are now conferred and imposed upon school
 committees and school boards by the laws of this state, except as otherwise provided in
 this charter.
Portland Charter, Art. III, § 4; see also Bangor Charter, Art. III, § 1 (same), Biddeford Charter, § 3(a)
(same), Lewiston Charter, § 5.03(a). As discussed in Part I, any departure from the principle that a school
board controls the public schools would likely run afoul of the Constitutional and statutory scheme
regarding governance of municipal school units and the limits on home rule authority.
 B. The school board controls the preparation and expenditure of the school budget, while the
 city council approves and appropriates the total school budget.
The Portland Charter provides that the school board must submit to the city council an annual school
budget, and any information relating to the budget, to the council. See Portland Charter, Art. III, § 5. The
city council approves the total budget after holding a hearing and makes one gross appropriation for the


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support of the public schools. Id. This separation of powers between the school board and city council rests
in state law, as discussed, and is a common feature of other city charters. See, e.g., Bangor Charter, Art. III,
§ 1; Lewiston Charter, §§ 5.03, 6.07(f); Biddeford Charter, Art V, § 4. Unique to the Portland Charter is a
provision that the city council may not reduce the school board’s proposed budget except by vote of at least
six of its nine members. See Portland Charter, Art. III, § 5.
 C. The Portland Charter contains specific school budget reporting, consultation, and audit
 requirements, as well as provisions concerning borrowing and bonding, procurement, and
 capital improvements.
In addition to this general delegation of responsibility over the school budget, city charters sometimes
include school budget reporting, consultation, and audit requirements which may affect how and when a
school budget is prepared. For example, the last Portland charter revision in 2010 added specific provisions
to the Portland Charter requiring the school board and the city council, or their designated subcommittees
(the finance committees), to share information about, review, and consult on the school budget within
certain timeframes. See Portland Charter, Art. III, § 5. The Portland Charter also requires detailed monthly
reporting to the city’s finance director. See id.; see also Art. VII, §§ 1, 3. The Portland Charter also delegates
responsibility to the mayor to “facilitate among the city manager, city council, [school board] and the public
to secure passage by the city council of the annual city and school budgets . . . .” Portland Charter, Art. II,
§ 5(h).
Most of the city charters that we reviewed likewise contain some school budget-related consultation,
reporting, and audit requirements—although the scope and detail of such requirements vary to a great
degree, and some charters are largely silent on these details. See, e.g., Bangor Charter. When charters do
speak on these issues, they may:
  Include instructions on the transfer of funds among departments or functions.
 See, e.g., Sanford Charter, § 613. (Note that we question whether the funds transfer
 limitation in the Biddeford Charter, Art. IX, § 3, is valid, as it appears to conflict with the
 school board’s cost center transfer authority under 20-A M.R.S. § 1485(2).)
  Impose deadlines for submitting the school budget to the council or budget committees and
 prohibitions on the expenditure of funds that exceed appropriation resolves.
 See, e.g., Lewiston Charter, § 5.03.
  Contain contingency procedures for budget shortfalls. See, e.g., Sanford Charter, § 619.3.
  Include detailed procedures for selecting auditors and conducting annual audits.
 See, e.g., Auburn Charter, § 8.11.
These types of school budget consultation, reporting, and auditing provisions usually do not conflict with
the ultimate authority of the school board to direct expenditures or that of the council to approve only the
total school budget. Provided they also do not conflict with other provisions of state law, they likely fall
within a charter’s home rule authority to modify or eliminate.
In addition, like most other charters, the Portland Charter houses other finance-related provisions—
including requirements for the procurement of goods and services, borrowing and bonding, and capital
improvement planning—that may affect school management decisions. For example, the Portland Charter
encourages the city and school department to share staff and resources and cooperate to provide better
services in a cost-effective manner. See Portland Charter, Art. VII, § 2.
The Portland Charter also imposes limits and procedures on the sale of bonds or notes pledged on the credit
of the city. Id. Art. VII, § 11. The Charter is silent with respect to the issuance of bonds specifically for
school construction or renovation projects; however, state law provides that in a municipal school unit


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“where the responsibility for final adoption of the school budget is vested in the municipal council by
municipal charter, a locally funded project may be approved without a referendum vote if the charter does
not require a referendum.” 20-A M.R.S. § 15905-A. Care must be taken to adhere to legal requirements
when modifying any bond issuance provisions in a charter, as they could affect the city’s ability to issue
bonds. Review by bond counsel of any such modifications is strongly recommended.
Notably absent from the Portland Charter is the role of the school board in the capital improvement program
(CIP) planning process. Other charters provide a clear roles for the superintendent and school board in
preparing and authorizing CIPs, usually jointly with the city manager and council, which can thereby
qualify school capital project for capital reserve funding. See, e.g., Bangor Charter, §§ 8.9, 8.10; Sanford
Charter, § 610.
 D. The Portland Charter contains specific provisions affecting school board governance,
 including provisions concerning school board elections and conflicts of interest
The Portland Charter contains governance provisions affecting school boards, including the composition of
the school board, election and recall procedures, how vacancies are filled, and compensation provisions.
While most charters include such provisions, the specifics vary greatly. For example, the Portland Charter
is the only charter we reviewed where school boards are elected using ranked choice voting. See Portland
Charter, Art. II, § 3. In addition, unlike most charters, the Portland Charter contains detailed provisions
concerning conflicts of interest and incompatibility of office. In contrast, most other charters are silent on
these topics, presumably because there is already a rich framework of state law and case law on these two
topics. Please refer to the table in Appendix A for a side-by-side comparison of how each of these provisions
appear in the Portland Charter and in the other city charters that we reviewed.
III. CONCLUSION
This memorandum is intended to provide a general overview of the legal landscape affecting charter
revision and public education. We encourage the school board to monitor the Portland Charter revision
process and to provide input to the Commission on any school-related issues or proposals. The school board
may also wish to make proposals to the Commission to change existing charter language, particularly with
regard to the school budget process, consistent with the legal principles and recommendations discussed in
this memorandum. We are available to assist the school board in evaluating or preparing any such
proposals.



Enclosures:

Appendix A: A Comparison of Select Charter Provisions of the Most Populous Maine Charter Cities
Appendix B: Portland Charter, with School-Related Provisions Highlighted




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 APPENDIX A
 A COMPARISON OF SELECT CHARTER PROVISIONS OF THE MOST POPULOUS MAINE CHARTER CITIES

 PORTLAND AUBURN BANGOR BIDDEFORD LEWISTON SANFORD
 The council is vested with administering all The council is vested with all powers The council is vested with all powers The mayor and council are vested with The mayor and council are vested with The school committee is vested with all the
 fiscal, prudential, and municipal affairs of granted by charter and state law, except granted by charter and state law, except administering all fiscal, prudential and administering all fiscal, prudential and “care and management of the public

General—Delegation of
 the city, “except the general management, the care and management of the public the care and management of the public municipal affairs of the city, except the municipal affairs of the city, except the schools” of the city as conferred on
 care, conduct, and control of the schools.” schools, which is vested in the school schools, which is vested in the school general management, care, conduct, and general management, care, conduct, and municipal school committees by state law.
 (Art. I, § 2) committee. (§§ 2.1, 4.1) committee. (Art. II, § 1) control of schools, which is vested in the control of schools, which is vested in the (§ 505.1). The Department of Education is
 The school board is vested with “the care The school committee is vested with “the school committee. (Art. I, § 2) school committee. (§ 1.02(a)) governed and administered the school


Authority over Schools
 and management, including sound fiscal care and management of the public The school committee is vested with “the The school committee is vested with the committee and superintendent, in
 management, conduct, and control of the schools” as conferred on school boards by care and management of the City's public “care and management of the city’s public accordance with state law. (§ 501)
 public schools” as conferred on school state law. (Art. III, § 1) schools” pursuant to state law. (Art. V, schools” pursuant to state law. (§ 5.03(a))
 boards by state law. (Art. III, § 4) § 3(a))

 The school board must submit an annual Refer to § 8.9 for budget creation process, The school committee must submit an The school committee must submit the The school committee musts submit the The school committee must submit to the
 school budget to the council, including any which is collaborative between city and annual estimated school budget to the school budget to a budget committee, school budget to the council at least three budget committee a line-item balanced
 information relating to the budget that the school department. Authority rests with council. On the basis of the estimated which submits it to the council after review. months prior to the end of the fiscal year. school budget containing a complete and
 council requires. council to finally approve the budget. (§§ school budget, the council makes one gross The council decision is final, subject to (§ 5.03(a)) detailed financial plan for all school funds
 The council approves the school budget 2.6; 8.7; 8.9) appropriation for the support of the public budget validation referendum. (Art. V, § 4) The council adopts the city budget, and activities. The budget committee must
 after holding a hearing, and makes one The school committee must expend funds schools. (Art. III, § 1) The council adopts an annual appropriation including the school budget, by resolution. hold public hearings to review the
 gross appropriation for the support of the within the limits of the council’s Expenditures are under the direction and resolve, which contains amounts necessary If the council fails to do so at least 20 days expenditures of each municipal agency or
 department proposed by the city manager,




  School Budget—Approval, Appropriation, Expenditure
 public schools. The appropriation may not appropriation resolves, together with any control of the school committee. The for general city purposes and for a prior to the end of the fiscal year, the
 be less than the school board budget, other revenues the school committee may council’s appropriation may not be contingency fund. (Art. XI, § 3) school committee's final budget is deemed and of each school agency or department
 except by a vote of at least six councilors. receive. (§ 4.1) exceeded except by consent of the council to be automatically adopted. Adoption of proposed by the superintendent. The
 The school committee may not transfer council authorizes the school budget,
 (Art. III, § 5) and certification of availability of funds from one function to another the city budget by the council constitutes
 unanticipated funds. (Art. III, § 1, 10) appropriations of the amounts specified as which is then presented to the budget
 The council adopts an annual appropriation without a two-thirds vote of both the validation referendum. The budget
 resolve, which contains one gross amount school committee and council. (Art. V § 4) expenditures from the funds specified.
 (§ 6.07(f)) committee’s budget may be changed only
 for school purposes. The total by a majority vote of the council. (§§ 505.2,
 appropriation must not exceed the city’s 604, 607)
 estimated revenues. (Art. VII, § 7)
 Adoption of the municipal and school
 The mayor may veto the annual city budgets by the council constitutes
 appropriation but any such veto of the appropriations. The council may authorize
 appropriation may not affect the school the transfer of any unencumbered
 budget appropriation. (Art. II, §§ 2, 5(i); appropriations between the municipal
 Art. VII, § 8) budget articles, and the school committee
 The school board has authority to expend may authorize the transfer of any
 the appropriation but may not exceed it unencumbered appropriations between
 except with the council’s consent. (Art. III, the school budget articles. (§ 613)
 § 5) If it appears probable to the city manager
 or superintendent that revenues are
 insufficient to cover appropriations, the
 council may take action to prevent or
 minimize any deficit, including by reducing
 appropriations to the extent not
 inconsistent with 20-A M.R.S.A. §§ 15004
 and 15613(8). (§ 619.3)




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 PORTLAND AUBURN BANGOR BIDDEFORD LEWISTON SANFORD
 The mayor is responsible for facilitating An audit committee, composed of two The city audits must be audited annually by The council must provide an annual The city administrator establishes a system The school committee must present an
 among the city manager, council, school councilors and two school committee a CPA chosen by the council. (Art VIII, § 2) independent audit of all City accounts and of bookkeeping, auditing, purchasing and "audit action plan" with remedies as
 board, and the public to secure passage by members, select and direct the work of an may provide more frequent audits. (Art. III records pertaining to all financial appropriate to the council for review and




School Budget—Consultation, Reporting, and Auditing Requirements
 the city council of the annual city and independent auditor, and report back to a § 9) transactions of the school committee, and approval. (§ 505.3)
 school budgets. (Art. II, § 5(h)) joint meeting of the council and school may establish rules governing such
 The superintendent must submit a committee. The council selects the procedure consistent with local and state
 balanced budget estimate, which provides accountant upon recommendation of the law. (§ 5.04)
 a “complete financial plan of all school committee. The committee also reviews
 funds and activities,” to the school board the procurement policy and report to the
 no later than 3½ months before the end of council and school committee as to the
 the fiscal year. During the 30 days following strengths and weaknesses of the policy. (§
 submission, the school board and council, 8.11)
 or their designated subcommittees, must
 meet jointly at least twice to review the
 budget estimate. (Art. III, § 5)
 Accounts must be kept by the finance
 director of finance, showing the
 transactions of all departments of the city
 and the school department. The finance
 director must publish a monthly financial
 statement and furnish a monthly detailed
 report to the city manager of revenues,
 expenses, and expenditures on all accounts
 and, for each appropriation item, the
 expenditures made and the obligations
 incurred during the preceding calendar
 month and the total unencumbered
 balance. All city and school accounts are
 audited annually by an auditor selected by
 the council. (Art. VII, §§ 1,3)
 To the extent practicable and lawful, the The council must adopt a procurement The city’s purchasing agent purchase all The city administrator establishes a system The city manager will act as purchasing
 city and the school department shall policy for the city’s purchase of materials supplies for the city, but educational of bookkeeping, auditing, purchasing and agent for all departments, except the
 endeavor to share staff and resources and and services for all city departments, supplies for the city schools are excepted records pertaining to all financial school department. Whenever possible,



Procurement
 otherwise cooperate with one another in including the Department of Education. A and may be purchased by the purchasing transactions of the school committee, and the city manager must work with the
 order to provide better city and school procurement policy committee composed agent upon requisition by the school may establish rules governing such superintendent to negotiate contracts for
 services in a cost effective manner (Art. VII, of two councilors, two school committee committee (Art. VIII, § 5) procedure consistent with local and state supplies, materials and equipment
 § 2) members, and a mutually selected fifth law. (§ 5.04) commonly purchased by both the city and
 member develop the procurement policy, school. (§ 402.13)
 and report back to the council and school
 board. (§ 8.16)
 The mayor must consult with and provide The city manager and superintendent must The charter contains no specific CIP The charter contains no specific CIP The administrator prepares and submits to The city manager and the superintendent




Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
 guidance to the city manager in the jointly prepare and submit to a joint provision. provision. the council a 5-year CIP, including the CIP annually prepare and submit to the budget
 preparation of an annual CIP. (Art. II, § 5(g)) meeting of the council and school proposed for the school department. The committee a 5-year CIP. The budget
 The city manager must prepare a 5-year committee a multi-year CIP before planning board review the proposed CIP committee reviews the CIP and makes
 rolling CIP for annual presentation to the submission of the budget, and must publish each year, and following public hearing, recommendations to the council for
 council. (Art. IV, § 5(i)) a general summary of the CIP. The CIP must forward its recommendations to the approval. The city creates annual reserves
 be revised and extended each year with council. After notice and hearing, the for the CIP by raising and appropriating at
 regard to capital improvements pending or council by resolution adopts the CIP with or least 4% of the budget each year. Projects
 in process of construction or acquisition. without amendment. Adoption does not funded by the CIP include road
 (§§ 8.9, 8.10) constitute the appropriation of funds. (§§ maintenance, vehicular replacements,
 The council must adopt the CIP by 6.05, 6.06) roofing projects, major building
 resolution, with or without amendment, renovations, major equipment purchase,
 after a public hearing (§ 8.10(B)) airport projects, new buildings and the like.
 (§ 610).

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 PORTLAND AUBURN BANGOR BIDDEFORD LEWISTON SANFORD
 Money may be borrowed, within the limits The city may issue bonds pledging the Money may be borrowed by order of the Money may be borrowed, within the limits Money may be borrowed temporarily in The budget committee must review all
 fixed by the Constitution and state law, by credit of the city in the manner prescribed council, within the limits fixed by the fixed by the Constitution state law, by the anticipation of taxes or of the issuance of bond requests presented by the council
 the issue and sale of bonds or notes by state law. The council votes to issue the Constitution and state law, by the issue and issue and sale of bonds or notes pledged on bonds, in accordance with the provisions of and school committee, and shall make
 pledged on the credit of the city, or on the bonds after notice and hearing. (§ 8.13) sale of bonds or notes pledged on the the credit of the city. (Art. XI, § 6) 30-A M.R.S.A. § 5771 (§ 6.13) recommendations for bonding to the city
 revenues or assets of the projects financed credit of the city, or on other enumerated manager and superintendent when
 with the proceeds of such borrowings. The revenues. (Art. VII, § 13) appropriate during the budget review




 Borrowing and Bonding
 council issues an order providing for the With some exceptions, the issuance of process. (§ 604.4).
 issue of bonds after notice and hearing. A general obligation bonds greater than Capital projects of the municipal and
 council order authorizing the issuance of 0.05% of the city’s last state valuation or school departments to be financed through
 bonds must be approved by at least 7 any obligation to expend tax funds over the issuance of bonds for $250,000 or less
 councilors. With some exceptions, the multiple years greater than 0.075% of the may be approved by the council. (§ 705.1)
 issuance of general obligation bonds city’s last state valuation for a single capital
 greater than 0.05% of the city’s last state See amended § 705 for more information
 improvement or piece of equipment and on bonding, including for bonds over
 valuation or any obligation to expend tax the issuance of must be submitted to voter
 funds over multiple years greater than $250,000.
 referendum. (Art. VIII, § 19)
 0.075% of the city’s last state valuation for
 a single capital improvement or piece of
 equipment and the issuance of must be
 submitted to voter referendum. (Art. VII,
 §§ 11, 16)
 The school board is composed of nine The school committee is composed of the The school committee is composed of The school committee is composed of The school committee is composed of nine The school committee is composed of five




 School Board Composition and Election Procedures
 members, four at large and one from each mayor, or a city councilor selected by the seven members elected at large who hold seven members at large who hold office for members, one elected from each ward, members, who are elected at-large and
 of the five districts who hold office for a mayor and 7 other members. Five office for a term of 3 years with a term limit a term of 2 years, but no more than two one at-large, and one council member who hold office for a term of 3 years.
 term of three years and until their members are elected, one from each ward of 3 consecutive terms. (Art. III, § 2) The members from any one ward, who shall nominated by the mayor and appointed by Nominations are by petition, with
 successors are elected and qualified. All by and from its registered voters. Two members of the school committee annually hold office for a term of two years. The the council from any ward. Members hold minimum signature requirements. (§§ 501,
 candidates must be residents of the city for members are elected at-large. Members by majority vote designate one of its mayor is the ex officio chair with no veto office for a term of 2 years. (§ 5.01(a)) 1103)
 a period of at least three months prior to hold office for a term of two years. (§ 4.2). members to serve as Chair.(Art. III, Sec.3) power, who may not make a motion and For vacancy provisions, refer to § 5.01. The For vacancy provisions, refer to § 503.
 the date on or before which nomination For vacancy provisions, refer to § 4. Recall may only vote to break a tie. (Art. V, §§ 1,2) charter contains no specific recall Recall procedures are set forth in § 1201.
 papers are to be filed. The candidate from procedures are set forth in § 9.1(C). For vacancy provisions, refer to Art. V, § 5. procedures.
 each of the 5 districts must be a resident of Recall procedures are set forth in Art. IX,
 such district. (Art. III, § 1) For the positions § 2.
 of mayor, city councilor, and school board
 member, the city uses a ranked choice
 voting protocol. (Art. II, § 3; Art. IV, § 10)
 Nominations are by petition, with minimum
 signature requirements. (Art. IV, § 4)
 For vacancy provisions, refer to Art. II, § 7;
 Art. III, § 6. Recall procedures are set forth
 in Art. V, § 2.
 The council establishes the amount each Compensation is set by the council through The charter contains no specific school School committee members receive Compensation is set by the council through Compensation is fixed each year by the
 member of the school board is entitled to ordinance, upon recommendation from board compensation provision. compensation at the rate of $10 for every ordinance. (Sec. 5.01(b)). school committee. (§ 507)
 School Board
 receive as compensation, which must be school committee. (§ 4.2) regularly scheduled meeting attended, not
 the same as that received by members of to exceed $500 per year. (Art. V, § 1)
 the city council, other than the mayor. The
Compensation council must provide additional
 compensation to the chair of the school
 board. (Art. III, § 1)




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 PORTLAND AUBURN BANGOR BIDDEFORD LEWISTON SANFORD
 No member of the council or school board The charter contains no specific conflict of The charter contains no specific conflict of The charter contains no specific conflict of The charter contains no specific conflict of No school committee member shall hold
 or board or commission thereof and no interest provision. interest provision. interest provision. interest provision. any other compensated city office or city
 officer or employee of the city or school employment, except as on-call emergency
 department shall: personnel, during their term of office. No
 (a) Have a substantial financial interest, school committee member shall hold any
 direct or indirect, in any contract entered paid office or position of employment with
 into by or on behalf of the City of Portland the school department. If a member of the
 or the school board, except his or her school committee ceases to possess any of
 employment contract, or in the sale to or these qualifications or is convicted of a
 by the city or school department of any crime punishable by imprisonment for
 land, materials, supplies or services when more than six months, the office shall
 such officer, employee or member immediately become vacant. (§ 502)
 exercises on behalf of the city or school
 department any function or responsibility
 with respect to such contract or sale. All




School Board Conflicts of Interest
 contracts or sales made in violation hereof
 are void, and the city treasurer is expressly
 forbidden to pay any money out of the city
 treasury on account of any such
 transaction.
 (b) Purchase or accept anything from the
 city or school department, other than those
 items or services which are offered to the
 public generally, and then only upon the
 same terms and under the same
 procedures offered to and used for the
 general public. This shall not include those
 items or services which are received as
 compensation, or as a part of such person's
 employment contract, or which are
 necessary for the performance of such
 person's duties.
 (c)Accept or receive from any person, firm,
 or corporation acting under a franchise,
 contract, or license from the city or school
 department, any frank, free pass, free
 ticket, or free service, or accept, directly or
 indirectly, from any such person, firm, or
 corporation any service upon terms more
 favorable than those granted to the public
 generally. (Art. VIII, § 1)
 No member shall hold any office or Except where authorized by law, no The charter contains no specific The charter contains no specific The charter contains no specific The charter contains no specific




Incompatibility of Office
 employment the compensation of which is member shall hold any other elected public incompatibility of office provision for incompatibility of office provision for incompatibility of office provision for incompatibility of office provision. See
 payable by the city or school department office during the term for which the school board members. school board members. school board members. above section for more information on
 during the term for which he or she was member was elected. No member shall prohibited positions.
 elected. (Art. II, § 4) hold any other city office or employment
 during the term for which the member was
 elected. No former member shall hold any
 compensated appointive city office or city
 employment until at least one year after
 expiration of the member’s elective term.




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 PORTLAND AUBURN BANGOR BIDDEFORD LEWISTON SANFORD
 https://www.portlandmaine.gov/Document https://www.auburnmaine.gov/CMSConten https://ecode360.com/14036615 City of Biddeford, ME City Charter https://www.lewistonmaine.gov/Document https://www.sanfordmaine.org/index.asp?
 Center/View/1102/City-Charter---Revised- t/City_Clerk/charter.pdf (See also (ecode360.com) Center/View/181/City-Charter?bidId= SEC=B7910104-37A4-4F19-8A4E-
 332020?bidId https://www.auburnmaine.gov/pages/gove (See also 58A42A843356&DE=FE82D1BD-194C-


Web Link
 rnment/city-charter-ordinances). https://www.lewistonmaine.gov/151/City- 4DA6-856D-
 Charter). 13123C3BD050&Type=B_BASIC (See also
 https://www.sanfordmaine.org/vertical/sit
 es/%7B9A3D3C8D-76EE-4CC5-B86E-
 C19FDBF5E473%7D/uploads/Final_Rep)ort
 _Corrected_Website.pdf




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City of Portland APPENDIX B Charter
Code of Ordinances
 PORTLAND CHARTER, WITH SCHOOL-RELATED PROVISIONS HIGHLIGHTED
Article I Rev. 12-6-12



 PART I CHARTER*



 *Editor's note--Historical references are cited in parentheses at the end
of each section. Such references cite only the various amendments adopted by
referenda conducted pursuant to home rule powers granted by P.L. 1970, c. 563
(30 M.R.S.A. § 1911 et seq.). Prior to 1970 and home rule the charter and its
various amendments were enacted by the Maine Legislature and such are not cited
in said parentheses. A history of the charter and amendments is attached as
Appendix A.

 State law reference(s)--Home rule, 30 M.R.S.A. § 2101 et seq.


 Preamble
Art. I. Grant of Powers to the City, §§ 1, 2
Art. II. City Council; Mayor, Ranked Choice Voting §§ 1--11
Art. III. Board of Public Education, §§ 1--6
Art. IV. Elections, §§ 1--11
Art. V. Recall, §§ 1--7
Art. VI. Administrative Officers, §§ 1--8
Art. VII. Business and Financial Provisions, §§ 1--16
Art. VIII.Miscellaneous Provisions, §§ 1--5


 PREAMBLE

 We, the People of Portland, Maine, establish this Charter
to secure the benefits of local governance and to provide for
the general health, safety and welfare of our community. In so
doing, we build a government that meets the needs of the people
it serves and whose character it reflects. Our government shall
further cooperation, encourage leadership, solicit our input and
support the active participation of our residents in their
governance. Our government shall be effective and accountable
and shall promote equal rights and representative democracy.

 Our government shall provide public education that enables
all residents to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to
participate fully in Portland’s civic, intellectual, cultural
and economic life, in order to enrich and strengthen our
community and our common future.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

 ARTICLE I. GRANT OF POWERS TO THE CITY




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Section 1. Corporate existence retained.

 The inhabitants of the City of Portland shall continue to
be a body politic and corporate by the name of the City of
Portland, and shall have, exercise, and enjoy all the rights,
immunities, powers, privileges, and franchises and shall be
subject to all the duties, liabilities and obligations provided
for herein, or otherwise, pertaining to or incumbent upon such
city as a municipal corporation or to the inhabitants or municipal
authorities thereof; and may enact  reasonable  by-laws,
regulations, and ordinances for municipal  purposes,  not
inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the State of Maine,
and impose penalties for the breach thereof as such by-laws,
regulations, or ordinances shall provide. Such penalties shall
not limit nor diminish in any way the city’s authority to seek
and obtain higher or different penalties provided by state or
other law. (Referenda 12/4/72; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Powers and duties.

 The administration of all the fiscal, prudential, and
municipal affairs of the City of Portland, with the government
thereof, except the general management, care, conduct, and control
of the schools of such city which shall be vested in a board of
public education as hereinafter provided (also referred to herein
as the “school board”), and also except as otherwise provided by
this charter, shall be and are vested in one body of nine members,
which shall constitute and be called the city council, all of whom
shall be inhabitants of the city, and shall be sworn in the manner
hereinafter prescribed.

 The members of the city council shall be and constitute the
municipal officers of the City of Portland for all purposes
required by statute, and, except as otherwise herein specifically
provided, shall have all powers and authority given to, and perform
all duties required of, municipal officers and mayors of cities
under the laws of this state.

 All other powers now or hereafter vested in the inhabitants
of such city, and all powers granted by this charter, except as
herein otherwise provided, shall be vested in the city council.
(Referendum 11/2/10)


 ARTICLE II. CITY COUNCIL



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Section 1. City to be divided into election districts.

 For the purpose of all elections the city, including its
islands, shall be divided into five (5) districts to establish
compact and  contiguous  districts  of  approximately  equal
population.

 The city council for voting purposes may by ordinance divide
the election districts into voting districts. (Referenda 11/2/76;
6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/11)


Section 2. Composition, election, tenure of office.

 The city council shall be composed of nine (9) members,
including the mayor who shall be one of the nine (9) members of
the city council, and shall hold office for a term of three (3)
years and until their successors are elected and qualified, except
as provided below for the term of mayor and for one at large seat
in the election of 2013 only. Four (4) members, including the
mayor, shall be elected at large from and by the registered voters
of the entire city, and one (1) shall be elected from each of the
five (5) districts heretofore provided for, from and by the
registered voters of each district. References in this charter to
the city council, councilors, council, its members or membership,
shall be deemed to include the mayor, unless otherwise specifically
provided.

 For the municipal election in November of 2013, one of the
two at large seats up for election shall have a one-time four
year term ending in 2017. Thereafter, the council term shall
return to be three (3) years for this seat. The city clerk
shall designate which seat shall be for the four (4) year term
prior to the availability of nomination papers for the 2013
election, and nomination papers shall be separately issued for
reach of the two at large seats. Each at large candidate may take
out and file nomination papers for only one of the at large
seats. The municipal ballot will list the 4-year and 3-year
council seats as separate questions.

 All candidates must be residents of the city for a period of
at least three (3) months prior to the date on or before which
nomination papers are to be filed. The candidate from each of the
five (5) districts must be a resident of such district




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for a period of at least three (3) months prior to the date on or
before which the nomination papers are to be filed.

 Beginning with the regular municipal election in November,
2011, the at large position then up for election shall be
designated as the mayor’s position and shall continue as the
mayor’s position thereafter. The position of mayor only shall be
elected by majority vote as provided in section 3 of this article.
The candidate(s) for mayor shall be nominated in the same manner
as other at large members of the council. The term of mayor shall
be four (4) years, with a maximum limit of two (2) consecutive
terms. The election and position of mayor shall be a non-partisan,
full-time position. (Referenda 12/1/75; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10;
11/6/12)

Section 3. Ranked choice voting; instant runoff tabulation.

 For the positions of mayor, city councilor, and school board
member, the city clerk shall implement a ranked choice voting
protocol according to these guidelines:
 (a) The ballot shall give voters the option of ranking
 candidates in order of choice.
 (b) If a candidate receives a majority, i.e. at least
 one more than fifty percent (50%) of the first choice
 votes cast, that candidate is elected.
 (c) If no candidate receives a majority of first choice
 votes, an instant runoff re-tabulation shall be promptly
 conducted by the city clerk and completed within five
 (5) business days of the election. The instant runoff
 re-tabulation shall be conducted in successive rounds,
 with the majority determined for each successive round
 by the number of votes cast in that round. The candidate
 with the fewest votes after each successive round in
 which no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast
 in that round shall be eliminated, and the votes in the
 successive rounds shall be re-tabulated among the
 remaining candidates until one candidate receives a
 majority of the votes
 cast in that round. In each successive round, each
 voter's ballot shall count as a single vote for
 whichever candidate the voter has ranked highest who has
 not been eliminated in a prior round, if any.




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 (d) After the first round, a majority is determined as at
 least one (1) more than fifty percent (50%) of the votes
 cast for a remaining candidate in a particular round.
 (e) The city clerk may adopt additional regulations
 consistent with this subsection to implement these
 provisions. The ballot shall contain instructions on how
 to vote for each office.
(Referenda 11/2/2010; 3/3/2020)


Section 4. Compensation of councilors and mayor.

 Except as otherwise provided in the paragraph below for the
mayor’s compensation, the city council shall by order establish
the amount each member shall be entitled to receive as compensation
for all services rendered, and specify when any compensation shall
be payable, but no such order increasing their compensation,
including that of the mayor, shall take effect during the then
current municipal year, and no such payment of compensation shall
be made in advance.

 Prior to the date nomination papers are available for the
first mayoral election, the city council shall set the mayor’s
compensation and shall re-set it prior to the date nomination
papers are available for each mayoral election thereafter. During
the mayor’s term, the city council may adjust the mayor’s
compensation. At minimum, the mayor shall be paid compensation
consisting of a salary which is no less than one and one-half (1.5)
times the median household income for Portland as most recently
published by the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, or
successor index thereto, at the time such compensation is set or
adjusted, plus customary city benefits.

 No member shall hold any office or employment the
compensation of which is payable by the city or school
department during the term for which he or she was elected.
(Referenda 12/1/75; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10)

Section 5. Mayor’s powers and duties.

 The mayor shall be the official head of the city, responsible
for providing leadership, and shall have the following powers and
duties:




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 (a) To articulate the city’s vision and goals and build
 coalitions to further such vision and goals. The
 mayor shall give an annual state of the city address
 during a special meeting of the city council called for
 that purpose;

 (b) To convene and lead an annual workshop session of the
 city council to discuss and identify the city’s goals
 and priorities in order to provide guidance for the city
 manager and to inform the public. The city manager shall
 attend this workshop session, and a summary of the
 session shall be made available to the public;

 (c) To represent the city with other municipalities, levels
 of government, community and neighborhood groups, and
 the business community;

 (d) To preside as chair of the city council, and vote upon
 all matters in the same manner as other members of the
 city council, except as provided in article VII, section
 8. The mayor shall direct the city manager in the
 preparation of council meeting agendas;

 (e) To facilitate the implementation of city policies
 through the office of the city manager;

 (f) To consult with and provide guidance to the city manager
 in the preparation of all city budgets and to provide
 comments on such budgets at the time they are presented
 by the city manager to the city council for approval;

 (g) To consult with and provide guidance to the city manager
 in the preparation of the annual capital improvement
 program plan described in article VI, section 5,
 paragraph (i), and to provide comments on such program
 plan at the time it is presented by the city manager to
 the city council;

 (h) To facilitate among the city manager, city council, board
 of public education and the public to secure passage by
 the city council of the annual city and school budgets;




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 (i) To exercise veto power over the annual city appropriation
 as provided in article VII, section 8;

 (j) To establish performance guidelines in conjunction
 with the other members of the city council for regular
 evaluations, no less than annually, by the city
 council of the performance of the city manager,
 corporation counsel and city clerk, such evaluations
 to be based upon those guidelines. Such performance
 guidelines shall have measurable goals and objectives,
 taking into consideration, as applicable, the
 achievement of city policies and priorities;

 (k) To chair any subcommittee with at least two (2) other
 city councilors to recommend the appointment or removal
 of the city manager, corporation counsel or the city
 clerk, but the full city council shall have the final
 decision in regard to such appointment or removal by a
 vote of at least five (5) members of the council; and

 (l) To appoint the members and chairs of the city council
 committees and various ad hoc committees and communicate
 such appointments to the city council, which may override
 such appointments by a vote of at least six (6) council
 members.

 Notwithstanding the foregoing, the city manager shall be in
charge of the day to day operations of the city and administration
of the city budgets approved by the council.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 6. Absence or disability of mayor; acting mayor.

 In the temporary absence or disability of the mayor, the
mayor may select an acting mayor from among the other council
members and such person shall perform the duties of the mayor
during such temporary absence or disability for a maximum of sixty
consecutive (60) days or return of the mayor, whichever comes
first. If through physical or mental incapacity the mayor is unable
to select an acting mayor, or if the mayor’s absence or disability
exceeds sixty (60) consecutive days, the council shall select an
acting mayor from among its membership until such time as the mayor
is able to resume his or her duties or a vacancy is declared
pursuant to section 7 below and a new mayor elected. (Referendum
6/13/78; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)




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Section 7. Vacancies.

 A vacancy in the membership of the city council shall occur
upon the happening of the following: (1) the death of a member;
(2) the effective date of the resignation of a member; (3) the
removal of a member from the district from which he or she was
elected; (4) the removal of a member from the city; (5) the
conviction of a member of a felony while in office; or 6) the
recall of a member pursuant to the provisions of article V. The
council shall declare a vacancy in its membership to exist upon
the failure of a member to attend any six (6) consecutive regular
meetings of the city council, or at least sixty (60) percent of
the regular meetings of the city council held in any one calendar
year unless such member shall be excused (by vote of at least four
(4) other members) for health reasons or other good cause.

 The council shall declare a vacancy in its membership to exist
upon the qualification of any member for any city or school
department office, or the acceptance of any employment with the
city or school department, the compensation for which is payable
by the city or school department.

 A member may in writing addressed to the council resign his
or her office effective at a future date specified in such written
resignation. Once submitted to the council, such resignation may
not be withdrawn, and such member's office shall become vacant on
such specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the membership of the city council occurs or
is declared prior to the next regular municipal election, the
vacancy shall be filled at a special election to take place on the
same date as the next scheduled municipal or state election which
is no less than 127 days after the date the vacancy occurs or is
declared, unless the council, by a vote of at least six (6) of its
members, calls a special election on an earlier date. Such election
shall be called and held and nominations made as in other
elections. (Referenda 11/2/76; 11/4/86; 11/2/99; 11/2/10)

Section 8. Meetings of the council.

 The city council shall meet at the usual place for holding
meetings on the first Monday in December following the regular
municipal election, or as soon thereafter as possible, and at such
meeting the mayor and councilors-elect shall be sworn to




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the faithful discharge of their duties by a justice of the peace,
or by the city clerk. The city council shall at such meeting
establish by resolution or rule a regular place and time for
holding its meetings, and shall meet regularly at least twice each
month. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)

Section 9. Special meetings.
 Special meetings may be called by the mayor, and in case of
his or her absence, disability, or refusal, may be called by five
(5) or more members of the city council. At least twenty-four (24)
hours notice of the time and place of holding such special meeting
shall be given to all members of the city council. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 10. Quorum.

 Five (5) members of the city council shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business, but a smaller number may adjourn
from time to time. At least twenty-four (24) hours notice of the
time and place of holding such adjourned meeting shall be given
to all members who were not present at the meeting from which
adjournment was taken. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 11. Procedure.

 The city council shall keep a record of its proceedings and
shall determine its own rules of procedure and make lawful
regulations for enforcing the same. The meetings of the city
council shall be open to the public in accordance with state law.
The city council shall act only by ordinance, order, or resolve.
All ordinances, orders, and resolves, except orders or resolves
making appropriations of money, shall be confined to one subject
which shall be clearly expressed in the title. An appropriation
order or resolve shall be confined to the subject of appropriations
only.

 No ordinance and no appropriation order or resolve shall be
passed until it has been read on two separate days, except when
the requirement of a second reading on a separate day has been
dispensed with by the vote of at least seven (7) members of the
city council. The yeas and nays shall be taken upon the passage of
all ordinances and entered on the record of the proceedings of the
city council by the clerk. The yeas and nays shall be taken on the
passage of any order or resolve when called for by any member of
the city council. Every ordinance, order, and




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resolve shall require on final passage the affirmative vote of at
least five (5) members of the city council. No ordinance shall
take effect until thirty (30) days after its passage and no order
or resolve shall take effect until ten (10) days after its passage,
except as herein otherwise provided for emergency ordinances,
orders and resolves.

 The city council may, by vote of at least seven (7) of its
members, pass emergency ordinances, orders, or resolves to take
effect at the time indicated therein, but such emergency
ordinances, orders, or resolves shall contain a section in which
the emergency is set forth and defined, provided, however, that
the declaration of such emergency by the city council shall be
conclusive. (Referendum 11/2/10)


 ARTICLE III. BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION


Section 1. Composition, election, tenure of office, compensation.

 The board of public education shall be composed of nine (9)
members who shall hold office, except as hereinafter provided,
for a term of three (3) years and until their successors are
elected and qualified. Four (4) shall be elected at large from
and by the registered voters of the entire city, and one (1)
shall be elected from each of the five (5) districts heretofore
provided for in section 1 of article II, from and by the
registered voters of each such district.

 All candidates must be residents of the city for a period of
at least three (3) months prior to the date on or before which
nomination papers are to be filed. The candidate from each of the
five (5) districts must be a resident of such district for a period
of at least three (3) months prior to the date on or before which
the nomination papers are to be filed.

 The city council shall by order establish the amount each
member of the school board shall be entitled to receive as
compensation for all services rendered, which compensation shall
be the same as that received by members of the city council, other
than the mayor. The city council shall provide additional
compensation to the chair of the school board appropriate to
reflect his or her additional responsibilities as chair.
(Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/3/87; 11/2/10)




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Section 2. Chair.

 On the first Monday in December following the regular
municipal election, or as soon thereafter as possible, the board
of public education shall elect one of its members as chair for
the ensuing year and until a successor is elected and qualified,
and may fill for the unexpired term any vacancy as chair that may
occur.

 At a date and time to be mutually agreed upon by the chair of
the school board and the mayor, the chair shall deliver an annual
address on the “state of the public education system in Portland”
to the city council and the public. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/7/00;
11/2/10)

Section 3. Organization.

 The school board shall meet for organization on the first
Monday in December following the regular municipal election, or
as soon thereafter as possible. The members-elect shall be sworn
to the faithful discharge of their duties by a justice of the
peace or by the city clerk, and a record made thereof. The
members shall at such meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible,
establish a regular place and time for holding meetings and
shall meet regularly at such place and time. Five (5) members
of the school board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business, but a smaller number may adjourn
from time to time. At least twenty-four (24) hours notice of
the time and place of holding such adjourned meeting shall be given
to all members who were not present at the meeting from which
adjournment was taken. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/7/00; 11/2/10)

Section 4. Powers and duties.

 The board of public education shall have all the powers, and
perform all the duties in regard to the care and management,
including sound fiscal management, conduct, and control of the
public schools of the city, which are now conferred and imposed
upon school committees and school boards by the laws of this
state, except as otherwise provided in this charter. (Referendum
11/2/10)

Section 5. School budget.




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 Not later than three and one-half (3.5) months before the end
of the fiscal year, the superintendent shall submit to the school
board budget estimates of the various sums required for the support
of public schools for the ensuing fiscal year and shall thereafter
provide the school board with such information relating to such
estimates as the school board shall require.

 During the thirty (30) days following submission of the
superintendent’s proposed budget to the school board, the school
board and the city council, or their designated subcommittees,
shall meet jointly at least twice to review the proposed school
budget, focusing on its underlying assumptions and supporting data
and the ability of the city to raise the necessary funds for the
support of such proposed budget. The superintendent and the city
manager shall provide information regarding such proposed budget
as reasonably requested by the school board and the city council,
or their designated subcommittees.

 The budget submitted by the superintendent to be reviewed
jointly by the school board and the city council shall provide a
complete financial plan of all school funds and activities for
the ensuing fiscal year. In organizing the school budget for
joint review, the superintendent shall utilize the most feasible
combination of expenditure classification by fund, organization,
unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. The budget shall
begin with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in
detail all estimated income and all proposed expenditures,
including debt service for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be
so arranged as to show comparative figures for actual and estimated
income and expenditures of the current fiscal year and actual
income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year. The total of
proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of proposed
income.

 Not later than the last Monday in April of each fiscal year,
the school board shall submit to the city council a budget of the
various sums required for the support of the public schools for
the ensuing fiscal year in the format provided above, and shall
thereafter provide the city council with such information relating
to such budget as the city council shall require.

 A budget hearing on such budget estimates shall be held
prior to final action by the city council. The city council
in its appropriation resolve for the ensuing year shall, in
addition to amounts appropriated for other general city




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purposes, appropriate one gross amount for the support of the
public schools, which amount shall not be less than the sum
required to be appropriated for such purposes by the general laws
of the state. Such gross amount shall not be less than the sum
requested by the school board except by a vote of at least six (6)
members of the city council. Such appropriation shall be expended
under the direction and control of the school board but no such
appropriation shall be exceeded except by consent of the city
council. (Referendum 6/13/78; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Vacancies.

 A vacancy in the membership of the board of public education
shall occur upon the happening of the following: (1) the death of
a member; (2) the effective date of the resignation of a member;
(3) the removal of a member from the district from which he or
she was elected; (4) the removal of a member from the city; (5)
the conviction of a member of a felony while in office; or (6)
the recall of a member pursuant to the provision of Article V.
The school board shall declare a vacancy in its membership to
exist upon the failure of a member to attend any six (6)
consecutive regular meetings of the school board or at least sixty
(60) percent of the regular meetings of the school board held in
any one calendar year unless such member shall be excused (by a
vote of at least four (4) of the members) for health reasons or
other good cause. A member may in writing addressed to the school
board resign his or her office effective at a future date
specified in the written resignation. Once submitted to the school
board, such resignation may not be withdrawn and such member's
office shall become vacant on the specified future date.

 If a vacancy in the membership of the school board occurs or
is declared prior to the next regular municipal election, the
vacancy shall be filled at a special election to take place on the
same date as the next scheduled municipal or state election which
is no less than 127 days after the date the vacancy occurs or is
declared, unless the council, by a vote of at least six (6) of its
members, calls a special election on an earlier date and shortens
the time for obtaining and filing nomination petitions established
in article IV, section 6. Such election shall be called and held
and nominations made as in other elections. (Referenda 11/2/76;
11/4/86; 11/2/99; 11/2/10)




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 ARTICLE IV. ELECTIONS


Section 1. Continuity in office.

 In the event redistricting of the city shall cause a then
council member or school board member to reside in a district
other than that from which such person was elected, the office of
such member shall not thereby be considered vacated but such member
shall continue in office until a successor is duly elected and
qualified. Each district councilor and district school board
member in office on the effective date of any such redistricting
shall be deemed to represent the newly constituted district of the
same numerical designation as that formerly represented and shall
continue to serve in that capacity until expiration of his or her
term. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Regular municipal election.

 On the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of
each year, the regular municipal election shall be held and the
registered voters of the city or district, as the case may be,
shall ballot for such councilors and for such members of the school
board as may be necessary to fill the offices of those whose terms
would then normally expire and fill any existing vacancy in an
unexpired term of office. (Referenda 12/1/75; 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86;
11/7/00; 11/6/01; 11/2/10)

Section 3. Wardens and ward clerks.

 The wardens and ward clerks shall be nominated by the city
clerk and appointed by order of the city council. They shall be
and remain residents of the city and all other qualifications for
appointment shall be as provided in Title 21-A of the Maine Revised
Statutes. They shall hold their office for one year from the date
of appointment, unless a shorter term is specified by the order of
appointment, and until others have been chosen and qualified in
their stead. The warden and the ward clerk shall be sworn to the
faithful performance of their duties by a person qualified under
the statutes of the state to administer oaths, and a certificate
of such oath shall be entered by the clerk on the records of such
ward. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78; 11/4/86, 11/4/08; 11/2/10)

Section 4. Nominations.




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 The nominations of all candidates for elective offices
provided for by this charter shall be by petition. The petition of
a candidate for an at large council seat or at large school board
seat shall be signed by not less than three hundred (300) nor more
than five hundred (500) registered voters of the city. The petition
of a candidate for a district council seat or a candidate for a
district school board seat shall be signed by not less than
seventy-five (75) nor more than one hundred fifty (150) registered
voters of the respective district. Voters may sign petitions for
more than one (1) candidate for each office to be filled at the
election. (Referenda 12/1/75; 11/2/76; 11/4/86; 11/4/08; 11/2/10)


Section 5. Form of nomination petition.

 The signatures to nomination petitions need not all be
affixed to one nomination petition, but to each separate petition
there shall be attached an affidavit of the circulator thereof
stating the number of signers of each petition, and that each
signature appended thereto was made in his or her presence and is
the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.
With each signature shall be stated the place of residence of the
signer giving the street and number of the street, or other
description sufficient to identify the same. The form of the
nomination petition shall be substantially as follows:

 To the city clerk of the City of Portland

We, the undersigned voters of the City of Portland, hereby


 nominate, whose residence is for the office of
 to be voted for at the election to be held in the City
of Portland on the day of , , and we
individually certify that we are qualified to vote for a candidate
for the above office.

Name Street and Number , being duly sworn,
 deposes and says, that he (she) is the circulator of the
 foregoing nomination petition containing signatures,
 and that the signatures appended thereto were made in his or her
 presence and are the signatures of the persons whose names they
 purport to be.

(Signed) .




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Subscribed and sworn to before me this day of ____,
 .


 Attorney, State of Maine Bar #____
Notary Public

If this petition is deemed insufficient by the city clerk, he or
she shall forthwith notify by mail at .
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 6. Filing of nomination petitions, and acceptance of
nomination.

 The city clerk shall make nomination petitions available to
the candidates one hundred and twenty-seven (127) days prior to
the election. The nomination petitions for any one (1) candidate
must be assembled and united into one (1) petition and filed with
the city clerk during normal business hours not earlier than
eighty-five (85) nor later than seventy-one (71) days before the
date of election. No nomination shall be valid unless the candidate
shall file with the city clerk in writing at the time of filing
of such nomination petitions his or her consent accepting
nomination, agreeing not to withdraw and, if elected, to qualify.
Such nomination petitions and consent, once filed may not be
withdrawn. Any challenge to a nomination petition must be
submitted to the city clerk in writing, setting forth the specific
reasons for the objection, no later than five (5) days, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, from its date of filing,
or it is barred. No person shall take out nomination papers for
more than one position at the same election, nor be nominated, nor
shall any person consent to being nominated, at the same election
for any other elective office provided for by this charter, and
no person shall simultaneously hold more than one (1) elective
office provided for by this charter. (Referenda 11/2/76; 6/13/78;
11/4/86; 11/6/01; 11/4/08; 11/2/10)

Section 7. Form of ballot.

 All official ballots for use in all municipal elections shall
be prepared by the city clerk and furnished by the city, consistent
with the voting machines used and the form of any state ballot(s),
and the use of ranked choice voting. Ballots for use in elections
under this charter shall contain the names of the various
candidates, with their residence, and the office




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for which they are candidates, and instructions on how to mark
the ballot. The candidates for each office shall be grouped under
the title of each office, plainly and distinctly marked. There
shall be as many blank spaces under the name of each office as
there are vacancies to be filled. The procedure for counting
write-in votes shall be governed by Title 21-A, Maine Revised
Statutes, unless inconsistent with article II, section 3, in which
case the charter provisions shall govern. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event of an emergency such as the illness, death
or disqualification of a nominee for municipal office prior to
the general election, the time frame for accepting a declared
write-in candidate may be shortened by the city clerk. Such
ballots may also contain such measures as may be submitted to the
voters of the city by the legislature or by the city council and
shall be without party mark or designation.

 In preparing all ballots for election under this charter,
the city clerk shall arrange the names of all qualified
candidates for each office in alphabetical order according to
surnames. (Referenda 11/2/2010; 3/3/2020))


Section 8. Specimen ballots.

 The city clerk shall cause specimen or sample ballots to be
prepared and to be posted in public places in each ward and voting
precinct and advertised in the newspapers not later than ten (10)
days prior to the municipal election. Such specimen ballots shall
be printed on colored paper and marked "Specimen Ballot," and shall
contain the names of the certified candidates with the residence
of each, instructions to voters, and such measures as may be
submitted to the voters by the legislature or by the city council.
Such specimen ballots shall also be without party mark or
designation. (Referendum 11/6/01; 11/2/10)

Section 9. Count of ballots.

 Upon closing of the polls, ballots shall be counted in
accordance with Title 21-A, Maine Revised Statutes, unless
inconsistent with article II, section 3, in which case the charter
provisions shall govern, and the results thereof delivered to the
city clerk by the wardens. (Referendum 11/2/10)


Section 10. Canvass of returns.




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 The city clerk shall examine the records of the several voting
places and within forty-eight (48) hours after such election shall
determine and declare the successful candidates as follows: The
person or persons, not exceeding the number to be voted for at any
one time for any office, having the majority of votes cast at such
election, shall be determined and declared to be elected. If no
candidate for mayor, city council, or school board has a majority
of the votes cast as provided in article II, section 3, the city
clerk shall conduct an instant runoff tabulation as provided in
such section until the
candidate with the majority of votes cast is determined. The
city clerk shall provide written notice of the election results to
all candidates. (Referenda 11/6/01; 11/2/10; 3/3/2020)


Section 11. State election laws applicable.

 The laws of the state in Title 21-A of the Revised Statutes
relating to the qualifications of electors, registration, the
manner of voting, the duties of election officials, and all other
particulars in respect to preparation for conducting and managing
elections, so far as they may be applicable, shall govern all
municipal elections in the City of Portland, except as provided
below regarding 42-day pre-election reports and as otherwise
provided herein.

 In addition to the reports required for municipal
candidates by Title 21-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, 42-day
pre-election reports must be filed by municipal candidates no
later than 11:59 p.m. on the 42nd day before the date on which a
general election is held and must be complete as of the 49th day
before that date.

 Nothing in this charter shall prohibit the use of
electronic or revised voting methods and procedures to the
extent authorized by state and/or federal law. (Referenda 11/4/08;
11/6/2018)




 ARTICLE V. RECALL

Section 1. Applicability.




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 Any member of either the city council or the school board may
be recalled and removed from office by the registered voters of
the City of Portland, as hereinafter provided, except that this
provision shall not apply to a member of either body who has one
(1) year or less to serve in his or her term, i.e., any petition
to recall a member must be certified by the clerk no later than
November 30 of the year prior to that member’s next scheduled
November re-election date. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Petition for recall.

 In the case of either an at large member of the city council
or of the school board, any five hundred (500) registered voters
of the city may affirm and file with the city clerk an affidavit
containing the name of the member of the city council or of the
school board whose removal is sought, together with a statement
of the reasons why such removal is desired. In the case of a
district member of the city council or of the school board, any
two hundred and fifty (250) registered voters of the member’s
district may affirm and file with the city clerk an affidavit
containing the name of the district member whose removal is sought,
together with a statement of the reasons why such removal is
desired. Members of the city council and of the school board shall
not be included on the same affidavit and only one member’s name
shall be on an affidavit.

 Within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of such an
affidavit, the city clerk shall prepare a sufficient number of
petitions which shall contain the signature of the city clerk, his
or her official seal, the date, and the name of the person whose
removal is sought. In addition, the statement of reasons for
removal referred to above shall either be printed on such petitions
or attached thereto. Such petitions shall be on paper of uniform
size with as many individual sheets as reasonably necessary.

 The city clerk shall file the completed petitions in his or
her office. During the thirty (30) days following their filing,
the city clerk shall arrange to have petitions, noting that removal
is being sought as well as the reasons therefor, available for
signature both at city hall and also at public places as indicated
below. Notice of the location of the public places where petitions
may be signed shall be given by publication at least forty-eight
(48) hours in advance and such notice shall contain the specific
location of such public place or places, the dates it or they will
be open, and the times




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during which petitions may be signed. In the case of either a
district councilor or a district school board member, the city
clerk shall select one (1) site outside of city hall, but within
the district of the member whose removal is sought, and such
location shall be open for four (4) days between the hours of noon
and 8:00 p.m. In the case of at large councilors or members of the
school board, the city clerk shall select four (4) sites outside
of city hall and such locations shall be open for four (4) days
each between the hours of noon and 8:00 p.m.

 The city clerk shall designate election clerks to supervise
each such site. Election clerks shall be residents of Portland and
at least eighteen (18) years of age. They shall be sworn to the
faithful performance of their duties by the city clerk. Each
qualified voter who signs a petition shall include his or her place
of residence, providing either the street and number or a
description sufficient to identify the place.

 To mandate a vote in the case of an at large councilor or an
at large member of the school board, the recall petition must be
signed by at least three thousand (3,000) registered voters of the
city, or in the case of a district councilor or district member of
the school board, by at least fifteen hundred (1,500) registered
voters of that member’s district. (Referenda 12/1/75, 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 3. Verification of recall petition.

 At the expiration of the thirty (30) day period for signing
petitions described in section 2, the city clerk shall declare the
petition closed and, within ten (10) days thereafter, shall
ascertain whether or not the petitions have been signed by the
requisite number of registered voters. The city clerk shall attach
his or her certificate, showing the results of such examination,
to the petitions.

 If the clerk's certificate should show that the petitions are
insufficient, he or she shall advise both the city council and
also the person or persons whose removal was sought of that fact.
A finding of insufficiency shall not prejudice the filing of a new
petition for the same purpose, except that such new petition shall
not be filed within twelve (12) months from the date of the receipt
of the clerk's certificate by the city council. (Referenda 11/4/86;
11/2/10)




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Section 4. Calling of recall election.

 If the clerk's certificate should show that the petitions
are sufficient, he or she shall submit them, together with the
clerk's certification, 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 ten (10) days of receipt of the clerk's certificate, order
an election to be held not less than forty-five (45) nor more
than ninety (90) days thereafter; except that, if a regular
municipal election should occur within ninety (90) days after
receipt of the certificate, the city council may, in its
discretion, schedule the recall election for the same date as
the regular municipal election. The recall election shall be
called and held as other elections under this charter, except
for the specific limitations imposed by this article.

 All registered voters in the city may vote on the recall of
an at large member of the council or school board; only the
registered voters of the applicable district may vote on the recall
of a district member of the council or school board.
(Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)


Section 5. Form of ballot.

 Unless the member or members whose removal is sought shall
have resigned within ten (10) days after the receipt by the city
council of the clerk's certificate, the form of the question to be
submitted to the voters shall, as nearly as possible, be: "Shall
(name of official and his or her title) be recalled?"
(Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 6. Count of ballots.

 In case a majority of those voting for and against the recall
of any official shall vote in favor of recalling such official, he
or she shall be thereby removed, and, in that event, the candidate
to succeed such person for the balance of the unexpired term shall
be determined as provided for in the case of a vacancy in the
office.

 If a majority of those voting should decline to recall a
particular official, then no proceedings, seeking the recall of
that same official, shall be initiated under this article within




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twelve (12) months from the date of the election in which his or
her recall was sought. (Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 7. Election may be ordered.

 If a member of either the city council or school board who
is recalled should either request a recount or dispute the election
as permitted by law, then that member shall remain in office until
the recount or dispute has been finally determined; and the
provisions of article II, section 7 and article III, section 6,
relating to vacancies in the city council or school board, shall
be stayed. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)


 ARTICLE VI. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Section 1. Appointments.

 (a) The following officers shall be appointed by vote of at
least five (5) members of the city council: city manager, city
clerk, and corporation counsel, and they may appoint constables at
large.

 (b) All department heads shall be appointed by the city
manager, subject to confirmation by the city council.

 (c) All attorneys employed in the corporation counsel's
office shall be appointed by the corporation counsel, subject to
confirmation by the city council.

 (d) All other employees shall be appointed by the city
manager upon recommendation of the heads of their departments.
(Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Organizational powers.

 The city council shall have power to provide by ordinance
for the organization, conduct, and operation of the departments,
agencies, offices, and boards of the city, for the creation of
additional departments, agencies, offices, and boards and for the
division of any such departments, agencies, offices, and boards;
and for the alteration, abolition, assignment, or reassignment of
all such departments, divisions, agencies, offices and boards;
provided, however, there shall be a director of finance to perform
the functions specified in article VII of this Charter. The city
council shall, by ordinance, designate



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those department heads responsible for performing duties required
by state law. (Referendum 11/4/86)


Section 3. Civil service rules.

 The city council shall provide by ordinance for a system of
civil service rules for the appointment, promotion, demotion, lay-
off, reinstatement, suspension, and removal of the members of the
police department and of the fire department, other than the
chiefs of such departments, and for a civil service commission to
administer the same.

Section 4. Compensation and tenure of offices.

 The city council shall fix by order the salaries of the
appointees of the city council. Salaries of the appointees of the
city manager shall be fixed by the city manager, subject to the
approval of the city council. All appointive officers shall hold
office during the pleasure of the appointing power.


Section 5. Appointment; qualifications; powers and duties of the
city manager.

 The city manager shall be chosen by the city council solely
on the basis of  character and executive administrative
qualifications, and may or may not be a resident of the City of
Portland or of the State of Maine at the time of appointment. Such
person shall give bond for the faithful discharge of his or her
duties to the City of Portland and in such sum as the city council
shall determine and direct, and with surety or sureties to be
approved by the city council. The premium on such bond shall be
paid by the city. Such person shall be the administrative head of
the city and shall be responsible to the city council for the
administration of all departments. Neither the mayor nor members
of the city council shall direct, request or interfere with the
appointment or removal of any of the officers or employees of the
city for whom the city manager is responsible, nor shall any of
them give an order, publicly or privately, to any such city officer
or employee relating to any matter in the line of that officer’s
or employee’s city
employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
herein is intended to prevent the city manager from assigning staff
to work and communicate directly with councilors, boards




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and commissions, council committees, neighborhood and other groups
and organizations, on city work.

 The city manager's powers and duties shall be as follows:

 (a) To see that the laws and ordinances are enforced, but
 shall delegate to the chief of the police department the
 active duties connected therewith regarding criminal
 conduct.

 (b) To exercise control over all departments, divisions,
 agencies, and offices created herein or that may be
 hereafter created.

 (c) To implement the policy decisions of the city
 council.

 (d) To coordinate city programs and operations and recommend
 improvements in such programs and operations to the
 council.

 (e) To prepare city budgets, in consultation with and
 incorporating policy guidance of the mayor, and to
 present such budgets to the council.

 (f) To make appointments as provided in this charter.

 (g) To attend meetings of the city council, except when his
 or her removal is being considered, and recommend for
 adoption such measures as he or she may deem expedient.

 (h) To keep the city council fully advised as to the business
 and financial condition and future needs of the city and
 to furnish the city council with all available facts,
 figures, and data connected therewith when requested.

 (i) To prepare a five (5) year rolling capital improvement
 plan for annual presentation to the city council, which
 plan includes the following:

 1. A one (1) year plan of specific projects and their
 cost;




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 2. A two (2) through five (5) year plan of specific
 projects and general categories, and amounts of
 proposed spending and funding sources; and

 3. A discussion of the basis for the plan and the
 factors which went into its development or
 amendments.

 (j) To prepare and submit to the city council such reports
 as are requested or he or she deems advisable; and

 (k) To perform such other duties as may be prescribed by
 this charter or required by ordinance of the city
 council. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Vacancy in office of city manager.

 During any vacancy in the office of city manager, and during
any absence or disability of the city manager of more than sixty
(60) days, the city council shall designate a properly qualified
person to perform the duties of manager and fix such person's
compensation. During a temporary absence of sixty (60) days or
less, the city manager may designate a qualified person to
perform the duties of manager during such
absence. While so acting, such person shall have the same
powers and duties as those given to and imposed on the city manager.
Before entering his or her duties, he or she shall give bond to
the City of Portland in a sum and with surety or sureties to be
approved by the city council. The premium on such bond is to be
paid by the city. (Referendum 11/2/10)


Section 7. Duties of administrative officers.

 Duties of administrative officers shall be prescribed by the
appointive power, but such duties shall not be inconsistent with
this charter or any ordinance enacted by the city council as
provided herein. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 8. Continuity in office.

 Any and all officers, department heads, and employees of the
City of Portland on the effective date of this charter shall
continue in such capacity until a successor is appointed and
qualified as provided herein, unless sooner removed by the
appointive power designated herein. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)



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 ARTICLE VII. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Accounts and records.

 Accounts shall be kept by the director of finance, showing
the financial transactions of all departments of the city, and
the school department. Accounts shall be kept in such a manner
as to show fully at all times the financial condition of the
city. The director of finance shall furnish to the city manager
each month a report containing in detail the revenues, expenses
and expenditures of the city on all accounts, and for each
appropriation item the expenditures made and the obligations
incurred during the preceding calendar month and the total
unencumbered balance. All the accounts of the city and the
school department shall be audited annually by a qualified
certified public accountant to be chosen by the city council.
(Referendum 12/1/75; 11/2/10)

Section 2. Collaboration between city and schools.

 To the extent practicable and lawful, the city and the school
department shall endeavor to share staff and resources and
otherwise cooperate with one another in order to provide better
city and school services in a cost effective manner.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 3. Reports.

 The director of finance shall publish each month a set of
financial statements reflecting the financial condition of the
city and the school department, and such other financial
information as may be required by the city council.

 The director of finance shall produce a comprehensive
financial report on an annual basis which conforms to “Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles.” (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 4. Fiscal year.

 The fiscal year of the city shall be July 1 through June 30,
or such other fiscal year as the city council shall determine.
(Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/10))

Section 5. Annual budget.



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 Not later than two (2) months before the end of the fiscal
year, the city manager shall submit to the city council a proposed
city budget prepared by the city manager for the ensuing fiscal
year. The mayor shall submit comments on the proposed city budget,
along with any proposed modifications, concurrently with the
manager’s submission.

 The city council shall fix a time and place for holding a
public hearing upon the proposed city budget prepared by the
manager, and shall give not less than ten (10) days prior public
notice of such hearing, which hearing shall be at least ten (10)
days before the final passage of the appropriation resolve.
(Referenda 6/13/78; 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 6. Budget content.

 The proposed city budget prepared by the manager shall
provide a complete financial plan of city general and enterprise
funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year. In organizing
the budget, the city manager shall utilize the most feasible
combination of expenditure classification by fund, organization
unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. It shall begin
with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in detail
all estimated income, indicating proposed tax levies, and all
proposed expenditures, including debt service for the ensuing
fiscal year; and shall be so arranged as to show comparative
figures for actual and estimated income and expenditures of the
current fiscal year and actual income and expenditures of the
preceding fiscal year.

 The total of proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total
of proposed income. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/2/10)

Section 7. Appropriation resolve.

 The city council shall adopt the annual appropriation resolve
for the next fiscal year on or before the last day of the twelfth
month of the fiscal year currently ending. Such resolve shall
appropriate those amounts deemed necessary for general city
purposes and additionally one gross amount for school purposes as
required by section 5 of article III. The total amount
appropriated shall not exceed the estimated revenue of the city.




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 If it fails to adopt such resolve by this date, the city
council may make appropriation for current departmental expenses,
chargeable to the appropriation for the year, when passed, to an
amount sufficient to cover the necessary expenses of the various
departments until the annual appropriation resolve is in force.
These continuing appropriations shall not be subject to the
mayor’s veto in section 8 below.

 The city council may by resolution appropriate to any purpose
or object for which there shall have been no appropriation for the
current year, or for which the appropriation for the current year
has proved insufficient, any accruing revenue of the city not
appropriated as hereinbefore provided and any unencumbered
appropriation balance, or portion thereof, remaining after the
purpose of the appropriation shall have been satisfied or
abandoned. Such appropriations shall not be subject to the mayor’s
veto in section 8 below. (Referenda 6/13/78; 11/2/10)
Section 8. Mayoral veto of general city purposes appropriations in
the appropriation resolve.

 Within five (5) business days of the meeting at which the
city council adopts the annual appropriation resolve, the mayor
may veto the appropriation for general city purposes in such
resolve by written communication to the other members of the city
council. Such communication shall specify the reasons for such
veto and shall, at minimum, be posted upon the city’s website or
similar location and sent to the councilors by electronic mail
and by the same means that agendas are delivered to councilors.

 Any such veto of the appropriation for general city purposes
shall not affect city payment of debt service obligations on
previously authorized bonds, nor shall it affect the school budget
appropriation.

 An order to override the veto shall be placed on the next
city council agenda which is at least five (5) calendar days after
the date of the mayor’s veto communication, and such veto may be
overridden by a vote of at least six (6) members of the city
council. The mayor shall not vote on such override item.

 If a veto is overridden, the general city purposes
appropriation will take effect on the first day of the fiscal




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year, or on the day immediately following the override vote, if
such vote is after the first day of the fiscal year.

 If a veto is not overridden, then at the same meeting the
override vote is taken, the general city purposes appropriation
which was vetoed shall become an item for further consideration by
the city  council, without the  need for a  motion for
reconsideration, and the city appropriation may be modified,
amended, or otherwise acted upon to secure passage at that meeting
or a subsequent meeting without the need for two readings prior to
passage.

 In the event the city council does not override the veto or
does not secure passage of the annual appropriation for general
city purposes prior to the start of the fiscal year, or has not
otherwise acted to provide continuing appropriations under the
second paragraph of section 7 above, then the appropriations for
general city purposes in effect for the prior fiscal year shall go
into effect as of the first day of the fiscal year, with
expenditures chargeable to the appropriation for the year, until
the appropriation for general city purposes is approved.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 9. Unexpended appropriations.

 All appropriations in the annual budget shall lapse at the
close of the fiscal year unless specifically continued by order of
the city council, and the unexpended appropriations shall be
transferred to the appropriate fund balance account. (Referendum
11/2/10)

Section 10. Borrowing.

 The borrowing of money by and for the city shall be limited
as to form and purpose by section 11 and section 12 of this article.
The credit of the city shall in no manner be loaned to any
individual, association or corporation. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 11. Bond issues.

 Money may be borrowed, within the limits fixed by the
constitution and statutes of the state, now or hereafter applying
to Portland, by the issue and sale of bonds or notes pledged on
the credit of the city, or on the revenues or assets of the projects
financed with the proceeds of such borrowings, the proceeds to be
used for the acquisition of land, the



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construction, reconstruction, major alteration, extraordinary
repairs, and equipment of buildings and other permanent public
improvements, the purchase of departmental equipment, for economic
development to the extent determined by the City Council to serve
a valid public purpose, to create reserves to settle workers'
compensation obligations, to fund, refund, pay or to create
reserves for the payment of the city’s unfunded pension fund
liabilities and for the payment of refunding bonds, notes and
other evidences of indebtedness previously issued, or for any
other purpose permitted by state law.

 No order providing for the issue of bonds shall be passed
without public notice given by posting notice of the same in two
(2) public places in the City of Portland and publishing such
notice at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in
Portland at least two (2) weeks before final action of the city
council. In addition, the city council may, in its discretion,
provide that such notice shall be published on the city's website
and in such other additional media as the city council determines
are appropriate to notify the general public of the public hearing.

 Any order authorizing the issue of bonds must be approved by
vote of at least seven (7) members of the city council.
(Referenda 11/4/86; 11/5/91; 11/8/94; 11/2/99; 11/2/10)

Section 12. Temporary loans.

 Money may be borrowed in anticipation of receipts from taxes
during any fiscal year but the aggregate amount of such loans
outstanding at any one (1) time shall not exceed eighty (80)
percent of the revenue received from taxes during the preceding
fiscal year. All such loans shall be paid within the year out of
the receipts from taxes for the fiscal year in which the loans
are made. Money may be borrowed in anticipation of money to be
received from the sale of bonds to be issued, in case such bond
issue has been authorized; all such loans shall be subject to the
provisions of the laws of the State of Maine in relation thereto.
This section shall not limit in any way the power granted to
towns and cities to borrow money as contained in the Revised
Statutes of the State of Maine and acts amendatory thereof and
additional thereto. (Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)

Section 13. Payments.




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 The director of finance shall establish adequate financial
controls to reasonably ensure that all payrolls, bills and other
claims and demands against the city are in proper form, correctly
computed, duly certified and legally due and payable.

 The director of finance may require any claimant to make oath
to the validity of his or her claim, may investigate any claim and
for such purpose or purposes may examine witnesses under oath.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 14. Bonds of officers.

 The city council shall require a bond with sufficient surety
or sureties, satisfactory to the city council, from all persons
trusted with the collection, custody or disbursement of any of the
public moneys; and may require such bond from such other officials
as it may deem advisable; the premium charges for such bonds to be
paid by the city. (Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 15. Collection and custody of city moneys.

 All moneys received by any officer, employee or agent of the
city belonging to the city, or for or in connection with the
business of the city, shall forthwith be paid by the officer,
employee or agent receiving the same into the city treasury, and
shall then be deposited by the director of finance with a federally
insured banking institution or institutions or insured credit union
or unions. All interest from all deposits of money belonging to
the city shall accrue to the benefit of the city.
(Referendum 11/2/10)

Section 16. Voter referendum required for certain city council
actions.

 (a) The city council shall submit the following to voter
referendum:

 (1) Orders or resolves authorizing the issuance of general
 obligation securities of the city in a principal amount
 greater than five one-hundredths of one (1) percent of
 the last certified state valuation of the city for a
 single capital improvement or item of capital equipment;
 or

 (2) Orders or resolves directly or indirectly obligating the
 city to expend, over a term greater than one (1)



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 municipal year, municipal tax funds in excess of an
 amount greater than seven and one-half one-hundredths of
 one (1) percent of the last certified state valuation of
 the city for a single capital improvement or item of
 capital equipment.

 (b) The provisions of this section shall not be applicable
to any order or resolve authorizing (i) the refunding of any
securities or other obligations of the city; (ii) the issuance of
general obligation securities, or other direct or indirect
obligations, of the city for streets, sidewalks, or storm or
sanitary sewers; or (iii) any construction or financing of
improvements or equipment needed as a result of fire, flood,
disaster or other declared emergency. For purposes of this
section, the city council may by vote of at least seven (7) of
its members adopt emergency orders or resolves authorizing
construction or financing of improvements or equipment needed as
a result of fire, flood, disaster or other emergency and such
orders or resolves shall contain a section in which the emergency
is set forth and defined; provided, however, that the declaration
of such emergency by the city council shall be conclusive.

 (c) Any order or resolve described in subsection (a) of this
section shall be approved by separate action of the city council.

 (d) No order or resolve described in subparagraph (a) of
this section, not excepted by subparagraph (b), shall become
effective until approved by a majority of voters voting at a
regular or special municipal election. In the event that the total
number of votes cast for and against the question for the referred
order or resolve should be less than ten (10) percent of the
registered voters of the city, then such order or resolve shall be
deemed to be approved and effective.

 (e) The form of the ballot question for the referred order
or resolve shall be substantially as follows:

 Shall the order or resolve entitled "____
 ____" , be approved?
(Referendum 11/4/86; 11/2/10)




 ARTICLE VIII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS




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Section 1. No personal interest.

 No member of the city council or school board or board or
commission thereof and no officer or employee of the city or school
department shall:

 (a) Have a substantial financial interest, direct or
 indirect, in any contract entered into by or on behalf
 of the City of Portland or the school board, except his
 or her employment contract, or in the sale to or by the
 city or school department of any land, materials,
 supplies or services when such officer, employee or
 member exercises on behalf of the city or school
 department any function or responsibility with respect
 to such contract or sale. All contracts or sales made
 in violation hereof are void, and the city treasurer is
 expressly forbidden to pay any money out of the city
 treasury on account of any such transaction.

 (b) Purchase or accept anything from the city or school
 department, other than those items or services which
 are offered to the public generally, and then only upon
 the same terms and under the same procedures offered to
 and used for the general public. This shall not include
 those items or services which are received as
 compensation, or as a part of such person's employment
 contract, or which are necessary for the performance of
 such person's duties.

 (c) Accept or receive from any person, firm, or corporation
 acting under a franchise, contract, or license from the
 city or school department, any frank, free pass, free
 ticket, or free service, or accept, directly or
 indirectly, from any such person, firm, or corporation
 any service upon terms more favorable than those granted
 to the public generally. (Referenda 11/4/86; 11/2/10)


Section 2. Ordinances, rules and regulations continued.

 All ordinances in force at the time that this charter takes
effect, not inconsistent with this charter, shall continue in




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force until amended or repealed. All rules and regulations of the
municipal officers or of any office of the City of Portland in
force at the time that this charter takes effect, not inconsistent
with the provisions hereof, shall continue in force until amended
or repealed.

Section 3. Continuity of actions.

 All rights, actions, proceedings, prosecutions and contracts
of the city or any of its departments, pending or unexecuted when
this charter goes into effect and not inconsistent therewith shall
be enforced, continued or completed in all respects as though
begun or executed hereunder.

Section 4. Summons before city council and civil service
commission.

 The clerks of the supreme judicial and superior courts may
issue summonses or subpoenas for witnesses to attend and to
produce books, documents and papers at any meeting of the city
council or of the civil service commission of the City of
Portland at which a hearing is had in any matter regarding any
alleged dereliction, which summonses shall be served as
summonses are required to be served in matters before the supreme
judicial or superior courts. Failure to obey a summons or
subpoena shall be punished by the appropriate court in the same
manner as contempt is punished under the general law.
(Referendum 11/4/86)

Section 5. Effect of private and special laws.

 Private and special laws which apply to the City of Portland
in effect on November 4, 1986 shall continue in force until amended
or repealed. (Referendum 11/4/86)

 APPENDIX A

 Charter Legislative History

1. Town of Portland incorporated by Act of Commonwealth of Massachusetts on
July 4, 1786; Town of Portland Records, p. 1
 2. City of Portland incorporated by adoption of charter on March 26,
1832; original charter can be found in Chapter 248, Special Laws of Maine
1832, p. 380; amendments as follows:
 c. 325, S.L. 1833, p. 501
 c. 500, S.L. 1834, p. 749
 c. 402, S.L. 1838, p. 511
 c. 541, S.L. 1839, p. 648




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 c. 33, P & SL 1842, p.
 25
 c. 200, P & SL 1845, p. 258
 c. 266, P & SL 1845, p. 310
 c. 233, P & SL 1849, p. 333
 c. 330, P & SL 1850, p. 458
 c. 167, P & SL 1853, p. 158
 c. 35, P & SL 1857, p.
 48
 c.  103,
 3. A P & SL
 total 1857, of
 revision  p. 93
 the charter was accomplished in 1863; c. 275, P
& SL c.
 1863,109,
 p. P & SL 1857,
 257; p. 100
 amendments as follows:
 c. 348, P & SL 1870, p. 316
 c. 647, P & SL 1871, p. 624
 c. 21, P & SL 1875, p. 16
 c. 8, P & SL 1881, p. 9
 c. 86, P & SL 1881, p. 86
 (c. 450, P & SL 1897, p. 707--Revision of charter rejected by voters in
1897)
 c. 384, P & SL 1901, p. 569
 c. 68, P & SL 1903, p. 116
 (c. 287, P & SL 1905, p. 328--abolishing common council rejected by voters
April 24, 1905)
 c. 344, P & SL 1907, p. 638
 c. 427, P & SL 1907, p. 758
 (c. 148, P & SL 1921, p. 513--"Murray Bill" charter revision rejected by
voters September 13, 1921)
 (c. 149, P & SL 1921, p. 532--"Brewster Bill" charter revision rejected
by voters September 13, 1921)
0. A total revision of the charter was accomplished in 1923 by adoption
by voters of "Brewster Bill" on September 11, 1923; c. 109, P & SL 1923, p.
596; ("Nichols Bill" c.104, P & SL 1923, p. 557 was rejected same date);
amendments as follows:
 c. 56, P & SL 1929, p. 484
 (c. 112, P & SL 1929, p. 604--Mayor--Alderman form rejected by voters
on September 10, 1929)
 c. 31, P & SL 1931, p. 353
 c. 50, P & SL 1945, p. 629
 c. 113, P & SL 1945, p. 736
 c. 144, P & SL 1945, p. 71
 c. 72, P & SL 1947, p. 722
 c. 72, P & SL 1949, p. 765
 c. 103, P & SL 1949, p. 803
 c. 28, P & SL 1953, p. 528
 c. 108, P & SL 1955, p. 756
 c. 88, P & SL 1957, p. 707
 c. 143, P & SL 1959, p. 873
 4. A total revision of the charter was accomplished in 1961; c. 194, P
 & SL 1961, p 1125; amendments as follows:
 c. 64, P & SL 1963, p. 966
 c. 65, P & SL 1963, p. 967
 c. 157, P & SL 1963, p. 1187
 c. 177, P & SL 1963, § 1, p. 1291
 (c. 6, P & SL 1965, p. 649 rejected by voters on December 6, 1965)
 c. 7, p & SL 1965, p. 650
 c. 81, P & SL 1965, p. 760




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 (c. 127, P & SL 1965, p. 849 rejected by voters on December 6, 1965)
 c. 221, P & SL 1967, p. 136
 c. 83, P & SL 1969, p. 1628
 c. 136, P & SL 1969, p. 1792
 c. 146, P & SL 1969, p. 1820
 (c. 185, P & SL 1969, p. 1958 rejected by voters on November 3, 1970)
 State constitutional law reference--Municipal home rule, Const. of
Maine, Art. VIII, Pt. 2.

 Referenda 12/4/72 Art. I, 1
 Referenda 12/1/75 Art. II, 2
 Art. IV, 2
 Art. IV, 4
 Art. V, 2
 Art. VII, 1
 Referenda 11/2/76** Art. II, 1
 Art. II, 4
 Art. III, 1,2,5
 Art. IV, 2,3,4,6
 Art. V, 2
 Referenda 6/13/78 Art. II, 1,2,3,5
 Art. III, 1,2,3,4
 Art. IV, 1,2,3,6
 Art. VII,3,4,5,6
 Referenda 11/4/86***Art. II, 1,2,4,5
 Art. III, 1,5
 Art. IV, 1,2,3,4,6,7,9
 Art. V, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
 Art. VI, 1,2,5
 Art. VII 7-10 (Rpld)
 Art. VI, 11-12 (Rnbd as Art. VI,
 7-8)
 Art. VII, 3,4,9,10,16
 Art. VIII, 1,4,5
 Art. VIII, 6 (Rpld)
 Referenda 11/3/87 Art. II, 2
 Art. III, 1
 Referenda 11/5/91 Art. VII, 9
 Referenda 11/8/94 Art. VII, 9
 Referenda 11/2/99 Art. II, 4
 Art. III, 5
 Art. VII, 9
 Referenda 11/7/00 Art. II, 3,5
 Art. III, 2,3
 Art. IV, 2
 Referenda 11/6/01 Art, IV, 2,6,8,10
 Referenda 11/4/08 Art. IV, 3,4,5, 6,7,11
 Referenda 11/2/10**** Charter Revisions recommended
 by the Portland Charter Commission
 established on November 4, 2008, and passed
 by the voters on November 2,2010

**Editor's note--The amendment establishing district councilor elections became
effective January 1, 1976, except that for the purpose of nomination and election
of district councilors such amendment shall apply as the




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presently occupied district seats become available thereafter by normal
expiration of term or by vacancy and to every district election thereafter.

***Editor's note--A referendum passed Nov. 4, 1986 and effective July 1, 1987,
repealed former sections 7 through 10 of article VI to eliminate references to
obsolete offices (assistant assessors, director of public welfare) and
renumbered former sections 11 and 12 as 7 and 8 respectively. Former sections
7 through 10 derived from the legislation enumerated in the first editor's note
to this Charter.

***Editor's note--A referendum passed Nov. 4, 1986, effective July 1, 1987,
amended section 4 of article VIII to clarify the summons-subpoena power and to
provide that failure to obey either a summons or a subpoena will subject
offenders to contempt. Former section 5 of this article was deleted as a result
of the amendment to section 4 and a new section 5 added to preserve certain
rights granted to the city by special acts of the legislature. Former section
6 was deleted to conform to 30 M.R.S.A. § 1915(4) which establishes the effective
date of Charter revisions. See the editor's note to the Charter for derivations
of deleted sections.

****Editor’s note--Portland voters approved a referendum passed on November 4,
2008 to establish a Portland Charter Commission to make recommendations to
revise the Portland City Charter. Those recommendations were subsequently
passed by the voters on November 2, 2010, and incorporated the provisions on
the popularly elected mayor in Article 2, as well as making changes to the
School and Elections articles and technical amendments throughout the document.




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 MEMORANDUM
 TO: Xavier Botana, Superintendent
 Portland Public Schools
 FROM: Agnieszka A. Dixon
 Drummond Woodsum
  DATE: November 5, 2021
 RE: Portland Charter—School Governance, Policy, and Management:
 The School Budget Approval Process and Bonding Authority


This memorandum follows our August 11, 2021 memorandum, in which we provided an overview of the
law on behalf of Portland Public Schools governing the powers and duties of the City of Portland Charter
Commission (the “Commission”) to address matters of school governance, policy, and management.
You have asked us whether the Portland Charter could be revised to task the School Board with approving
the total amount of the school budget. As explained in Part I, below, the matter is not free from doubt.
Nonetheless, we believe there is a strong legal basis to recommend that the Charter Commission propose a
Charter revision to require the City Council to submit the total school budget to the voters, acting as the
legislative body at a city-wide referendum. This would in effect limit the role of the City Council to calling
and overseeing the school budget referendum.
You have also asked us whether the Charter could be revised to authorize the School Board to issue its own
general obligation bonds to finance school construction and renovation projects. In Part II, below, we
explain why this is not advisable, and we suggest a Charter revision whereby the City Council would
continue to issue bonds for such projects but would direct the City Council to present any School Board
recommended bond questions to the voters for ultimate approval.
I. THE SCHOOL BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS
In the August 11 memo, we discussed the concept of home rule authority and the limits on that authority
imposed by the Maine Constitution and state law. In short, under home rule, a municipality may, by charter,
impose local regulation of public education unless state law has expressly prohibited local regulation or
unless the Legislature “has intended to occupy the field and the legislation would frustrate the purpose of a
state law.” School Committee of Town of York v. Town of York, 626 A.2d 935, 939 (Me. 1993) (discussed
below). With respect to the school budget approval process, and based upon the York decision, we stated
that a charter could likely be revised to modify the school budget approval process as long as the power of
the school board to direct expenditures and the responsibility of a municipal legislative body to determine
the total school budget is not altered.
As you are well aware, municipal school budgets “must follow the same school budget requirements as
regional school units.” 20-A M.R.S. § 2307. Accordingly, the school board prepares and approves a budget,
which is organized by specific cost centers, and warrant articles prescribed by law. The school board budget
is then submitted to the budget meeting. In charter municipalities, the budget meeting is a “meeting of the
municipal council or other municipal legislative body established by the charter with authority to approve
the budget.” 20-A M.R.S. § 2307(1). The final step in budget approval is presentation of the total budget
for ultimate approval by the voters in a budget validation referendum—although the voters are required


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under state law to determine, every three years by referendum, whether or not to eliminate this step of the
process. See 20-A M.R.S. § 1486(1).
State law contemplates that the school budget is approved by either “the municipal council or other
municipal legislative body.” 20-A M.R.S. § 2307(1), (2) (emphasis added). It therefore appears that
assignment of the authority to determine the total school budget to a municipal legislative body other than
a city council is contemplated by the school statute. Accordingly, it may be argued that a charter provision
that assigns this school budget function to a different body while leaving the decision for final budget
authority with the voters would be within the municipality’s statutory home rule authority as articulated in
the York decision.
In Maine, final approval of a school budget is typically the responsibility of (i) a town meeting composed
of voters of a town, (ii) a school budget meeting composed of voters of the member municipalities of a
school administrative unit, or (iii) a representative body, such as a council, established by charter. To our
knowledge, most (if not all) city charters assign the responsibility for determining the total amount of the
school budget to a city council. Of course, as a legal matter, just because something has not been done does
not mean that it cannot be done. In evaluating the question posed, we could find no state law that would
directly conflict with or be undermined by a charter provision that confers on the voters of a city the
authority to act as the legislative body to approve a school board’s proposed total school budget. We
therefore suggest that the Charter could be revised to direct the City Council to present the total school
budget prepared and initially approved by the School Board to the voters for ultimate approval at a city-
wide referendum.1
Case law seems to support this school budget approval approach. In York, the Law Court upheld a town
charter provision that created an elected municipal budget committee, separate from the school committee
and the select board, vested with the power to amend the individual articles of the school budget and the
total budget before it was submitted to voters for ultimate approval at referendum. See Town of York, 626
A.2d at 937, 942 & n. 4. The Court determined that the charter provision establishing this budget approval
process was valid because there was no direct conflict between it and any statute and because it did not
interfere with the purpose of the school statute or the municipal statute. Id. at 946. Moreover, the Court
emphasized that, under the town’s charter framework, the “budget figures that are submitted to the voters
are advisory” and that responsibility for the adoption of a final school budget is vested in the voters—vis-
à-vis a budget referendum—and not the school committee. See id. at 941. Similarly here, a Charter revision
directing the School Board to prepare the school budget and submit it to the City Council for the sole
purpose of passing it on to the voters for ultimate approval would vest final approval of the total budget in
a traditionally recognized municipal legislative body—the city’s voters.2
This approach also appears consistent with the plain language of the school statute. State law specifically
provides:
 1. Budget Meeting. In charter municipalities the budget meeting required by section 1485,
 subsection 33 must be a meeting of the municipal council or other municipal legislative
 body established by the charter with authority to approve the budget.



1
 Specifically, under this approach, we envision a process by which the Charter would direct the City Council to call
a budget validation referendum or, in the event the voters eliminate this step pursuant to 20-A M.R.S. § 1486, a
municipal school budget referendum.
2
 As we noted in the August 11 memo and as we discuss next, since the York decision, the school budget approval
process was modified to require a budget meeting followed by a budget validation referendum.
3
 Section 1485, subsection 3 of Title 20-A provides:


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Page 3

 2. Municipal charter. In charter municipalities where the municipal charter confers upon
 a municipal council or other municipal legislative body the authority to determine the total
 amount of the school budget and confers upon the school committee or school board the
 authority to direct the expenditure of those funds for school purposes, the municipal council
 or other municipal legislative body shall determine the total amount of the school budget
 to be submitted to a budget validation referendum and the school committee or school
 board shall determine the allocation of the approved school budget among the cost centers
 of the cost center summary budget format.
20-A M.R.S. § 2307 (emphasis added) (hereafter, “Section 2307”). In short, Section 2307 calls on a city
council or the municipal legislative body to approve the total amount of the school budget at a meeting of
the council or body. See id. In light of the presumptions in favor of home rule and the statutory authority of
the voters to eliminate the budget validation referendum pursuant to 20-A M.R.S. § 1486(1), it can be fairly
said that Section 2307 mandates a two-step school budget approval process: (1) preparation and initial
approval of the school budget by a school board, followed by (2) ultimate approval of the initial budget by
a municipal council or a municipal legislative body. It therefore does not appear to us to contradict or
frustrate the purpose of Section 2307 for a municipal charter to direct the School Board to prepare and
approve the school budget, and to then present the total proposed budget to a separate municipal legislative
body, consisting of the voters at a City-wide referendum, for ultimate approval.
Likewise, the municipal statute appears to contemplate that there may be a municipal legislative body that
is something other than a city council.4 It defines “municipal legislative body” as follows:
 Municipal legislative body. “Municipal legislative body” means:
 A. The town meeting in a town;
 B. The city council in a city; or
 C. That part of a municipal government that exercises legislative powers under a law or charter.
30-A M.R.S. § 2001(9) (emphasis added). The third prong to this definition supports the proposition that a
municipal legislative body can be something other than the town meeting or the city council so long as a
law or charter establishes such a body and confers upon it the authority to exercise legislative powers.
Certainly, it is conceivable that this third prong encompasses a referendum meeting of municipal voters,
even though it is not enumerated in the above definition. Because the definition of “municipal legislative
body” is housed in the municipal statute—and not in the school statute—it may well be that a court might
not find it dispositive when interpreting the text of Section 2307. But, to the extent this definition may
inform the analysis, in our view, a charter-enabled voter referendum would likely meet the state law
definition of “municipal legislative body.”
In sum, although the matter is not free from doubt, it is our view that the Charter may be revised to direct
the School Board to prepare and initially approve the school budget and to transmit it to the City Council,
and to direct the City Council to submit the initially approved budget to the voters, serving as the legislative



 Budget approval. A regional school unit’s cost center summary budget must be approved at a
 regional school unit budget meeting and by a budget validation referendum as provided in section
 1486.
4
  This concept is consistent with general principles of municipal law, which recognize that a municipal government
has the power to create its form of local government pursuant to its home rule powers. See 2 McQuillin Mun. Corp.
§ 4:96 (3d ed.) (in general, the form of municipal government is subject to legislative control, but the power to adopt,
alter, or revise a form of local government ordinarily may be delegated to a municipal corporation or its electors); see
also 2A McQuillin Mun. Corp. § 9:2 (3d ed.) (stating that the effect of the adoption of a municipal charter “is to invest
the governing authorities of the municipality—either a majority of the voters, or such officers as are prescribed—with
the power of local government over inhabitants in that district”).

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Page 4

body, either via a budget validation referendum or, if it is discontinued by the voters pursuant to state law,
a municipal school budget referendum for final approval.
In our role as legal counsel to Portland Public Schools, we have intentionally limited our analysis on this
matter to the relevant legal considerations. We defer to others to deliberate on the policy implications and
merits of pursuing such a change to the Charter. In weighing whether or not to pursue a revision to the
Charter that would modify the established school budget approval structure, we encourage the School Board
and the Commission to weigh the litigation risks, consider the policy implications, and evaluate alternative
approaches that might address the underlying policy issues without raising the specter of lengthy and costly
litigation.
II. BONDING AUTHORITY
The authority of a municipality to issue general obligation bonds is expressly set forth in the municipal
statute. See 30-A M.R.S. § 5772. Likewise, the school statute grants certain types of school administrative
units such authority. See, e.g., 20-A M.R.S. § 1490 (authorizing regional school units to issue bonds or
notes for school construction purposes); § 1311 (same for school administrative districts). Neither the
municipal nor the school statute makes provision for the school committee of a municipal school unit to
issue bonds in the name of the municipality. There is a strong legal argument that there is a comprehensive
statutory scheme governing the issuance of municipal bonds and that a charter provision authorizing a
municipal school committee to issue bonds would be deemed to be inconsistent with that scheme.
Accordingly, a charter revision such as this likely would mean that a clean bond opinion could not be given
and the bonds could not be issued.
Given that a statutory framework already exists for the issuance of municipal bonds, a simpler approach
might be for the Charter to be revised to clarify that the role of the City Council with respect to the issuance
of school construction or renovation bonds. Specifically, the Charter could be revised to (1) grant the School
Board the authority to request the placement of a school construction or renovation bond question before
the City voters at the next scheduled municipal election or at a special referendum, and (2) direct the City
Council to call and oversee that referendum, thereby placing the question before the voters. In light of the
presumptions in favor of home rule and given that the responsibility to approve school bonds under this
approach would rest with the City voters, in our view, this approach would not likely run afoul of any home
rule limitations.


We trust this memorandum is responsive to your inquiry. We are always available to answer any further
questions you may have.




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 MEMORANDUM

 TO: Portland Public Schools School Board
 and Xavier Botana, Superintendent of Schools
 FROM: Agnieszka A. Dixon and E. William Stockmeyer
 Drummond Woodsum
  DATE: January 24, 2022
 RE: Proposals for Charter Provisions Regarding School Budget Approval Procedures and
 School Bonding Authority


At your request, we write in response to a memorandum prepared by Attorneys Jim Katsiaficas and
Emily Arvizu to the Portland Charter Commission Education Committee, dated December 14, 2021
(which we refer to here as the “Perkins Thompson Memo”). In that memo, Attorneys Katsiaficas and
Arvizu questioned (1) the scope of the City’s charter authority to assign the role of determining the total
school budget to a municipal legislative body other than the City Council including, specifically, the
School Board, and (2) the proper roles of the City Council and School Board in issuing school
construction and renovation bonds. We respond to both of these issues in turn.
I. AUTHORITY TO REPLACE THE CITY COUNCIL WITH ANOTHER MUNICIPAL
 LEGISLATIVE BODY TO DETERMINE THE TOTAL SCHOOL BUDGET
As you know, in our memo dated August 11, 2021, we provided an overview of the law governing the
powers and duties of the Charter Commission to address matters of school governance, policy, and
management (the “August 2021 Memo”). You then asked us whether the Portland charter could be
revised to task the School Board with determining the total amount of the school budget, and we
responded that there appears to exist a strong legal basis to do so (the “November 2021 Memo”).
Specifically, we stated in our November 2021 Memo that a charter provision that assigns the
responsibility to determine the total school budget to a municipal legislative body other than the City
Council while leaving the decision for final budget authority with the voters would likely be within the
City’s charter authority.
In reviewing the Perkins Thompson Memo, it appears to agree with us on this point. Where our opinions
seem to diverge is on the scope of the City’s home rule authority to identify who can serve as the
municipal legislative body for this limited purpose.
In considering this question, we think it noteworthy that the Maine Law Court has not only held that the
school statute did not implicitly preempt municipal charters from designating an entity responsible for
preparing the school budget, but emphasized that the budget figures prepared by such an entity are
“advisory” and that, perhaps, what mattered most was that “[r]esponsibility for the adoption of a final
school budget . . . is vested in the voters, not the School Committee.” School Committee of Town of York
v. Town of York, 626 A.2d 935, 940 (Me. 1993). Indeed, the Law Court unequivocally rejected the
contention that interposing a budget committee between the school committee and the town meeting
frustrated the legislative scheme set out in the school statute on grounds that it undercut state policy
dividing school authority between the school board and the municipal legislative body. Id.




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January 24, 2022
Page 2

We think the York decision could lend credence to a variety of ways that the Portland charter could be
revised to remove the City Council’s current role from the school budget approval process while
respecting the plain language of Section 2307. We next discuss two of the various possible alternatives,
and we respond to the objections to these two alternatives raised in the Perkins Thompson Memo.
  Alternative #1: The voters determine the total school budget.
The Perkins Thompson Memo states (correctly, we believe) that “the use of the phrase ‘or other
[municipal] legislative body’ could be considered to allow Portland to amend its charter to transfer budget
adoption authority from the City Council to a City-wide voter referendum.” (Perkins Thompson Memo at
p. 4.) One alternative approach to the status quo, then, would be to have the charter direct the City
Council to call a City-wide municipal school budget referendum for the purpose of determining the total
school budget, followed by the statutory budget validation referendum (BVR). While the Perkins
Thompson Memo objects to this approach, it does not appear to be on legal grounds but rather on the
policy ground that holding two referendums (the first to set the total budget, and the second to ratify that
budget) is a waste of effort. Yet there may well be sound policy reason for such a two-vote process.1
Moreover, the Legislature established a two-vote process for nearly all school administrative units as a
matter of state policy, and it also established a process by which voters can vote to discontinue the BVR
should they find it to be an unnecessary duplication. In other words, the Portland voters could vote to
eliminate the statutory BVR in short order, leaving a single referendum vote by charter to determine the
total school budget.
  Alternative #2: The School Board determines the total school budget, and the voters
 ultimately approve the budget.
As we discussed in our November 2021 Memo, we can also envision a school budget approval process
that removes the City Council from the budget process but does not require two referendums. Such a
process stems from my suggestion during the Education Committee’s panel discussion that there appears
to be no statutory prohibition on the School Board serving as the “municipal legislative body” for
purposes of Section 2307. The Perkins Thompson memo objects to this alternative process primarily on
grounds that Section 2307 was amended to “clearly delineate and balance the roles and power of the
school board and the existing municipal legislative body having school budget approval authority.”
(Perkins Thompson Memo at p. 4.)
This objection, however, contradicts the plain reading of Section 2307 and requires the inference that the
phrase “or other municipal legislative body” confines charter municipalities to a single form of legislative
body—the town meeting. Yet while it is true that in charter municipalities the council and the town
meeting are the two traditional forms for the municipal legislative body, nothing about the language of
Section 2307 indicates that other forms are excluded. Indeed, Sanford (as the Perkins Thompson Memo
noted) and, arguably, York (as we’ve noted) have at one time or another established an “other municipal
legislative body” that in each case was something quite different than a town meeting. Additionally, as
we discuss in our November 2021 Memo, the definition of “municipal legislative body” in the municipal
statute does not support such an inference. Finally, although a statute otherwise clear on its face might
require a narrower interpretation in the face of a constitutional objection, the constitutional separation of
powers doctrine does not generally apply to municipal bodies or school budget approval procedures.
It strikes us that reading such an intent into the language or legislative history of Section 2307 goes too
far when the constitutional ground does not exist. Rather, Section 2307 addresses the role of the


1
  For example, the initial referendum to determine the total budget could be an opportunity for the School Board to
inform voters on the details of the budget through the presentation of the eleven cost centers and to get an early
indicator of the voters’ proclivity; and the BVR would then serve to ratify the approved budget—which is, in fact,
the role the BVR serves in school budget approval procedures for regional school units and school administrative
districts throughout the state.


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Page 3

municipal legislative body, not its identity, and just as importantly, does so by affording greater deference
to charters, not less.2
For these reasons, we think Section 2307 leaves room for the Portland charter to assign the School Board
the advisory role of determining the total budget before it is finally adopted by the voters. We also think
that such an approach would be consistent with the holding in York. And, while there are arguments
favoring different legal views on this matter and a charter revision that assigns the role of determining the
total school budget to a school board is not without legal risk, such a charter revision would be entitled to
a presumption of validity by Maine courts under home rule principles the Court articulated in York and
many other cases.
  The school statute and case law leave ample room to explore alternatives to the current
 school budget approval process.
Should the Charter Commission entertain the idea of removing the City Council from its current role in
the school budget approval process, both the school statute and case law leave ample room to explore
these or other alternatives. To that end (because more often than not it is helpful to read proposals rather
than legal memos), we have enclosed examples of the two charter revisions discussed above. We also
would be happy to discuss other possible school budget approval processes that we believe fall within the
legal limits of municipal home rule authority and address the parity issues raised by the existing charter
process.


II. BONDING AUTHORITY

There is clear agreement between us and Attorneys Katsiaficas and Arvizu that there is insufficient legal
basis to reassign the authority to issue school construction and renovation bonds from the City Council to
the School Board. Our suggestion in the November 2021 Memo, however, does not concern who issues
such bonds; rather, we propose that, whenever such a bond exceeds a charter-established threshold so that
it must be submitted to a referendum, the voters should have an opportunity to vote on the bonding
amount and purpose proposed by the School Board, rather than the proposal of the City Council.
Accordingly, we suggest a charter revision that would have the City Council continue to issue such bonds
and to call and oversee the referendum, but require the City Council to place the School Board’s proposed
question before the voters. To further clarify our intent, we have attached a suggested charter revision for
your review and consideration.


We trust this memo is responsive to your request. We are available should you have further questions.




2
 Notably, Section 2307(1) and (2) are exceptions to the mandate that municipal schools must follow the same
school budget procedures as regional school units: First, Section 2307(1) clarifies that, notwithstanding the statutory
mandate, charter municipalities are not restricted to the town meeting for the first part of the school budget approval,
but may use their own legislative body—namely, the “municipal council or other municipal legislative body
established by the charter.” Second, Section 2307(2) clarifies that municipal charters may circumscribe the role of a
municipal council or other municipal legislative body to determining the total amount of the school budget.
Section 2307 indeed “delineates and balances” roles, but only by giving charter municipalities substantially more
room than other school administrative units to apply the details of the two-step school budget approval process.


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 SUGGESTED CHARTER REVISIONS TO
 ARTICLE III, SECTION 5. SCHOOL BUDGET

EXAMPLE 1: The voters determine the total school budget at a school budget referendum.

 Not later than three and one-half (3.5) months before the end
of the fiscal year, the superintendent shall submit to the school
board budget estimates of the various sums required for the support
of public schools for the ensuing fiscal year and shall thereafter
provide the school board with such information relating to such
estimates as the school board shall require.

 During the thirty (30) days following submission of the
superintendent’s proposed budget to the school board, the school
board and the city council, or their designated subcommittees,
shall meet jointly at least twice to review the proposed school
budget, focusing on its underlying assumptions and supporting data
and the ability of the city to raise the necessary funds for the
support of such proposed budget. The superintendent and the city
manager shall provide information regarding such proposed budget
as reasonably requested by the school board and the city council,
or their designated subcommittees.

 The budget submitted by the superintendent to be reviewed
jointly by the school board and the city council shall provide a
complete financial plan of all school funds and activities for the
ensuing fiscal year. In organizing the school budget for
joint review, the superintendent shall utilize the most feasible
combination of expenditure classification by fund, organization,
unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. The budget shall
begin with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in
detail all estimated income and all proposed expenditures,
including debt service for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be
so arranged as to show comparative figures for actual and estimated
income and expenditures of the current fiscal year and actual
income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year. The total of
proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of proposed
income.

 Not later than the last Monday in April of each fiscal year,
the school board shall submit to the city council a budget of the
various sums required for the support of the public schools for
the ensuing fiscal year in the format provided above, and shall
thereafter provide the city council with such information relating
to such budget as the city council shall require. The city council
shall call a school budget referendum for the purpose of
determining the total amount of the school budget. The budget


 A-1
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presented to the school budget referendum shall be the amount
proposed by the school board. The warrant calling the school
budget referendum shall include voter information containing the
amount of locally raised funds and the amounts for each cost
center summary budget category proposed by the school board. The
school budget approved at the school budget referendum shall
thereafter be submitted to a budget validation referendum until
such time that the voters discontinue use of the budget validation
referendum process.

 A budget hearing on such budget estimates shall be held
by the school board at least seven (7) days prior to final
action by the city councilthe school budget referendum.

 The city council in its appropriation resolve for the
ensuing year shall, in addition to amounts appropriated for
other general city purposes, appropriate one gross amount for
the support of the public schools, which amount shall equal the
greater of (i) the amount adopted by the voters at the school
budget referendum and ratified at the budget validation
referendum, as necessary, not be less thanor (ii) the sum required
to be appropriated for such purposes by the general laws of the
state. Such gross amount shall not be less than the sum requested
by the school board except by a vote of at least six (6) members
of the city council. Such appropriation shall be expended under
the direction and control of the school board but no such
appropriation shall be exceeded except by consent of the city
council.




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EXAMPLE 2: The School Board determines the total school budget, followed by a budget
 validation referendum or, if eliminated, by a school budget referendum.

 Not later than three and one-half (3.5) months before the end
of the fiscal year, the superintendent shall submit to the school
board budget estimates of the various sums required for the support
of public schools for the ensuing fiscal year and shall thereafter
provide the school board with such information relating to such
estimates as the school board shall require.

 During the thirty (30) days following submission of the
superintendent’s proposed budget to the school board, the school
board and the city council, or their designated subcommittees,
shall meet jointly at least twice to review the proposed school
budget, focusing on its underlying assumptions and supporting data
and the ability of the city to raise the necessary funds for the
support of such proposed budget. The superintendent and the city
manager shall provide information regarding such proposed budget
as reasonably requested by the school board and the city council,
or their designated subcommittees.

 The budget submitted by the superintendent to be reviewed
jointly by the school board and the city council shall provide a
complete financial plan of all school funds and activities for the
ensuing fiscal year. In organizing the school budget for
joint review, the superintendent shall utilize the most feasible
combination of expenditure classification by fund, organization,
unit, program, purpose or activity, and object. The budget shall
begin with a clear general summary of its contents; shall show in
detail all estimated income and all proposed expenditures,
including debt service for the ensuing fiscal year; and shall be
so arranged as to show comparative figures for actual and estimated
income and expenditures of the current fiscal year and actual
income and expenditures of the preceding fiscal year. The total of
proposed expenditures shall not exceed the total of proposed
income.

 Not later than the last Monday in April of each fiscal year,
the school board shall submit to the city councilprepare a budget
of the various sums required for the support of the public schools
for the ensuing fiscal year in the format provided above, and
shall thereafter provide the city council with such information
relating to such budget as the city council shall require.

 The school board shall hold aA budget hearing on such
budget estimates shall be held at least seven (7) days prior
to determining the total amount of the school budgetfinal
action by the city council. The city council shall thereafter


 A-3
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submit the school budget determined by the school board to a
budget validation referendum. If the voters discontinue use
of the budget validation referendum process, the city council
shall instead submit the school budget to a municipal school
budget referendum. The warrant calling the budget validation
referendum or the school budget referendum shall include
voter information containing the amount of locally raised
funds and the amounts for each cost center summary budget
category proposed by the school board.

 The city council in its appropriation resolve for the
ensuing year shall, in addition to amounts appropriated for
other general city purposes, appropriate one gross amount for
the support of the public schools, which amount shall equal the
greater of (i) the amount adopted by the voters at the school
budget referendum and ratified at the budget validation
referendum, as necessary, or (ii) not be less than the sum required
to be appropriated for such purposes by the general laws of the
state. Such gross amount shall not be less than the sum requested
by the school board except by a vote of at least six (6) members
of the city council. Such appropriation shall be expended under
the direction and control of the school board but no such
appropriation shall be exceeded except by consent of the city
council.




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 SUGGESTED CHARTER REVISIONS TO
 ARTICLE VII, SECTION 11. BOND ISSUES

Section 11. Bond issues.

 Money may be borrowed, within the limits fixed by the
constitution and statutes of the state, now or hereafter applying
to Portland, by the issue and sale of bonds or notes pledged on
the credit of the city, or on the revenues or assets of the projects
financed with the proceeds of such borrowings, the proceeds to be
used for the acquisition of land, the construction,
reconstruction, major alteration, extraordinary repairs, and
equipment of buildings and other permanent public improvements,
the purchase of departmental equipment, for economic development
to the extent determined by the City Council to serve a valid
public purpose, to create reserves to settle workers' compensation
obligations, to fund, refund, pay or to create reserves for the
payment of the city’s unfunded pension fund liabilities and for
the payment of refunding bonds, notes and other evidences of
indebtedness previously issued, or for any other purpose permitted
by state law.

 No order providing for the issue of bonds shall be passed
without public notice given by posting notice of the same in two
(2) public places in the City of Portland and publishing such
notice at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in
Portland at least two (2) weeks before final action of the city
council. In addition, the city council may, in its discretion,
provide that such notice shall be published on the city's website
and in such other additional media as the city council determines
are appropriate to notify the general public of the public
hearing.

 Any order authorizing the issue of bonds must be approved by
vote of at least seven (7) members of the city council, except as
set forth in Section 11.A.

Section 11.A. Bond issues for school bonds.

 The city council shall submit school project bonds to voter
referendum in accordance with this section. When the school board
has voted to propose that the city issue bonds for school
construction, renovation, or other capital purposes in an amount
that requires the city council to submit an order or resolve to
voter referendum by Section 16 this Charter, the school board shall
submit to the city council (i) a description of the project concept
and concept budget; (ii) the major components of the project


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concept budget, including as applicable sums for real estate
acquisition, design and other services, construction and site
development, equipment, infrastructure, and project contingencies;
and (iii) the proposed sources and amounts of funding for the
project budget, including project debt. The city council shall
order the issuance of bonds for the school project as proposed by
the school board, subject to voter ratification of its bond order
as provided in Section 16, in an amount sufficient to fund the
debt portion of the project concept budget after deduction of
issuance and other costs. The city council shall submit its order
authorizing the issuance of debt for the project to voter
referendum at the next regular city election occurring at least
120 days after the school board has submitted the project concept
to the city council or at an earlier election. The city council
shall use a separate referendum question to submit its bond order
for each school project as proposed, except that if the school
board has consolidated school projects into a single concept that
it has approved, then the city council shall use a single
referendum question to submit its bond order for that consolidated
school project as proposed.




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 MEMORANDUM
 TO: Portland Public Schools School Board and Xavier Botana, Superintendent of Schools
 FROM: Agnieszka A. Dixon and E. William Stockmeyer
 Drummond Woodsum
 DATE: April 4, 2022
 RE: Charter Revisions Regarding School Budget Approval Procedures
 —Review of Charter Commission Education Committee Proposal

At your request, we have reviewed the proposal of the Portland Charter Commission Education Committee
to revise the school budget approval process, which was presented to the Charter Commission for a first
reading last Wednesday, March 23, 2022 (the “Proposal”).

If accepted by the Charter Commission and adopted by the City voters, the Proposal would make two
material changes to the school budget approval process:

 1. Joint Budget Guidance Committee: The Proposal would establish a joint budget guidance
 committee composed of an equal number of City Council and School Board members to
 develop, prior to the preparation of the city and school budgets, non-binding guidance to the
 City Council and the School Board on budget priorities and constraints.

 2. School Board Determines Total School Budget, Followed By Voter Approval: The Proposal
 would remove the City Council’s role from the school budget approval process and direct the
 School Board to determine the total budget, which would then be submitted to the voters for
 approval at a budget validation referendum (BVR) or, if the BVR is eliminated, at a municipal
 school budget referendum. This portion of the Proposal essentially incorporates the second of
 two alternatives that we identified and discussed in our memo dated January 24, 2022.

The establishment of an advisory joint budget guidance committee does not appear to us to run afoul of any
limits on municipal home rule authority. Likewise, as we discussed in our January 24 memo, we think state
law leaves room for the Portland charter to assign the School Board the role of determining the total school
budget while leaving the decision for final budget authority with the voters, as set forth in the Proposal,1
for the following reasons:



1
  Should the Charter Commission adopt the Proposal, we recommend a slight adjustment to the first and last sentence
of the last paragraph of Article III, Section 5 of the charter to (1) clarify the process for appropriating funds for the
school budget, and (2) provide some flexibility in how appropriated budget amounts may be exceeded (we make this
latter recommendation because the process to secure voter consent can be lengthy whereas the need to do so may arise
in emergency situations or otherwise when time is of the essence), so that the charter amendment would read:
 The city council in its appropriation resolve for the ensuing year shall, in addition to amounts appropriated
 for other general city purposes, appropriate one gross amount for the support of the public school which
 amount shall equal the greater of (i) the amount adopted by the voters at the budget validation referendum
 or, if discontinued, at the school budget referendum, or (ii) not be less than the sum required to be
 appropriated for such purposes by the general laws of the state. Such gross amount shall not be less than the
 sum requested by the school board except by a vote of at least six (6) members of the city council. Such
 appropriation shall be expended under the direction and control of the school board but no such appropriation
 shall be exceeded except by consent of the city council or the voters.

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 April 4, 2022
 Page 2

  The school statute, and specifically the plain language of Section 2307 of Title 20-A, does not
 prescribe who can serve as the municipal legislative body for purposes of determining the total
 school budget.

  The school statute does not confine charter municipalities to the two “classic” forms of the
 municipal legislative body—i.e., the town meeting or the council. Indeed, several
 municipalities in Maine have at one time or another established municipal legislative bodies
 that were something other than these classic forms.

  The state law definition of “municipal legislative body” in Section 2001 of Title 30-A
 (the statute governing municipalities) plainly provides that a municipal legislative body can be
 a town meeting, a city council, or something else—namely, “[t]hat part of a municipal
 government that exercises legislative powers under a law or charter.”

  Section 2307 specifies the role of the municipal legislative body, not its identity, and does so
 by affording greater deference to charter communities, not less. Indeed, Section 2307 is an
 exception to the general state law mandate that municipal school units must follow the same
 school budget procedures as regional school units.

  Finally, while there are arguments favoring different legal views on this matter and,
 consequently, the Proposal is not without legal risk, charters are entitled to a presumption of
 validity by Maine courts under home rule principles articulated in the York decision and many
 other cases. Accordingly, the burden rests on the person attacking a charter provision to prove
 that it exceeds municipal home rule authority, and not on the municipality to prove that it does
 not.

We trust this memo is responsive to your request. We are available should you have any additional
questions.




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