Council Appointee Sub-Committee — Portland, ME
Date: 2020-07-28
Time: 16:00

CITY OF PORTLAND, MAINE



 MEETING NOTICE


 COUNCIL APPOINTEE SUB­COMMITTEE


 DATE: July 28, 2020

 TIME: 4:00 PM

 PLACE:




 AGENDA

2020 Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee


 Background Materials from July 27 Special City Council Meeting

Zoom Log In
This meeting will take place remotely using Zoom. Virtual meetings are allowed using
emergency legislation approved by LD 2167; 1 M.R.S. §403­A, that authorizes cities and
towns to conduct meetings online. Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get the
best meeting experience.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

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Webinar ID: 819 8419 3254
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Agenda


 1. Introductions

 2. Discussion of process


 3. Set next meeting date and adjourn

CITY OF PORTLAND, MAINE



 MEETING NOTICE


 COUNCIL APPOINTEE SUB­COMMITTEE


 DATE: July 28, 2020

 TIME: 4:00 PM

 PLACE:




 AGENDA

2020 Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee


 Background Materials from July 27 Special City Council Meeting

Zoom Log In
This meeting will take place remotely using Zoom. Virtual meetings are allowed using
emergency legislation approved by LD 2167; 1 M.R.S. §403­A, that authorizes cities and
towns to conduct meetings online. Allow your computer to install the free Zoom app to get the
best meeting experience.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81984193254?pwd=NFIvVDVrdmg1enM2S2tXU2dyb3dXUT09
Passcode: 404014

Or iPhone one­tap :
  US: +13017158592,,81984193254#,,,,,,0#,,404014# or
+13126266799,,81984193254#,,,,,,0#,,404014#
Or Telephone:
  Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
 US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782 or
+1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 819 8419 3254
Passcode: 404014


Agenda


 1. Introductions

 2. Discussion of process


 3. Set next meeting date and adjourn
 MEMORANDUM

TO: City of Portland City Council
FROM: Kate Snyder, Mayor
DATE: July 27, 2020
RE: Appointees to the Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee


 Upon approval of the establishment of the Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee, and
as authorized by the Portland City Charter Article 2, Section 5(l), I am appointing three councilors
to the Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee: Councilor Tae Chong, Councilor Nicholas
Mavodones, Councilor Pious Ali and myself, as Chair, of the Charter Commission Ad Hoc
Committee.

 The Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee is tasked with a rapid review of applications
for the 2020 Charter Commission and is asked to provide recommendations for three appointed
members of the 2020 Charter Commission to the full City Council for approval at a Special City
Council Meeting to be held August 10, 2020.




 1
KATE SNYDER (MAYOR) KIMBERLY COOK (5)
BELINDA S. RAY (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JILL C. DUSON (A/L)
SPENCER R. THIBODEAU (2) IN THE CITY COUNCIL PIOUS ALI (A/L)
TAE Y. CHONG (3) NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES, JR (A/L)
JUSTIN COSTA (4)




 RESOLUTION CREATING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE
 TO RECOMMEND APPOINTEES TO THE 2020 CHARTER COMMISSION


 WHEREAS, on July 13, 2020, the voters of the City of Portland approved a referendum
 question asking if a Charter Commission should be appointed to review and adopt
 changes to the City Charter; and

 WHEREAS, pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.§2103(B), the members appointed to the Charter
 Commission must be approved in accordance with municipal bylaws within 30
 days of the election, or August 12, 2020;

 WHEREAS. as authorized by the Portland City Charter Article 2, Section 5(l), the Mayor shall
 appoint the members of Ad Hoc Committees and communicate those
 appointments to the City Council;

 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the City Council do hereby
 establish the Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the members of the Charter Commission Ad Hoc
 Committee shall review applications and resumes and interview candidates for
 the 2020 Charter Commission; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Charter Commission Ad Hoc Committee shall
 provide recommendations for appointees to the full City Council for approval on
 or before August 10, 2020.
 MEMORANDUM
TO​: Mayor Snyder and Members of the Portland City Council
CC​: Jon Jennings, City Manager; and Katherine Jones, City Clerk
FROM​: Danielle P. West-Chuhta, Corporation Counsel
DATE​: July 23, 2020
RE​: Charter Commission Next Steps
______________________________________________________________________________

 On July 14, 2020, the voters of the City of Portland approved the creation of a Charter
Commission (13,220 in favor vs. 4998 opposed). A quick review of the state law surrounding
the creation of Charter Commissions reveals that there are several next steps that must now
occur.1 The following memorandum provides a summary of those next steps.

 I. Next Steps in the Process

 Once a question seeking a Charter Commission is approved (i.e. on July 14, 2020 in
Portland), the members of the Commission must be appointed and elected. First, three (3)
“appointive” members must be appointed by the City Council within thirty (30) days after the
election or by August 13, 2020 in this case. 30-A M.R.S. § 2103(1)(B). These members
“appointive” members need not be residents of the municipality, and only one may be a member
of the City Council. ​Id​.

 Next, election of “voter” members needs to occur. Under state law, election of the
“voter” members may be conducted at the next scheduled regular or special municipal or state
election. 30-A M.R.S. § 2103(1)(A). Prior to the election, the City Council must choose one of
the following methods for electing the “voter” members:

 (1) Six voter members are elected in the same manner as the municipal officers, except
 that they must be elected at-large and without party designations;

 (2) One voter member is elected from each voting district or ward in the same manner as
 municipal officers, except that the voter member must be elected without party
 designation; ​or

1
 Attached for your reference as ​Exhibit A​ are the City Council Orders from 2008 and 2009
which lay out the exact process used by the City during the creation of the last Charter
Commission.


 1
 (3) Voter members are elected both at-large and by district or ward, as long as the
 number of voter members is the same as the number of municipal officers on the board or
 council of that municipality and the voter members are elected in the same manner as the
 municipal officers, except that they must be elected without party designation.”

30-A M.R.S. § 2103(B) (emphasis added). During the last Charter Commission process the City
Council chose to use option three (3) above to elect the various “voter” members to the
Commission. ​See​ ​Exhibit A​.

 It is important to note that since each of the methods in section 2103(B) requires that the
“voter” members be elected “in the same manner” as the City Council members, it is necessary
to review the election requirements provided for in the City Charter. ​Id​. The Charter first
provides that Council members (and thus Commission members) are to be elected using a ranked
choice voting protocol. Portland City Charter, Article II, section 3.

 The Charter next requires the nomination of all Council members (and thus Commission
members) to be as follows:

 [t]he 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.

Id​. at Article IV, section 4. The City Clerk also must “make [these] nomination petitions
available to the candidates one hundred and twenty-seven (127) days prior to the election.” ​Id​. at
Article IV, section 6. Given these requirements, the election of the “elective” members will need
to be scheduled for either the June 2021 regular municipal election or an alternative special
election date chosen by the City Council. ​See​ Election Process Memorandum from the City
Clerk attached hereto as ​Exhibit B​.

 Once the Commission has been elected, the Clerk must promptly notify its members of
the date and time of the required organizational meeting of the boy at least seven (7) days in
advance of said meeting. 30-A M.R.S. § 2103(2). Within thirty (30) days after the organizational
meeting, the Commission must then hold a public hearing (with at least ten (10) days’ published



 2
newspaper notice) “to receive information, views, comments and other material relating to its
functions.” 30-A M.R.S. § 2103(5)(A).

 Thereafter, within nine (9) months after its election, the Commission must also prepare
and circulate a ​preliminary​ report proposing a new charter or charter revisions, and within twelve
(12) months after its election submit a ​final​ report to the City Council. 30-A M.R.S. §
2103(5)(C) and (D).2 “When the final report is filed, the [City Council] shall order the proposed
new charter or charter revision[s] to be submitted to the voters at the next regular or special
municipal election held at least 35 days after the final report is filed.” 30-A M.R.S. § 2103(6).

 II. Staffing and Funding the Charter Commission

 The City must provide the Charter Commission with suitable office space and with
reasonable access to facilities for holding public hearings free of charge. 30-A M.R.S. §
2103(4). The City may also contribute clerical and other assistance to the commission and shall
permit it to consult with and obtain advice and information from the City Council, City officials
and City employees during ordinary working hours. ​Id​.

 Additionally, within twenty (20) days after the members of a Charter Commission are
elected and appointed, the City Council shall credit $100 to the Commission’s account. 30-A
M.R.S. § 2103(4). The City may also appropriate additional funds to that account, as necessary.
Id​. The Commission’s account may additionally receive funds from other other public or private
sources. ​Id​.




2
 The nine (9) and twelve (12) month requirements to submit a preliminary and final report,
respectively, may be extended by the City Council for up to twenty-four (24)-months for certain
reasons. ​See​ 30-A M.R.S. §2103(5)(E).

 3
 EXHIBIT A
 Order 122-08/09
 Passage: 12/1/08 7-1 (Skolnik; Leeman absent)
JILL C. DUSON (MAYOR) JOHN R. COYNE (5)
KEVIN J. DONOGHUE (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JOHN M. ANTON (A/L)
DAVID A. MARSHALL (2) IN THE CITY COUNCIL DORY RICHARDS WAXMAN (A/L)
DANIEL S. SKOLNIK (3) NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES (A/L)
CHERYL A. LEEMAN (4)




 ORDER APPOINTING THREE MEMBERS TO THE PORTLAND CHARTER
 COMMISSION

 ORDERED, that the following individuals are hereby appointed to the Portland Charter
 Commission:

 Name Address

 1. Pamela Plumb 104 Park Street

 2. Naomi Mermin 83 Madeline Street

 3. Thomas Valleau 65 Rockland Avenue




 Orders:\Appoint\chartercommission 11.26.08
 Order 122A-08/09
 Passage: 12/1/08 8-0 (Leeman absent)
JILL C. DUSON (MAYOR) JOHN R. COYNE (5)
KEVIN J. DONOGHUE (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JOHN M. ANTON (A/L)
DAVID A. MARSHALL (2) IN THE CITY COUNCIL DORY RICHARDS WAXMAN (A/L)
DANIEL S. SKOLNIK (3) NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES (A/L)
CHERYL A. LEEMAN (4)



 ORDER RE: ELECTION OF NINE MEMBERS TO THE
 PORTLAND CHARTER COMMISSION



 ORDERED, that pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2103 (A)(3) nine members shall be
 elected to the Portland Charter Commission, without party designation, and in the same
 manner as provided by Article II, Section 2 of the City Charter which requires that 4
 members shall be elected At-Large and by the registered voters of the entire City and one
 member shall be elected from each of the 5 election districts by the registered voters of
 each district.




 Orders:\Election of 9 members of Charter Commission
 Order 137A – 08/09
 Postponed on 1/5/09 and 1/21/09
 Amended & Passed 2/2/09 9-0
JILL C. DUSON (MAYOR) JOHN R. COYNE (5)
KEVIN J. DONOGHUE (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JOHN M. ANTON (A/L)
DAVID A. MARSHALL (2) IN THE CITY COUNCIL DORY RICHARDS WAXMAN (A/L)
DANIEL S. SKOLNIK (3) NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES (A/L)
CHERYL A. LEEMAN (4)



 ORDER CALLING SPECIAL ELECTION OF NINE MEMBERS TO THE
 PORTLAND CHARTER COMMISSION



 ORDERED, that pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2103(1)(A), a special election is hereby
 called on June 9, 2009 to elect nine (9) members to the Portland Charter Commission.
 four (4) of whom shall be elected at large by the registered voters of the entire City and
 one (1) of whom shall be elected from each of the five (5) election districts, from and by
 the registered voters of each district.




 Orders:\Charter Commission election
 Order 146-09/10
 Passage: 1/20/10 9-0
NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES (MAYOR) JOHN R. COYNE (5)
KEVIN J. DONOGHUE (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JOHN M. ANTON (A/L)
DAVID A. MARSHALL (2) IN THE CITY COUNCIL DORY RICHARDS WAXMAN (A/L)
DANIEL S. SKOLNIK (3) JILL C. DUSON (A/L)
CHERYL A. LEEMAN (4)




 ORDER APPROVING EXTENSION OF TIME FOR
 COMPLETION OF REPORTS FROM CHARTER COMMISSION

 ORDERED, that pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. sec. 2103(5)(E), the Charter Commission is
 hereby granted an extension of time to May 21, 2010 to complete its preliminary report
 and to July 16, 2010, to complete its final report.




 Orders:\Charter Comm Extension.doc
 1-20-2010
 Order 273-07/08
 Postponed on 6/2/08
 Passage: 7/21/08 5-3 (Mavodones, Duson, Skolnik opposed, Leeman absent)
EDWARD J. SUSLOVIC (MAYOR) JAMES I. COHEN (5)
KEVIN J. DONOGHUE (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JOHN M. ANTON (A/L)
DAVID A. MARSHALL (2) IN THE CITY COUNCIL JILL C. DUSON (A/L)
DANIEL S. SKOLNIK (3) NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES (A/L)
CHERYL A. LEEMAN (4)


 ORDER ESTABLISHING A CHARTER COMMISSION




 ORDERED, that pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2102(1), the Portland City Council
 hereby determines that the revision of the City Charter shall be considered or that
 adoption of a new municipal charter shall be considered; and

 BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that a Charter Commission shall be established to carry
 out that purpose.




 Orders:\Establishing Charter Commission
 Order 274-07/08
 Postponed on 6/2/08
 Passage 7/21/08 5-3 (Mavodones, Duson opposed, Leeman absent)
EDWARD J. SUSLOVIC (MAYOR) JAMES I. COHEN (5)
KEVIN J. DONOGHUE (1) CITY OF PORTLAND JOHN M. ANTON (A/L)
DAVID A. MARSHALL (2) IN THE CITY COUNCIL JILL C. DUSON (A/L)
DANIEL S. SKOLNIK (3) NICHOLAS M. MAVODONES (A/L)
CHERYL A. LEEMAN (4)


 ORDER SUBMITTING THE QUESTION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
 OF A CHARTER COMMISSION TO THE VOTERS
 AT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008


 ORDERED, that the following question shall be submitted to the voters at the
 municipal election on November 4, 2008:

 “Shall a Charter Commission be established for the
 purpose of revising the Municipal Charter or establishing
 a New Municipal Charter?”




 Orders:\Question to Voters re Charter Commission
 EXHIBIT B




 Office of the City Clerk
 Katherine L Jones, CMC



 MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Snyder and Members of the Portland City Council

FROM: Katherine L. Jones, City Clerk

DATE: July 23, 2020

RE: Election of Charter Commission Members

______________________________________________________________________________



The following is a proposed timeline and outline of the costs for conducting an election for the
Charter Commission members:

As required by the City Charter, the Charter Commissioner members papers must be made
available 127 days before the scheduled election of the members. In order to comply with this
requirement, the election of the elective Commission members will have to occur at the June
2021 regular municipal election date or at an alternative special election date selected by the City
Council.

If the June 2021 date were to be selected as the date of the election for Commission members,
petition papers would be made available to candidates on February 2, 2021; March 15, 2021
would be the earliest candidates could turn their papers in, and March 29, 2021 would be the
final petition paper submission deadline. Based on my review of the records from 2008, this
proposed timeline would be consistent with how the prior Charter Commission was established.
More specifically, in 2008 the election on whether or not to establish the Commission occurred
in November, and then the Council voted to appoint three (3) members to the body and chose the
composition of how the voter members (i.e. one (1) from each District and 4 at large) in
December 2008. Thereafter, in January and February 2009, the Council reviewed and ultimately
decided to set the election date for the voter members in June 2009.




  389 Congress Street / Portland, Maine 04101-3509 / ​www.portlandmaine.gov​ / tel. 207-874-8677 / fax. 207-874-8612
Finally, please note that if the City Council were to instead select an alternative specifical
municipal election date the costs for holding that election (by rank choice voting as required by
the City Charter) would be as follows:

$10,000 for the Ballot Order;

$30,000.00 for the rental of Polling place locations, payments for the election officials, and other
routine election costs; and

$21,400.00 for the Tabulations of Results.

Overall, the cost of such a special election would estimated to be $61,400.




  389 Congress Street / Portland, Maine 04101-3509 / ​www.portlandmaine.gov​ / tel. 207-874-8677 / fax. 207-874-8612