Resolve, to Form a Working Group to Address Vacancies in
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1090
Sponsors: ROLLINS

Legislative Document
No. 1090
H.P. 712
House of Representatives, March 18, 2025
Resolve, to Form a Working Group to Address Vacancies in 
Municipal Government Management Positions
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 14, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
State and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ROLLINS of Augusta.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this resolve directs the Department of Economic and Community 
Development to convene a working group to study and advise on the challenges faced by 
municipal governments throughout the State regarding recruiting, retaining and staff 
development of municipal government management employees; and
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires so that the study 
may be completed and a report submitted in time for consideration during the next 
legislative session; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Working group.  Resolved:  That the Department of Economic and 
Community Development shall convene a working group, referred to in this resolve as "the 
working group," to study and advise on the challenges faced by municipal governments 
throughout the State regarding recruiting, retaining and staff development of municipal 
government management employees.
Sec. 2. Membership; chair; compensation; staff.  Resolved:  That, within 30 
days of the effective date of this resolve, the Commissioner of Economic and Community 
Development, referred to in this resolve as "the commissioner," shall appoint to the 
working group at least 7 members who have knowledge of and experience in municipal 
government management.  The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall serve 
as a member of the working group.  The members of the working group shall elect a chair 
from the working group's membership.  Working group members are not eligible for 
compensation.  The Department of Economic and Community Development shall provide 
administrative support to the working group.  The working group is disbanded after 
completing its duties under section 3.
Sec. 3. Meetings; duties.  Resolved:  That the chair shall schedule the first meeting 
of the working group within 30 days of the date of the final appointment to the working 
group.  The working group shall meet at other times the chair determines necessary to 
perform and complete the duties of the working group.  In its work, the working group shall 
consider and develop improvements to the strategies included in the "Maine Economic 
Development Strategy 2020-2029" report in the context of the municipal government 
management workforce.  At a minimum, the working group shall consider:
1.  The development of relevant municipal government workforce skills;
2.  Methods to attract and retain a diverse municipal government workforce;
3.  Ways to provide education in all educational institutions that includes training for 
municipal government careers and that integrates lifetime learning for the municipal 
government workforce; and
4.  The development of incentives to attract people to and support people in municipal 
government careers.
Upon completion of its work, the working group shall submit its recommendations to 
the commissioner for review and make any changes to its proposed improvements that the 
commissioner determines appropriate.
Sec. 4. Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 3, 2025, the commissioner 
shall submit a report, including the working group's proposed recommendations and any 
recommended legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government.  
The joint standing committee may report out legislation concerning the report to the Second 
Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Economic and Community Development to convene 
a working group to study and advise on the challenges faced by municipal governments 
throughout the State regarding recruiting, retaining and staff development of municipal 
government management employees.  In its work, the working group must consider and 
develop improvements to the strategies included in the "Maine Economic Development 
Strategy 2020-2029" report in the context of the municipal government management 
workforce.  Upon completion of its work, the working group must submit its 
recommendations to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for 
review and make any changes to the working group's proposed improvements that the 
commissioner determines appropriate.  The commissioner must submit the report to the 
Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, and the joint standing 
committee may report out legislation concerning the report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 132nd Legislature.