Cumberland County Charter Commission

On Election Day, November 4, 2008, voters in Cumberland County chose six members, two from each Commissioner District, to be on a Charter Commission. An additional three members were appointed by the County Commissioners. The charter commission will spend over a year creating a proposed charter which will then be adopted or turned down by voters, most likely in the Fall election of 2010.

A charter is the defining document of how a body of government organizes itself, select officers, officials and employees, and established departments, agencies and boards.
Currently, two counties in Maine, Aroostook and Knox, have charters, and the remainder draw their structure directly from state law. A charter commission creates the opportunity to inspect and propose changes to the current structure.

Mission of the Cumberland County Charter Commission
(Adopted 3/25/09)

Mission: The Mission of the Cumberland County Charter Commission is to create and present a Charter to the citizenry that defines, initiates, and maximizes Cumberland County self-governance.

Goals: To create a Charter that may:

• Define the framework, roles, structures and processes of County government
  

• Enable citizens to request and receive broad, efficient, cost-effective and self-sustaining services
  

• Be dynamic, flexible, responsive, transparent and changeable
  

• Best serve the unique needs of the 28 constituent municipalities
  

• Maximize the statutory opportunities of the County
  

• Be presented for enactment through a public process on November 2, 2010.

Strategy:

• Create a participative public process that actively seeks open and active public discussion about ways to improve and modernize County government

Comments:

• The CCCC is an independent body elected by the voters
  

• We believe the process of creating Cumberland County’s fist region-specific charter is a unique opportunity to shape the region in which we live