Oxford Hills
Paris voters approve recall
PARIS — Voters overwhelmingly approved an ordinance Tuesday that sets up a procedure for the removal of elected officials.
The town had to make additional copies of the local ordinance after it ran out of 2,000 printed for the election. A total of 2,135 votes were cast in the referendum, with 1,555 in favor of the measure and 537 against it. Forty-three ballots were blank.
The document was drawn up by the policy and procedures committee after some residents raised concerns that there was no method in place to remove elected officials before their scheduled term had expired. It applies to all elected officials except school board directors and officials who have been in office less than four months or have fewer than 60 days of a multi-year term remaining, and is effective immediately.
Under the procedure for a recall election, voters must gather a number of signatures equal to or greater than 10 percent of the number of ballots cast in the last gubernatorial election. Once the town clerk has certified the petition, it is presented to the Board of Selectmen, who must schedule an election within 14 days of receiving the petition.
The ordinance calls for such an election to take place 30 to 60 days from the time the board receives the petition, but it may also coincide with a regular municipal election if one is occurring within 90 days of receipt. An official subject to recall may request a hearing on the matter to take place not fewer than seven days before the recall election.
A special town meeting will be called to replace a selectman if one is removed, and the Board of Selectmen can appoint a replacement in the event that elected officials on other boards are recalled. If an official is not removed in the recall election, they may not be subject to a recall until at least six months have passed.
mlangeveld@sunjournal.com
M. Dirk Langeveld/Sun Journal
Paris election clerks Mary Elder and Rebecca Armstrong sort through more than 2,000 ballots cast Tuesday in a vote on a proposed recall ordinance.
M. Dirk Langeveld/Sun Journal
Paris election clerks Mary Elder and Rebecca Armstrong sort through more than 2,000 ballots cast Tuesday in a vote on a proposed recall ordinance.
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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest
verified Congrats. So. paris. Now
Congrats. So. paris. Now maybe the selectmen will pay more attention. Here in Van Buren we ousted two last session and now a recall for three is going to be voted on. Why don't these people get it? They are supposed to be working for the residents. They think it's a big joke. Well vote them out and start from scratch.
The drama, hostility,
The drama, hostility, dishonesty and rudeness in South Paris government has been ongoing since these three men were seated. It's high time that they realize their jobs are to represent the best interests of the residents of Paris.....not themselves. Hopefully, this is a BIG wake up call. Of course, the residents should also not use this as a forum to carry on personal differences with the elected officials either.
Oh dear! Democracy is about
Oh dear!
Democracy is about to rear it's "ugly" head and impose it's will on the gang of 3!!
I wonder if they'll try to impose martial law to hold onto power?
news4U..........Nice
news4U..........Nice job......LOL....The petition is already out there
Ivey, Ripley and Young have
Ivey, Ripley and Young have failed to listen to the residents of South Paris. Instead, they decided before they were elected to office to set their own agenda and play by their own rules...to hell with everyone else. Well no more! The residents of Paris have had enough!! Congratulations for providing a united front and passing this recall ordinance. Where's that petition? I've got my pen and I'm ready to sign it. In the meantime, maybe we'll get lucky and the Paris Hillbillies will quit!
and the So Paris Soap show
and the So Paris Soap show continues for yet another day
I think the people in Paris
I think the people in Paris should be proud of what they have done. This is a huge step in the right direction. Lets Recap: Mr. Ripley "BIG Mouth Bully" who lies his way into office. Mr. Young haha. And of course lets not forget about the biggest clown of them all.... Mr. David Ivey how are you feeling today?
It looks like we may get to
It looks like we may get to see how fast the three blind mice can run.........Watch out boys.....Here we come!! The petition has ink on it as we speak........Good job Paris voters i'm thrilled most of you could see the writtinng on the wall.
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