LIVERMORE FALLS – Selectmen voted 3-0 Monday to adopt a policy that outlines the establishment of a budget committee and its powers and duties.

Town officials also voted unanimously to accept the town manager’s recommendation to hire a Greene man as code enforcement officer and to change Planning Board meetings from Wednesdays to Thursdays.

The board also voted to put a recall ordinance for elected officials, except school board members, before voters at the next town meeting.

Former Selectman Joyce Drake presented selectmen with a citizens’ petition earlier this month, asking them to present the ordinance to voters.

Town Manager Martin Puckett said he checked out the petition and the ordinance with Maine Municipal Association to determine that both documents are legal.

MMA had a couple of concerns, including giving authority to the town clerk to call a special town meeting for a recall vote instead of selectmen, who have the authority via home rule, Puckett said.

Selectman Bill Demaray said that if people are interested in working on an alternative recall ordinance that would include an accountability factor and address concerns, both proposed ordinances would be presented to voters to see which one townspeople favor.

The new budget committee policy calls for nine members who are registered voters in the town to be appointed by municipal officers for three years, except they’ll continue in office until their successors are appointed.

For transitional purposes, Puckett said, the initial terms would be staggered so that nearly an equal number of terms expire annually.

Three people would be appointed to a three-year term, three to a two-year term and three to a one-year term.

Vacancies would be filled within 30 days by appointment of the municipal officers for the unexpired term. Any member who misses three meetings in one budget season would be replaced.

The committee would work independently from selectmen, though Puckett said he would like to tie the two together so that both boards sit down and hear the same information presented at budget time or during other times the committee’s input is needed.

The committee’s powers and duties will be:

• review and make recommendations on the annual operating budget as proposed by the municipal officers and the town manager;

• review and make recommendations on annual capital expenditures as proposed by the municipal officers and town manager;

• review and make recommendations on supplemental appropriations and expenditures and other budgetary action whenever proposed by the municipal officers and town manager; and

• make such other recommendations on fiscal matters as it may from time to time deem advisable.

Demaray suggested the town advertise for people interested in being on the committee.

Three people are interested so far, Puckett said. He’ll compile a list for selectmen.

In other business, Puckett recommended Kenneth Pratt of Greene as the new code enforcement officer. He is certified and serves Wayne, Wales and Greene and would be available for 10 hours every Thursday.

Puckett said the Planning Board is OK with changing its first Wednesday of the month meetings to the first Thursday of the month, since it’s the only time Pratt is available.

In other matters, selectmen set their next meeting for Tuesday, Sept. 5, due to the Labor Day holiday.

They also agreed to let Western Mountains Alliance hang “Eat Smart, Eat Local – Support Our Farmers” banners on town poles downtown at no cost to the town.

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