AUBURN – The Androscoggin County Commission began taking steps Wednesday toward opening itself to the public.

The three-member group broke with tradition during an afternoon meeting by asking for public comments. Commissioners said they may also begin meeting at night, if county department heads go along with the plan.

The changes were made without explanation.

“That’s a little bit of good news,” Sheriff Guy Desjardins said after the meeting. Never before had the commission asked for comments from the public as part of a regular meeting’s agenda.

“Change is coming slow,” the sheriff said.

However, a request from Desjardins to create a charter committee – aimed at restructuring county governance – drew a mixed response.

Commissioner Constance Cote agreed that the idea deserved debate, requesting that it be returned for discussion at the group’s next meeting, scheduled for July 18.

Commissioner Helen Poulin denounced the idea, reading from a page-long statement.

Only two Maine counties have a charter, she said. Sixteen years ago, the commission created a committee to come up with a proposal. That charter was defeated by voters.

It need not be tried again, she said.

“The commissioners do agree that a change is needed but feel that trading one form of government for another may be counter-productive,” she said, adding that expanding the commission to five members wouldn’t help.

Laws already guide the commission and its activities, Poulin said.

Instead, change might come from a professional manager, “an individual with authority to oversee the day-to-day operations and be available to improve the communications with all the towns and cities on a daily basis,” she said.

It will be part of the talk in the upcoming budget, Poulin said.

Desjardins said he was saddened by Poulin’s statement but encouraged by Cote’s decision, supporting more talk on the issue.

Ron Potvin, leader of the Small Landowners of Auburn, insisted that the public ought to have a chance to talk about county changes.

“The people want an opportunity to weigh in,” he said. “We have very basic concerns.”

County workings have come under increasing fire in recent months, as the commission and Desjardins have fought over authority on hiring and other matters.

Desjardins is still contemplating legal action against the commission over its months-long opposition to hire a new officer, a position that it approved on June 6.

“It’s in the hands of the lawyers,” Desjardins said Wednesday.