What’s best for Androscoggin County is for commissioner Helen Poulin to abandon efforts to retain her seat and let the new board start fresh. The business of the county has suffered under distraction of her residency dispute.

Superior Court Justice Joyce Wheeler, in ruling Wednesday against an injunction to stop Poulin’s replacement, Elaine Makas, from being seated, finally validated the concise argument against Poulin keeping her seat: She moved from her district, therefore she should not serve.

It was always as clear as the air.

Now, in the interest of the citizens, Poulin should step from the spotlight and let the new commission get to work. This sideshow has cost the county goodwill and public trust, which the three new members will have to work diligently to replace.

Androscoggin County has had a rough couple years, with political in-fighting and personal differences taking priority over governing. Time after time, the commission’s petty bickering or power struggles made justifying its existence difficult.

The members of the commission are to blame. There’s no reason, in one example, for a city to fight for representation on the county budget committee, because of a procedural goof.

There’s no reason for the sheriff to sue the commission to fill a vacant deputy position.

And most of all, there was no reason for a commissioner – after moving from her district – to balk when the governor asked for her new address, and then proffer a bogus excuse that the purchase was only temporary.

It was an era in absurdity that should end today. An all-new commission – Makas, Randall Greenwood and Jonathan LaBonte – deserves the chance to take Androscoggin County in a new direction. There are important decisions to be made.

None bigger, in our opinion, than a county charter. If this new commission is serious about changing the county – as it should be – endorsing the creation of a charter commission should be its first and utmost priority. We urge this action without delay.

Androscoggin County, through its various, recent miscues, has become the laughingstock of Maine county government. As the state and municipal budgets grow tight in this recession, this reputation will lead many to question why we still need this middle-management government layer at all.

Poulin stepping down, and the three newcomers moving to strengthen the county with a charter, would be first steps toward reminding us of the answer.

Editor’s note: LaBonte is also a weekly columnist for the Sun Journal.