Citizens have spoken in Lyman, and we hope the board of selectmen will hear the call to put forward a question seeking permission to create a town manager’s position as soon as legally possible.
However, that may be further off than residents would like.
Selectmen voted recently to table a citizen’s petition to hire a town manager because it has been less than a year since a new town charter was put in place. Board members said the town attorney has advised that the town needs to wait until the charter has been in effect for one year before amending it.
It is unfortunate the change was not included in the charter that was approved by voters in November, and since it only went into effect this month, it looks like voters will have to wait an entire year from now to consider any changes.
Although the required signatures were certified by the town clerk, selectmen thought it best to hold off on sending the citizen’s petition to referendum vote, and they’ve tabled the vote, which was the proper way to proceed. An opinion is being sought from the Maine Municipal Association to see if any changes can be made to the charter before a year is up.
The board plans to vote on whether to reject or accept the petition at its Aug. 5 meeting, according to Town Clerk Pauline Weiss, but it seems unlikely that selectmen would accept it if passage of its proposal is in violation of town or state laws. If the petition is rejected for that reason, the board would have the option of bringing the change forward for a vote when the time comes, or a citizen’s petition could be initiated again.
Whatever happens, the town is in need of a town manager, and someone needs to bring such a charter change forward so it can be decided by voters.
This position is needed in a town that saw a 14 percent increase in its population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses. By comparison, the town’s population of 4,344 ”“ according to the 2010 census ”“ is higher than nearby Arundel, 4,022, which employs a full-time town manager, and just less than North Berwick, 4,576, which also employs a town manager.
While some of the smallest towns in the county can function with just a board of selectmen, Lyman has certainly reached the threshold of needing a person in charge to help with the daily business of the town; answer questions from selectmen and other elected officials who are not in the business of municipal government; and advocate for the town, seeking improvements through grants and attracting new businesses.
The town has had a lot of issues in the last few years, which have improved with the increased seats on the board of selectmen and a guiding town document, but it is likely towns like Lyman will continue to see growth as the economy rebounds and more people settle in southern Maine.
It would be better for Lyman to prepare for its growing population now, rather than wait until operating with only a board of selectmen becomes unmanageable.
And when the issue does make it to voters, we hope they will see the value of a town manager and consider the benefits of such a position, not just the cost.
Ӣ Ӣ Ӣ
Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
