Rangeley Airport Commission adopts revised bylaws after selectmen insertion, debates authority and appointments

The Rangeley Airport Commission on June 30 accepted a revised set of bylaws produced by town staff and subsequently acted on by the Board of Selectmen, while several commissioners objected to newly inserted language that they said changes the commission’s authority over future bylaw amendments.

The disputed insertion adds a requirement that amendments to the commission bylaws be approved not only by a majority of the airport commission but also by the board of selectmen. Commissioners said that language did not appear in earlier drafts and that the current 1997 bylaws did not include that requirement. Several members argued the insertion reduces the commission’s autonomy because future changes would require selectmen concurrence.

Commission members debated other edits including the commission composition and the role of alternates. The revised document contained language describing a five-member commission with two alternates (and at least three residents), replacing previous formulations discussed during the review. Commissioners raised concerns that the revised text does not clearly specify whether the two alternates should be one resident and one nonresident, an arrangement they said was discussed previously but not reflected in the final draft. Several members cautioned that unclear residency language could lead to more nonresident representation than intended in any single meeting.

At least two commissioners asked that the bylaws be reviewed by town legal counsel to clarify whether the selectmen’s added language is standard practice and whether the commission retains authority to ratify internal rules. Commissioners also noted procedural concerns about how the selectmen’s version was circulated and whether comments submitted to a prior workshop were included.

After discussion the commission voted to accept the revised bylaws as presented and to conduct annual reviews; members emphasized that accepting the document now would not preclude proposing amendments in the future. The commission chair asked members to sign the adopted copy and staff said the commission’s nominations for membership would be delivered to the board of selectmen at their next meeting per the newly framed process.

The commission used the meeting to recommend candidates for vacancies created by expiring terms. The group agreed to forward nominations to the board of selectmen — including a recommendation to the selectmen to consider Scott (last name on file) as a nonresident nominee and Ron (last name on file) as a resident nominee — noting the selectmen have final appointment authority.