Committee advances amendment to align council meeting rules with charter

A Bucksport committee voted to forward an amendment to the town’s council rules that would align those rules with the town charter by allowing the council to set its meeting schedule by resolution rather than locking meetings to a specific weekday or start time.

A staff member told the committee the amendment removes the detailed language that fixes meetings to the second and fourth Thursday and instead reflects the charter’s language that the council must meet at least once a month and may set its schedule by resolution. The staff member said the change would give future councils flexibility over meeting days and accommodate past practice when the body met only once in a month.

When a committee member asked whether the change also alters meeting start times, a staff member identified in the transcript only as Jacob said, "This does not list a specific start time," confirming the amendment leaves the hour to be set by the council when it adopts its schedule. The staff presenter noted the goal was to bring the council rules into agreement with the charter and to avoid rigid scheduling requirements.

A committee member moved to "move it forward to the council as written," and another member seconded. The Chair called for a voice vote and announced the motion passed; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. The committee then moved on to the next agenda item. Later, a committee member moved to adjourn and a second was made; the transcript ends after the call for those in favor and does not record the outcome of that vote.

The forwarded amendment will be considered by the full Bucksport Town Council at a future meeting; the transcript does not specify a date for council consideration or a vote tally for the committee’s voice vote.