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Presque Isle Planning Board backs two‑year leadership terms, moves ordinance and bylaw changes to public hearing
Summary
The Planning Board agreed to lengthen Chair and Vice‑Chair terms to two years, add conflict‑of‑interest language to Chapter 43, replace a named newspaper with a local‑newspaper requirement, and voted to schedule public hearings on the changes.
Presque Isle Planning Board members reached consensus on several proposed changes to the board’s governing language at their Nov. 6, 2025 meeting and voted to send the amendments to public hearing.
Tim St. Peter, deputy director for the city, reviewed the proposed Chapter 43 amendments that staff had circulated in September, noting the earlier suggestion to add a high‑school student member and expand to a nine‑member board has been removed for now and could be revisited with a college‑student option. The changes under consideration include term limits for board leadership, publication requirements and a new conflict‑of‑interest section.
Board members debated leadership‑term length. Jayne Farrin said she preferred two‑year terms to encourage continuity; Farrin27s preference was supported by Tim Vernon, Andy Flewelling and Chairman Bruce Roope. The board reached consensus to change Chair and Vice‑Chair term language to two years.
Members also agreed to replace a specific newspaper name in the ordinance with a requirement to publish notices in a local newspaper; Chairman Bruce Roope had suggested broader "local media" but members cited state law requiring publication in a local newspaper. Staff confirmed the amendments would also add a conflict‑of‑interest provision.
The board discussed whether a City Councilor should be a voting member or serve only as a liaison. Jayne Farrin and others supported a liaison arrangement; Chairman Roope and other members said Councilors already have many meetings and preferred inviting Council when items of mutual interest arise. The board did not add a Councilor as a voting member.
Separately, staff reported the Planning Board had previously approved its by‑laws but the document had not been forwarded to City Council. A motion by Chairman Bruce Roope, seconded by Ward Gerow, to schedule public hearings on the Chapter 43 language amendments and to place approval of the Planning Board by‑laws on the next meeting agenda passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: The board approved the Oct. 23, 2025 minutes (motion: Jayne Farrin; second: Dave Perry) with a 5–0–2 tally (Tim Vernon and Rachel Murchison abstained). A motion to schedule public hearings on the ordinance and to forward the by‑laws for Council consideration passed unanimously (motion: Bruce Roope; second: Ward Gerow).
The board will consider the ordinance language at the scheduled public hearings and at an upcoming Planning Board meeting; the minutes note the public hearings will be placed on the next Planning Board agenda.
