Kennebunk voters reject city charter revision

Kennebunk voters rejected a city charter revision Tuesday. The votes were 5,078 against, or 65%, and 2,740 in favor (35%).

The charter revision would change the city’s form of government from an elected council to a city council.

Kennebunk voters rejected a city charter revision Tuesday. Dan King/Message

The Kennebunk Charter Commission presented its final report to the Select Board on Aug. 6, recommending a city council form of government instead of the current elected board, in which voters approve budgets, borrowing and land use measures.

The process of developing the proposed revised charter began in early 2023. Over the course of 18 months, the commission examined other cities, provided opportunities for public input, and conducted a survey that was instrumental in deciding what form of government should be used.

Under City Council government, the council would have the power to approve or reject land use proposals and would have limited authority to use the city’s unallocated fund balance during emergencies, including hurricanes.

In the event that the council needs to use funds during an emergency, it will also need a replenishment plan.

Under City Council government, the voting process will remain largely unchanged, and the duties and responsibilities of the City Manager will also remain the same.

The new charter recommendation also significantly addresses the removal of office and the process of recalling officers.

To ensure that all reviews are valid and fair, and to ensure that the public has the opportunity to be informed about the review, the commission developed a four-phase plan.

First, the person seeking the recall — the “agent,” according to the report — would have to file a notice of intent with the city clerk, including 500 voter signatures and an explanation of why the elected official should be removed from office.

A public hearing would then need to be held so residents and the City Council could hear and discuss the reasons for filing the recall notice. If the agent decides to continue after this meeting, the City Clerk will distribute petition forms.

The agent will then need to collect 1,000 signatures by a deadline to have them verified and certified by the city clerk.

Finally, if the signatures are verified, the recall will go to an official vote, which requires a minimum turnout of 3,000 voters.

Upon rejection of the bylaw revision, all current selection board procedures, including recall processes, remain the same.