County Charter History
Cumberland County Charter
What Is a Charter?
A charter is the defining document of how a body of government:- Organizes itself
- Selects officers, officials and employees
- Establishes departments, agencies and boards
In Maine, Cumberland County, Aroostook and Knox counties also have charters.
Charter History
In 2010, voters in Cumberland County approved a first-ever charter for the county.The charter was drafted over the course of 2 years by a charter commission created in 2008 that had 6 members elected by the public and 3 members appointed by the County Commissioners. There were previous unsuccessful attempts to create a charter in Cumberland County in 1982 and 2003. Read more about the history of the charter.
Timeline
2010-2011
- March 14, 2011 - County Commissioners voted to accept the new district map proposed by the charter commission, increasing the number of districts and County Commissioners from 3 to 5 starting with the November 2011 election.
- January 4, 2011 - Charter Commission votes on final district boundaries
- December 4, 2010 - Charter Commission reconvenes to draw new district boundaries
- November 2, 2010 - Charter is on ballot
- November 2, 2010 - Charter goes to voters in General Election
- August 9, 2010 - Public Meeting at County Courthouse; Charter presented to County Commissioners
- August 9, 2010 - Final charter document delivered to County Commissioners
- August 5, 2010 - Public Meeting at County Courthouse to give final approval to draft, then off to legal for review
- August 5, 2010 - Last review and meeting of Charter Commission to submit the charter
- August 6, 2010 - Charter is submitted for legal review
- July 22, 2010 - Public Meeting in Raymond
2008: Creation of the 2nd Charter Commission
- November 4, 2008 - Charter Commission members elected at General Election
- June 2, 2008 - Deadline for Charter Commission candidate petitions to be submitted to Secretary of State Office for verification
- May 27, 2008 - Deadline for Charter Commission candidate petitions to be submitted to municipalities for verification
- March 2008 - County Commissioners vote to initiate Charter Commission
2004: Failed Attempt to Create 2nd Charter Commission
- Referendum to create Charter Commission turned down by 51% of voters
- November 2004 - County Commissioners vote to put creation of a 2nd Charter Commission to voters
1980 - 1982: 1st Charter Commission
- June 8, 1982 - Proposed Cumberland County Charter turned down by voters
- November 1980 - Voters create the Cumberland County Charter Commission
- County Commissioners vote to put creation of a Charter Commission to voters
- Governor signed LD 1038 “An Act to Provide for County Self-Government” into law, making it possible for counties to create their own charters