Government Spotlight

Candidate profiles: Charter Commission

NGX will run profiles of all of the candidates running for election in June, starting with six of the charter commission candidates today, and five tomorrow (in reverse alphabetical order). Voters will select 6 of the 11 candidates on the ballot.

Cleo Werner
Ben Tettlebaum
John Salisbury
Michael Lang
Penny Hilton
Steve Hathorne

Cleo Werner

Occupation: Customer service
Education: Associates degree, Business Management
Community organizations/ service: Former board of selectmen, former budget committee, current election volunteer
Interests/ hobbies: church volunteer, baking, reading, walking
Family status: Married 37 years, one adult child

Q: Why do you want to serve on the charter commission? What experience and expertise do you bring to this role? 
A: I want the best outcome for the Town with a nonpolitical open process for all of us, not just special interests.

Q: What top three issues should the commission address, and why? 
A: I expect town meeting, term limits and recall to be among the interests of the community.

Q: What aspects of town government would you like to see preserved in the draft charter, and why? 
A: I do not have an agenda and will be open minded.


Ben Tettlebaum

Occupation: Attorney
Education: Bowdoin, ’99; Cornell law School, ‘12
Community organizations/ service: Member, Planning Board; Member, Comprehensive Plan Update Committee; Board Member & Governance Chair, MOFGA; Management Committee Member, MOFGA Certification Services, LLC
Interests/ hobbies: Hiking; backpacking; gardening; teaching; politics

Q: Why do you want to serve on the charter commission? What experience and expertise do you bring to this role? 
A: Since moving to New Gloucester, I have felt welcomed by the community. Given our great people and superb location, we have such tremendous opportunity over the next decade. I believe it is my responsibility to engage civically in the community where I live. I care deeply about this town. I would greatly enjoy being part of such an important structural process for New Gloucester. As folks who have worked with me on the Planning Board would hopefully attest, I bring a lawyerly attention to detail combined with a mediator’s sense of diplomacy to my work and interactions with community members. I have years of experience with governance issues, having served on many nonprofit boards and several municipal boards. Time and again, studies have shown that diversity of people and perspectives greatly benefit the process and outcome. On the Charter Commission, we have (and will likely have more) fine residents who have lived in New Gloucester for many decades, which is critical. Having the perspective of a newcomer who does not carry preconceptions is also important. I can bring that insight to the Commission. My goal is to do the utmost to assist the town in finding a path forward that is the most beneficial for meeting the needs and desires of the community. I would be honored to serve.

Q: What top three issues should the commission address, and why? 
A: (1) Creating a government structure to meet the growth demands the town will experience and to capitalize on opportunities. New Gloucester has and will continue to have pressure on all sides as real estate in Portland, Freeport, Brunswick, Lewiston-Auburn, North Yarmouth, and other communities continues to rise in value and sees increased demand. We have such a treasure of resources in our town. Structuring our government to meet the demands of the future and adapt in a smart way, often called “smart growth,” is vital.
(2) Forming as representative of a government as possible. There were likely myriad reasons that led voters to choose to go down the path of a Charter. One advantage to having a Charter is the ability to assert greater local control. The Commission may find that our current governance structure is best suited to our needs. And I believe that being open to change–if it would create a more representative and more responsive government–is also crucial.
(3) Fostering transparency, openness, and participation. In today’s world, we have so many tools that can make government more transparent, open, and participatory. As part of this process, there are several tools that the Commission and the Town should consider to ensure that, going forward, our municipal government meets these open-government priorities.

Q: What aspects of town government would you like to see preserved in the draft charter, and why? 
A: First, I would like to see citizen involvement in boards and committees remain as accessible as possible. Second, my suspicion is that the town manager structure will suit our town better than a mayoral structure (but I think we should explore options). Finally, I believe that many in our community greatly value town meetings. It will likely be important to maintain this structure, at least in some form. Again, it will be critical for us to remain open and hear the voices from the community.

John Salisbury

Occupation: Retired Executive
Education: Masters State & Local Government Administration, Wharton School, U.of Pennsylvania
Community organizations/ service: NG Land Management Planning Committee, Sabbathday Lake Assn. Board & NG Fraternal Order of Eagles
Interests/ hobbies: Family, Sabbathday Lake, Fishing, former hot air balloonist
Family status: Married 61 years, 3 adult children & 7 grandchildren
Social media: Facebook

Q: Why do you want to serve on the charter commission? What experience and expertise do you bring to this role? 
A: To lend my knowledge of Maine municipal government. I served 13 yrs as Maine Municipal Association Executive Director and have advised municipal governments on charters. I have served as an elected municipal official. I was educated to be a municipal manager.

Q: What top three issues should the commission address, and why? 
A: (1) transparency protocols to improve knowledge and involvement of NG citizens,
(2) accountability including recall procedures and
(3) town government structure and process issues such as program budgeting.

Q: What aspects of town government would you like to see preserved in the draft charter, and why? 
A: I am open minded on this question and feel that all aspects of our current structure should be reviewed. I am concerned about the level of voter participation in town meeting and in our local elections which do not have state or national issues under consideration.

Michael Lang

Occupation: Maine Department of Transportation TWII
Education: Central Maine Community College
Community organizations/ service: Vice president of the MSEA SEIU region one
Interests/ hobbies: Electronics, FCC Amateur Radio
Family status: Married 22 years with 3 children

Q: Why do you want to serve on the charter commission? What experience and expertise do you bring to this role? 
A: I would like to serve all the members of the New Gloucester community. I am interested in serving the public in the charter commission in the incipient stages. I bring a strong work ethic, enthusiasm and concern for my fellow citizens.

Q: What top three issues should the commission address, and why? 
A: The top three issues or that I feel need to be accomplished are we (the charter) to be the voice of the people, accountable to the public, complete transparency and also at the same time working together with the other charter members to get the job done.

Q: What aspects of town government would you like to see preserved in the draft charter, and why? 
A: I would like to preserve some of of the”old town feel” as well as look towards New Gloucester’s promising future. I would like to take steps on making all forums of our local government completely transparent.(Exceptions would be personnel issues or where not permitted by law.) I would like to see all meetings available on the town’s website as a live feed. I would also invite the media to be able to get all info to the public on meetings, etc. to help the community and encourage more participation from the public at large.

Penny (Penelope) Hilton

Occupation:Retired/writer
Education: BA in English from USM
Community organizations/ service: Experience on NG Budget, Ec. Dev., and Candidate/Referendum committees; supporter of NG Food Pantry, MOFGA
Interests/ hobbies: Reading, researching, writing, gardening, knitting, quilting
Family status: Married with 4 grown kids, 4 grandkids, currently 3 grand-dogs
Social media: Facebook

Q: Why do you want to serve on the charter commission? What experience and expertise do you bring to this role? 
A: I have been an engaged observer of town government for decades, beginning with covering SAD 15 and New Gloucester for the Lewiston Sun-Journal, then The Monument, and currently irregularly for NGXchange. The inconsistency and lack of clarity of how town government works, from the Board of Selectmen on down, that has grown over the years has had a very negative impact on the confidence and trust NG people have in their government. A Town Charter, thoroughly discussed in public, with a major and obvious emphasis on citizen input and participation, and with all aspects of essential relationships and duties worked out explicitly, will definitely increase voter trust. We have many people in New Gloucester who would like to contribute to town government, but to date fear getting mired in behind-the-scenes dramas and lost in unwritten “policies” and “traditions” that serve the often-unexpressed interests of those who have been serving on the BOS and committees longest. I believe a Charter that includes prohibitions for packing committees with family members, and consequences for unethical/illegal behavior, as well as clear rules and protocols, will really revive citizen participation at all levels. In every job I have had, from newspaper writer, to VISTA volunteer promoting Service Learning on Maine campuses, to Director of the Lawyer Referral Service for the Maine State Bar Association, my prime duty has been to get information to various communities of people in a clear and complete manner. I have written handbooks, developed membership criteria and protocols in partnership and collaboration with appropriate parties, and acted as sort of a translator or liaison between people looking for help or information, and appropriate services and resources. While all aspects of the Charter interest me, I will be vigilant especially about all opportunities to increase communication – in speed and quality – between the town and the citizens.

Q: What top three issues should the commission address, and why? 
A: With the understanding that accountability and clear and timely communications will be threaded through many parts of the Charter, I think the things that most need to be addressed are: 1) ethics and accountability, ie conflicts of interest, nepotism, ex-committee private communications; and recourse; 2) revision of the budget process and how it is presented to the public to make it easier to understand and to amend; and 3)clarifying the relationships between committees and BOS, including limiting BOS liaison power to facilitating communications and information, and NOT giving them voting power on any committees. Finally, I would also like to see energy-awareness incorporated into the town’s routine, from an energy-audit to ongoingly updated plans to reduce use of fossil fuels. Maybe this means another committee, or writing energy-focused directions into protocols… it’s up for discussion.

Q: What aspects of town government would you like to see preserved in the draft charter, and why? 
A: I would really like to retain an in-person town meeting with a commitment from the town to make it an important town event for both decision-making and community-building. The discussions at town meeting not only give everyone the best opportunity to explain/understand differing positions, but also can nourish community building at many levels. It will take imagination and commitment, but this is the time to do it!

Stephen J. Hathorne

Occupation: Medical Delivery Technician
Education: G.N.G.
Community organizations/ service: Vice-president New Gloucester Eagles, past Selectman
Interests/ hobbies: Wine & Food

Q: Why do you want to serve on the charter commission? What experience and expertise do you bring to this role? 
A: As a long time resident I hope to use my knowledge of the town to chart a course to carve out precise understandable document. We should be able to work together to achieve a tool that will allow easy access to all town policies , procedures , ordinances. Charter will allow for New Gloucester citizens to have full control of direction in how the town over sees it local government.

Q: What top three issues should the commission address, and why? 
A: A nepotism clause for all boards and committees. As we drive around are town you will see green and white signs (SAVE OUR INTERVALE ) the future of this project is in the hands of one family. No one entity should have this kind of control. This certainly is not proper representation of the whole town. It does portray the image of conflict of interest. (Term Limits) The citizens overwhelmingly approved passage by petition and town meeting process. The board has had a blockade of unwillingness to allow the will of the people ! ( Selectman’s Agenda) The agenda needs to be a timely notice to the citizen of up coming concerns of the town. The voice of the people has been squelched by an implemented three minute rule just for selectman’s meeting , no other meeting has limited rules of speech

Q: What aspects of town government would you like to see preserved in the draft charter, and why? 
A: Town meeting , a New England tradition , the ability of citizens to gather and express there opinions as well make transaction of public business . Selectman board , should continue to serve as the town’s executive body as an administer for municipality. I believe town council take’s voice away from the people.

~ Debra Smith