At their most recent meeting, the Charter Commission appointed Cindy Brakey to fill the seat vacated by John Salisbury, who recently resigned. Salisbury, who helped lead a citizens’ initiative to form a charter commission, was elected to the commission in June. Under Maine’s municipal charter law, vacancies in elected seats are filled by commission members’ appointment.
“I am honored to be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Charter Commission. I want to thank John Salisbury for his time and commitment to the commission,” Brakey told NGX. “I have been following the commission’s progress and look forward to participating in the process.”
In discussing how to fill the vacancy, commission members noted that Brakey was the next-highest vote-getter in the June election, when six of the nine members were chosen by voters; the Select Board chose the remaining three. As the vacancy was a ‘voter slot’ and the commission has set an ambitious timetable for its work, the group agreed after discussion that making the appointment based on election results would be both appropriate and faster than inviting and considering applications. Brakey’s appointment was unanimous.
In a related action, the commission members voted in Steve Hathorne as vice-chair, a position Salisbury had held.
Brakey joins the commission as members work in earnest to develop a complete draft charter and preliminary report for citizens to consider. Once the draft charter and report are ready, there will be a special public meeting for citizen input.
— Joanne Cole
- To read NGX’s coverage of commission meetings and other charter matters, click here.
- For agendas, supporting documents and drafts, and other information about the commission and municipal charters, click here.
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