HOULTON, Maine — A request to consider a proposed ordinance to recall elected officials in the community sparked a significant debate among the Town Council on Monday evening before they opted not to pass it.
Priscilla Monroe, a Houlton resident and member of the planning board and ordinance review committee, introduced the proposal, which would have pertained to all elected officials in the community. Monroe said that if 390 people signed a petition asking to recall an elected official, it could then go to a referendum vote. Monroe said that other towns and the state have such ordinances.
Several councilors asked Monroe why it was necessary to have such an ordinance in the first place, especially since one already exists at the state level.
“It seems prudent to have something in place,” she said, calling such an ordinance a “safeguard.”
Councilor Jane Torres was opposed to the idea, saying that she felt that there were too many unforeseen gaps in the ordinance that could have future repercussions. Torres said it was “easy” to get 390 signatures on a petition in Houlton, adding that citizens would stop running for offices like Town Council if the ordinance was passed because they might fear being recalled if disagreements around voting came up with citizens.
Chairman George “Bill” McCluskey agreed, saying that he felt that the ordinance had the potential to allow organized groups to control the town and would also suppress public service and free speech.
“How do you get anything done with that dagger hanging over your head?” he asked, speaking of the proposed ordinance.
The measure then failed by majority decision.
