06/12/2012

July 9 hearing set on proposed charter change governing capital expenditures

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on July 9, 2012 on a proposal to establish automatic citizen approval of capital expenditures exceeding $1 million.

The move involves an amendment to the Town charter, adding a requirement for a public referendum on Town Council approved expenditures of more than $1 million. Councilors may decide to add the proposed change to the Nov. 6 ballot.

The proposed charter amendment stems from the council's recent decision to set a proposal for a new library to public referendum in November.

"Certainly we listened to the citizens here in Cape Elizabeth over this library issue," Town Councilor Jim Walsh said at their meeting June 11, 2012. "Our community is very concerned about expenditures of this nature and have made it very clear to many of us that they wish to weigh in on these types of expenditures."

The charter currently provides for public override, by petition, of any Town Council appropriation exceeding .05 percent of the latest state valuation, which in 2012 would be $855,375. Approximately 700 voters - 10 percent of those registered - would need to sign petitions to override under the current charter.

Under the proposed amendment, expenditures exceeding $1 million would automatically go to referendum.

The amendment itself needs to go referendum for approval. "I look forward to a public hearing and determining the will of the citizens in terms of going to referendum," Walsh said.

Councilor David Sherman asked staff to provide information on how often the council approves single expenditures that large. "I've been on the council for four years, and I'm not sure I've had to vote on that type of issue," Sherman said. "I think that's just interesting information for the public and for us on the council to have," he said.

Lennon also said she looks forward to hearing public comment. "Obviously there's pros and cons and we look forward to hearing from citizens, either here in the public hearing next month, or by email, or phone or any other way because, it's a relatively big step," Lennon said.