Sangerville residents should pass code of ethics article

To the Editor:
    Small towns like Sangerville, Maine need to enact our own ordinances and bylaws in such a way that we the citizens can deal with our own problems. Maine law does not reach deeply into municipal governmental ethics, laws, ordinances and bylaws, governing municipal officials, and other small town issues, so it is left to the citizens to enact these ordinances and bylaws. It is because Maine laws are so limited.

    I say appropriately and rightfully so, because our courts are already overbooked, and have more then they can handle without dealing with small town issues. And we are allowed by Maine state law to enact our own ordinances and bylaws to deal with such matters.
    A little known fact I should make you aware of is in 2011 the Maine legislators added section (9) to the Maine State Statute 30A, chapter 120 subchapter 1, Recall of municipal officials (2505) which reads, “(Limitation of recall) An elected official may be the subject of a recall petition under this section only if the official is convicted of a crime, the conduct of which occurred during the official’s term of office and the victim of which is the municipality.”
    To me, that is to say if we the citizens elect an official for let’s say three years, and later we find that official has previously been convicted of fraud, sex crimes, or any other crimes for that matter, including ethical and trust issues, and we decide we do not want this person representing us and dealing with our tax dollars and town affairs, we the citizens can not recall that official under Maine state statute as now written.
    This is only one of many reasons we the citizens of Sangerville need to enact our Code of Ethics Ordinance at the 2015 annual town meeting, please come and vote in March so we the citizens can have some say in such matters. Please keep in mind that our ordinance only asks our town officials to abide by the same state laws and statutes as we the citizens do without exception and be polite and respectful.
    This ordinance is by the people, for the people, and not by the selectmen, for the selectmen.
    Your vote counts; please come and vote.

Richard R. Dobson Sr.
Sangerville