Five Knox County Commissioners? Not until 2030
Knox County Commissioners in session: Richard L. Parent, Jr., serves District 2, which comprises Appleton, Cushing, Friendship, Union, Warren and Washington.; Edward B. Glaser serves District 1, Rockland, Saint George, South Thomaston and Thomaston; and Sharyn L. Pohlman serves District 3, Camden, Hope, Isle au Haut, Matinicus Isle Plantation, North Haven, Owls Head, Rockport, Vinalhaven the Unorganized Territories of Criehaven and Muscle Ridge Islands. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
Ed Glaser enters his second term as commission chair. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
Sharyn Pohlman is vice chair. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
Knox Commissioner Rick Parent. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
County Administrator Andrew Hart. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
Knox County Commissioners in session: Richard L. Parent, Jr., serves District 2, which comprises Appleton, Cushing, Friendship, Union, Warren and Washington.; Edward B. Glaser serves District 1, Rockland, Saint George, South Thomaston and Thomaston; and Sharyn L. Pohlman serves District 3, Camden, Hope, Isle au Haut, Matinicus Isle Plantation, North Haven, Owls Head, Rockport, Vinalhaven the Unorganized Territories of Criehaven and Muscle Ridge Islands. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
Ed Glaser enters his second term as commission chair. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
Sharyn Pohlman is vice chair. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
Knox Commissioner Rick Parent. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
County Administrator Andrew Hart. (Photo by Chris Wolf)
ROCKLAND – The Knox County Commissioners met in chambers January 9 at the County Courthouse in Rockland. All three commissioners were in attendance. Under action items, the commissioners voted to schedule a joint meeting with the Knox County Charter Review Committee.
That meeting will be to discuss the charter commission’s recommendations of changes to the charter, if any, and an executive summary.
Knox County Administrator Andrew Hart said he would contact committee members to determine a convenient time for all to meet, adding that their regularly scheduled meeting had been on Thursdays at 5 p.m.
Commission Chair Ed Glaser asked if a meeting could be scheduled for a Thursday at 5 p.m.
“Were there seven committee members,” said Glaser, “it would make sense to go to one of their meetings than them come to one of ours.”
Hart suggested they try and schedule for the last Thursday in January, but then decided the first or second Thursday in February would be more accommodating.
In early December, Knox Count called for county residents to serve on the Knox County Charter Review Committee, whose purpose is to review and discuss proposed updates and changes to the 2005 Knox County Charter.
The existing charter was approved November 2, 2004 and has not been reviewed since its inception.
Both the commissioners and Knox County Budget Committee have agreed the charter needs to be reviewed, updated and changes considered.
One point to be considered was increasing the number of commissioners from three to five.
Hart said that point came under legal analysis.
“It can’t happen till 2030,” he said. “The Legislature disbanded the Reapportionment Committee after the reapportionments. That committee won’t come back until nine years from now. That’s something that is decided by the Legislature.”
Hart said another county tried to do it sooner and it was told no, not until the next apportionment comes up.
“It’s in there, but will remain as part of the executive summary,” he said, “and not something that would go to the voters.”
In other commission business Ed Glaser was elected to a second term as chair of the Knox County Commissioners with Sharyn Pohlman elected vice chair.
Reach Chris Wolf at news@penbaypilot.com
