Simone Lawson
In Maine, public notice must be given for all public proceedings, including selectmen's meetings. In the case of an emergency meeting, local media representatives must be notified of the time and location. According to the Maine Constitution, an emergency is defined as only such measures as are immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety. The town of Union, Maine, for example, holds public selectmen's meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month, while Castine, Maine, also holds public selectmen's meetings, sometimes calling emergency executive sessions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To preserve the public peace, health, or safety |
| Notification | Local media representatives must be notified of the time and location |
| Public Attendance | One day's notice may be enough to satisfy the Act |
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What You'll Learn
Emergency meetings require local media notification
In Maine, public notice must be given for all public proceedings, including selectmen's meetings. This notice must allow for ample time for public attendance and must be disseminated in a manner that is reasonably calculated to notify the general public.
In the case of an emergency meeting, local media representatives must be notified whenever practical. This notification should include the time and location of the meeting and should be given by the same or faster means used to notify the members of the agency conducting the public proceeding.
For example, a public meeting of the Castine Selectboard, Assessors and Overseers of the Poor was held on May 19, 2025, at 4 pm in Emerson Hall, 67 Court Street, Castine, Maine. Another public meeting notice for the Town of Union, governed by a Select Board, states that meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm in the Town Office, in the William L. Pullen Municipal Building Meeting Room.
According to the Maine Constitution, an emergency is defined as "only such measures as are immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety." Therefore, it is important that local media are notified of emergency meetings so that they can inform the public of any urgent matters that require immediate attention for the preservation of public peace, health, or safety.
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Emergency legislation impacts health and safety
In Maine, public notice must be given for all public proceedings, including emergency meetings. Local representatives of the media must be notified of the time and location of the meeting, and this information must be disseminated to the general public.
The Maine Constitution defines an emergency as "only such measures as are immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety." However, there is some ambiguity surrounding what constitutes an emergency, as exemplified by the passing of LDs 1698, 1718, and 1723, which lacked substance and did not appear to address urgent issues.
One example of legislation that could be considered an emergency is the need to address the opioid epidemic, which has severe health and safety implications for Maine citizens. Similarly, issues such as Medicaid expansion, marijuana legalization, and tax conformity require immediate attention to safeguard the well-being of the public.
On the other hand, some bills have been criticized for not meeting the threshold of an emergency. For instance, LD 1668, which proposed changing gender-specific terminology, was not considered an urgent matter impacting public peace, health, or safety.
In conclusion, emergency legislation in Maine is intended to address pressing issues that directly impact the health, safety, and well-being of its citizens. While some matters may warrant immediate attention, there is ongoing debate about the definition of an "emergency" and the prioritization of certain legislation over more urgent issues.
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Emergency nature defined by Maine Constitution
The Maine Constitution defines an emergency as "only such measures as are immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety." This means that for a matter to be considered an emergency in Maine, it must be of a pressing nature that poses a potential threat to the public peace, health, or safety.
In the context of a selectmen's meeting, an emergency would constitute a situation that requires immediate attention and decision-making by the selectmen or selectboard to maintain public peace, health, or safety. This could include, but is not limited to, matters such as natural disasters, public health crises, civil unrest, or any other issue that poses an imminent risk to the well-being of the community.
It is important to note that the threshold for declaring an emergency is high, and not all situations will meet the criteria outlined in the Maine Constitution. Routine matters, such as legislative changes that do not directly impact public peace, health, or safety, would not typically be considered emergencies.
When an emergency meeting is called, local representatives of the media must be notified whenever possible, including information about the time and location. This notification should be done using the same or faster means used to notify the members of the agency conducting the public proceeding.
In conclusion, the emergency nature defined by the Maine Constitution is reserved for situations that demand immediate action to safeguard the public peace, health, or safety. Selectmen's meetings can be called in response to such emergencies, with proper notification given to both the public and the media, to address and resolve these urgent matters.
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Public peace, health, or safety preservation
In Maine, public meetings are held by a selectboard, which consists of assessors and overseers of the poor. In the case of an emergency meeting, local media representatives must be notified of the time and location, and the public must be given ample time to attend.
The Maine Constitution defines an emergency as "only such measures as are immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety." This means that any emergency legislation passed must impact the health and safety of all Maine citizens.
For instance, the term "selectman" and its plural form "selectmen" do not endanger the public peace, health, or safety of Maine citizens. However, the Legislative Council has passed a bill to change these terms to "selectperson" and "selectpersons," respectively.
On the other hand, issues such as Medicaid expansion, marijuana legalization, the opioid epidemic, and tax conformity are examples of matters that directly affect public peace, health, or safety preservation. These issues require immediate attention and would likely be considered emergencies.
Therefore, when determining what constitutes an emergency in Maine for a selectmen's meeting, the focus should be on whether the matter at hand poses an immediate threat to the peace, health, or safety of the general public.
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Emergency meetings: public attendance requirements
In Maine, public notice must be given for all public proceedings, including emergency meetings. This notice must be given in good time to allow for public attendance and must be shared in a way that is likely to notify the general public served by the body or agency concerned. Local media representatives must be notified of the meeting, including the time and location, by the same or faster means used to notify agency members. While the law states that notice must be given in "ample time", one day's notice may be enough to satisfy the Act if the person complaining of inadequate notice has not been prejudiced.
The purpose of the public meetings law is to prevent clandestine meetings or conferences held without proper notice and the opportunity for public attendance. This law also applies to email and text messages, with a new law, effective July 30, 2021, prohibiting "the conducting of public proceedings by text-only means, including but not limited to e-mail, text messages, and chat functions."
In Maine, an emergency is defined by the Maine Constitution as "only such measures as are immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety."
Selectboard meetings in Maine are open to the public, and anyone wishing to present an item to the Board should contact the Town Manager at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
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Frequently asked questions
According to the Maine Constitution, an emergency is "only such measures as are immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety."
In the event of an emergency meeting, local media representatives must be notified of the time and location as soon as possible.
Emergency legislation in Maine includes bills that impact the health and safety of all citizens, such as those related to the opioid epidemic and marijuana legalization.
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