Comments about: AUGUSTA: Charter panel mulls petitions and their limits
AUGUSTA -- Rules governing the rights of citizens to petition city government and bring issues to referendum are...
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melinuxfool of Searsport, ME
Jul 17, 2008 2:33 PM
Actually, I believe the FIRST AMENDMENT governs petitions when it says...
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.report abuse
jm of Augusta, ME
Jul 17, 2008 9:14 AM
Allowing the City Council to decide which citizens' petitions to submit to voters (and which to ignore) is about as undemocratic as you can get. Hopefully, Johnson's changes will be adopted in the City Charter.report abuse
catsome of portland, ME
Jul 17, 2008 9:01 AM
I believe STATE law governs petitions and the local charter needs to be consistent with that.I believe the council can vote to adopt a voter initiative themselves by a council vote thereby avoiding the need to go to the people, But they can't interefere with the peoples right to disagree with their leaders "so called wisdom'". After all the whole point of people's veto IS to disagree with their leaders decsisions by overturning their decisions by a vote of the people. Course the council can always change their mind and avoid going to a people's vote. But in either case they can't just say NO!

as to lawyer scrutiny of the legal language of any petition, petitioners should get their own lawyer to ensure the language is appropriate and legal and to "fight it out" with City lawyers ,if they disagree.

In Augusta's case their lawyer is also tied to a private firm---not exactly "independent"---- putting issues of potential "conflict of interest" into question. And they are paid to protect the council not necesarily The City's best interest.

The City's attorney should be allowed to chime in on language BUT their word shouldn't be considered golden or the last word on the language. BY nature of being paid by the City they have innate conflict of interest which might conflict with "the people's" best interest. They are not exactly "independent" or objective.

Sorry Johnson gave up his suit. It's one he should have won!!!There may have been some technicalities or maybe he couldn't "afford" to continue the suit. It's ashame because now the council and the city will just steam roll over ( and ignore) augusta residents. Looks like they are doing that now anyhow...I'd never leave the city any land after this....report abuse

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