APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 15, 2021 8
BY GOVERNOR P & S LAW
STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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H.P. 457 - L.D. 621
An Act To Increase the Number of Franklin County Commissioners
Mandate preamble. This measure requires one or more local units of government
to expand or modify activities so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local
revenues but does not provide funding for at least 90% of those expenditures. Pursuant to
the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 21, 2/3 of all of the members elected to each
House have determined it necessary to enact this measure.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. Apportionment plans for Franklin County. The legislative
apportionment commission established in 2021 pursuant to the Constitution of Maine,
Article IV, Part Third, Section 1-A, hereinafter referred to as "the apportionment
commission," shall create 2 apportionment plans for Franklin County, both established in
accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part First, Section 2; Article IV,
Part Second, Section 2; and Article IV, Part Third, Section 1-A; and the Maine Revised
Statutes, Title 21-A, section 1206-A. One plan must apportion Franklin County into 3
districts and one plan must apportion Franklin County into 5 districts as follows.
1. Plan for 3 districts. The apportionment plan dividing Franklin County into 3
districts must align as closely as practicable with the following.
A. Commissioner District Number 1, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor
civil divisions and unorganized territories of Carthage, Jay, South Franklin, Temple
and Wilton.
B. Commissioner District Number 2, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor
civil divisions of Chesterville, Farmington and New Sharon.
C. Commissioner District Number 3, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor
civil divisions and unorganized territories of Avon, Carrabassett Valley, Coplin,
Dallas, East Central Franklin, Eustis, Industry, Kingfield, New Vineyard, North
Franklin, Phillips, Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation, Sandy River, Strong, Weld, West
Central Franklin and Wyman Township.
2. Plan for 5 districts. The apportionment plan dividing Franklin County into 5
districts must align as closely as practicable with the following.
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 A. Commissioner District Number 1, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor
civil divisions of Temple and Wilton. The term of office of the commissioner from
this district expires in 2028 and every 4 years thereafter.
B. Commissioner District Number 2, in the County of Franklin, consists of
Farmington. The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2028
and every 4 years thereafter.
C. Commissioner District Number 3, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor
civil divisions and unorganized territories of Avon, Carthage, Coplin, Eustis, North
Franklin, Phillips, Rangeley, Rangeley Plantation, Sandy River, South Franklin,
Strong, Weld and West Central Franklin. The term of office of the commissioner from
this district expires in 2028 and every 4 years thereafter.
D. Commissioner District Number 4, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor
civil divisions and unorganized territories of Carrabassett Valley, Dallas, East Central
Franklin, Industry, Kingfield, New Sharon, New Vineyard and Wyman Township.
The term of office of the commissioner from this district expires in 2026 and every 4
years thereafter.
E. Commissioner District Number 5, in the County of Franklin, consists of the minor
civil divisions of Chesterville and Jay. The term of office of the commissioner from
this district expires in 2026 and every 4 years thereafter.
Sec. 2. Apportionment of Franklin County if referendum question passes;
term of office. If the referendum question submitted to the legal voters of Franklin County
in accordance with section 4 passes by majority vote, the apportionment commission shall
submit a plan dividing Franklin County into 3 commissioner districts until the election in
November 2024 and thereafter dividing Franklin County into 5 districts aligned as closely
as practicable to the apportionment described in section 1. The plan must ensure that the
terms of office for the 3 commissioners expire in 2024.
Sec. 3. Apportionment of Franklin County if referendum question fails. If
the referendum question submitted to the legal voters of Franklin County in accordance
with section 4 fails to pass by majority vote, the apportionment commission shall submit a
plan dividing Franklin County into 3 commissioner districts with terms of office for the
commissioners following the terms established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A,
section 66-B, subsection 4.
Sec. 4. Referendum. The county commissioners of Franklin County shall submit
the following question to the legal voters of the county by ballot at the referendum election
to be held in November 2021. The method of voting and the conduct of the referendum
are governed by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, and the county commissioners or
county administrators shall perform the duties of the Secretary of State prescribed by Title
21-A in the same manner as the county commissioners are required to do in the case of a
county bond referendum election held pursuant to Title 30-A, section 938. The subject
matter of this Act must be reduced to the following question:
"Do you favor increasing the number of Franklin County commissioner
districts from 3 to 5 and staggering the terms of the 5 county
commissioners beginning in 2024 following redistricting conducted
pursuant to the Constitution of Maine in 2021?"
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 The voters shall indicate their opinion on this question by a cross or check mark placed
against the word "Yes" or "No." The question must be approved by a majority of the legal
voters casting ballots at the referendum election.
The results of the referendum must be declared by the county commissioners or county
administrator and due certificate filed with the Secretary of State within 10 days after the
date of the election.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 621, HP 457: 30-A.66