PORTLAND, Maine — Weeks after a newly-elected commissioner drew headlines for controversial tweets about the city manager, Portland's Charter Commission held its organizational meeting Monday evening via Zoom.
In July 2020, Portland voters approved creating the commission to review the city charter. The city council appointed three members to the commission, Michael Kebede, Peter Eglinton, and Dory Waxman.
In June 2021, Portland voters elected the other nine members:
- District 1: Shay Stewart Bouley
- District 2: Robert O'Brien
- District 3: Zack Barowitz
- District 4: Marcques Houston
- District 5: Ryan Lizanecz
- At Large: Catherine Buxton, Marpheen Chann, Nasreen Sheikh Yousef, and Pat Washburn
The 12-member commission is also responsible for recommending ways to improve how city government is organized and run.
The commission elected Michael Kebede as chairman, Shay Stewart Bouley as vice-chair, and Peter Eglinton as secretary.
Most of the conversations were centered around procedural information. The first public hearing will be on July 15 at 6 p.m.