Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §2601, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6, c. 9, §2 and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:

1. Appointment of officials and employees. Except where specifically provided by law, charter or ordinance, the municipal officers shall appoint all municipal officials and employees required by general law, charter or ordinance and, except for those officials and employees subject to section 2636, subsection 14, the municipal officers may remove those all municipal officials and employees for cause, after notice and hearing. The municipal officers may delegate the authority to hire and remove for cause employees whose appointments are not required by law, charter or ordinance to appropriate municipal officials.

SUMMARY

This bill clarifies the law concerning removal or dismissal of municipal employees, in response to Farley v. Washburn, 704 A.2d 347 (1997). Under this bill, it is clear that, except for employees appointed directly by the town manager, municipal employees are subject to removal by the municipal officers for cause after notice and hearing.