Saco council tables wide-ranging administrative code update after extended debate

The Saco City Council voted 6-1 Monday to table proposed updates to the city’s administrative code (Chapter 4, Article 5) after extended council discussion and requests for revisions.

Councilor Johnston, who introduced the update for first reading earlier in the meeting, said the changes would bring the ordinance “to reflect current operations” and scheduled a public hearing. Several councilors instead urged more time to reconcile the draft with other sections of the city code and with charter and state statutory language.

Councilor Johnston and others raised multiple issues during discussion, including whether certain department heads should be appointed by the city administrator and confirmed by council, the placement and labeling of divisions versus departments on the org chart, and whether some positions (for example, plumbing and electrical inspectors, harbor master and public health director) require appointment or confirmation under state statute. Councilor Johnston recommended delaying the public hearing to consider related code sections and suggested treating some committee and student advisory appointments differently.

Councilor Berman said he wanted to see another revised version at a first reading before sending the draft to public hearing. Councilor Hatch proposed tabling the whole item so staff could compile council comments and produce a redlined document showing each suggested change and its sponsor.

After a motion to table the item and a second, the council held a roll call vote. The motion to table passed 6-1; Councilor Johnston voted no. The council directed staff to incorporate council comments, provide a redline showing changes and proposer names, and consider a workshop to review remaining chapters before scheduling a public hearing.

Councilors and staff noted the work may involve legal review to ensure code changes do not conflict with the city charter or state statutes and that certain items might require charter amendments in a later process.