MSAD60 board adds and schedules swearing-in of newly elected member after legal debate
May 04, 2026 | RSU 60/MSAD 60, School Districts, Maine
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The RSU 60/MSAD 60 Board of Directors voted April 30 to add an agenda item to seat and swear in newly elected board member Richard DO after public comment and internal debate over whether he was already entitled to sit on the board under state law.
Matthew Leget, a Lebanon resident, told the board that under "Title 20, Section 103" Mr. DO was sworn in April 18 and therefore already holds office, and warned that excluding him could leave votes taken tonight legally vulnerable. "He was sworn in April 18th. Sworn in under Maine law, his term begins immediately," Leget said. "By not having him on the board, it invalidates the votes that happen this evening." (public comment)
Board members and administrators described a long-standing practice of seating newly elected members at the start of the fiscal year and said they had sought legal input. Several said they had met with Mr. DO earlier in the day and planned to swear him in before the May 7 meeting; others argued that enrolling a member mid-year can create practical problems because the current board conducted much of the work on the district budget and superintendent review. One board member advised caution and asked that votes not be held until the matter was clarified.
After discussion about policy, legal interpretations and the logistics of induction, the board moved to add seating and swearing-in of Mr. DO to the agenda as item 3A and approved that change by voice vote. The board recorded the procedural motion as passed and planned to complete formal swearing-in activity at or before the May 7 meeting.
The board said it would follow up with its counsel (Drummond and district legal staff) to confirm whether any votes taken before the swearing might require formal review. No formal tally of votes for the seating motion was recorded in the public minutes; the chair announced the motion passed.
Next steps: the board indicated Mr. DO will be sworn in before the May 7 meeting and the administration will confirm any legal guidance in writing.
Matthew Leget, a Lebanon resident, told the board that under "Title 20, Section 103" Mr. DO was sworn in April 18 and therefore already holds office, and warned that excluding him could leave votes taken tonight legally vulnerable. "He was sworn in April 18th. Sworn in under Maine law, his term begins immediately," Leget said. "By not having him on the board, it invalidates the votes that happen this evening." (public comment)
Board members and administrators described a long-standing practice of seating newly elected members at the start of the fiscal year and said they had sought legal input. Several said they had met with Mr. DO earlier in the day and planned to swear him in before the May 7 meeting; others argued that enrolling a member mid-year can create practical problems because the current board conducted much of the work on the district budget and superintendent review. One board member advised caution and asked that votes not be held until the matter was clarified.
After discussion about policy, legal interpretations and the logistics of induction, the board moved to add seating and swearing-in of Mr. DO to the agenda as item 3A and approved that change by voice vote. The board recorded the procedural motion as passed and planned to complete formal swearing-in activity at or before the May 7 meeting.
The board said it would follow up with its counsel (Drummond and district legal staff) to confirm whether any votes taken before the swearing might require formal review. No formal tally of votes for the seating motion was recorded in the public minutes; the chair announced the motion passed.
Next steps: the board indicated Mr. DO will be sworn in before the May 7 meeting and the administration will confirm any legal guidance in writing.
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