Charter commission votes to remove police and fire advisory committees from charter

The Biddeford Charter Commission voted to remove Articles 6 and 7 — the police and fire advisory committees — from the city charter, saying the committees’ advisory functions can remain under ordinance even if excised from the charter.

Vice chair brought the item forward after the commission confirmed representatives from both departments were present. Assistant Fire Chief Ken Thorpe said the fire chief planned to address the commission at a later date and offered only brief remarks tonight. Police Chief Fisk described how the advisory committee had operated historically, noting it met monthly and provided best-practice input, but said he no longer saw the committee’s current role as appropriate for charter language: "I don't really see the relevance of it anymore, in that in the charter."

Commissioners exchanged memories and concerns about the committees’ past roles. One commissioner urged preserving charter language to maintain an institutional check, arguing that advisory commissions had once provided hiring, budget, and oversight functions. Other commissioners said the advisory bodies functioned differently today and that keeping formal requirements in the charter could be unnecessarily rigid.

After discussion the commission moved, seconded and took a voice vote. The chair reported the result as eight in favor and one opposed; the motion passed. The commission clarified the change removes the committees from the charter text only and does not by itself alter any ordinance-based advisory bodies.

The commission indicated department leaders will be invited to speak to the commission at a future meeting for additional context if they wish.