Calais voters pass charter amendments by ‘overwhelming’ margin

CALAIS, Maine — Voters adopted two proposed charter amendments Tuesday to clearly define the waiting periods between when elected officials can become city employees and when employees can seek office.

The changes passed 696-172, a margin that City Manager Michael Ellis described as “overwhelming.”

The amendments define “employment” and “employee,” and are intended to prevent conflicts when a former employee runs for office or a former elected official seeks a city job.

Before Tuesday’s vote, Ellis said the proposals were “not directed toward any particular thing that has happened,” but stemmed from concerns raised by city councilors and the city attorney that the charter lacked clear definitions for “employee” and what departments qualify as “employment.”

He said the language mirro