Code of Maine Rules
90 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
668 - STATE CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION
Chapter 1 - COMMISSION ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION
Section 668-1-2 - MEETINGS

1. Frequency. The Commission shall hold regularly scheduled meetings. Special meetings of the Commission may be called by the Chair or by a majority of the Commission members. Commission members must be given at least twenty-four (24) hours written notice of the time, place and purpose of a special meeting; if such written notice is not possible, notice must be provided by telephone, telephone facsimile or email with confirmation of receipt required.

2. Public Notice. Notice of, and the agenda for, all regular meeting of the Commission shall be posted on the Commission's website (www.maine.gov/csc) at least seven (7) days before the meeting. Notice of any special meeting of the Commission shall be provided in the same manner as notice of regular meetings is provided to Commission members.

3. Public Participation. All meetings of the Commission are open to the public except that an executive session may be called, in accordance with 1 MRSA Section405, by a public, recorded vote of 3/5 of the members of the Commission present and voting.

4. Agenda and Rules of Conduct. The Chair shall provide a written agenda for each regular meeting of the Commission. The agenda must set forth the items to be considered, including any scheduled upcoming appearances of Commission members, as well as the date, time and location of the meeting. The agenda must be mailed, or sent by either telephone facsimile or email to each Commission member at least seven (7) days before the meeting. The agenda is subject to amendment by Commission members at the opening of the Commission meeting. Commission meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.

5. Quorum and Voting. Decisions made by the Commission must be made at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Four Commission members constitute a quorum. Commission members are entitled to one (1) vote on each issue or motion to come before the Commission at all regular and special meetings held. When it is impossible or impractical for a Commission member to travel to attend a Commission meeting in person, the Commission member may participate in the meeting by telephone; that member will not be counted in the quorum. Neither proxy nor absentee voting is permitted.

For the approval of an application to authorize a public charter school a roll call vote with five (5) affirmative votes or two-thirds (2/3) of the current Commission membership is required. The Chair will call the roll alphabetically and will vote last. The Vice Chair of the Commission will call the roll when the Commission Chair served as Chair of the application review committee.

No Commission member shall cast a vote on any matter that would provide direct financial benefit to that member or the member's spouse, family member, or business partner or otherwise give the appearance of a conflict of interest under State law.

6. Minutes. The Vice-Chair shall ensure that minutes of each meeting of the Commission are prepared and are provided to the Commission members for their review and approval as the official record of the meeting.

The staff will prepare minutes of each business meeting of the Commission. Minutes shall record all actions of the Commission. If votes are not unanimous, the names of those voting in the minority should be recorded. Approved minutes are to be posted on the State Charter School Commission web site.

The minutes will record any executive session of the Commission and its subject matter, but will not report the proceedings of the executive session. Likewise, the minutes will not be taken of any public hearing held by the Commission, since hearings are separately recorded.