Board of Select Persons

Overview

Title 30-A M.R.S.A. § 2001 defines “municipal officer” as the “select persons or councilors of a town.” That same section defines “municipal official” as “any elected or appointed member of a municipal government.”  Under State law, there is no difference between any select person, and no one select person has the power to take action on behalf of the board which would otherwise require a board vote.

As of June 2023 Benton has a five-member elected Board of Select Persons which serves as Benton’s governing body on matters that are not statutorily required to be approved by the voters. The Board’s responsibilities include four broad areas:

1. Management of municipal finances including; assessing, budgeting, money management, payroll and purchasing supervision, record keeping, asset maintenance and investments.
2. Protecting the health, safety and welfare of the residents, in accordance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.
3. Management of public property and personnel.
4. Management of contracts and relations with other State and local agencies and public.