Public hearing on General Assistance ordinance

Attached below is a redlined version of a proposed update to the Town's General Assistance ordinance. This is an ordinance template provided by the Maine Municipal Association to correspond with changes in state law. In short, the changes are as follows:

• The adoption form on page 2 was removed.
• A definition of “recovery residence” was added as section 5.1B to comply with new legislation. That section reads, “The Administrator will not deny GA benefits to a person for the sole reason that the person is residing in a recovery residence. Beginning July 1, 2022, housing assistance will not be provided to a person residing in a recovery residence that has not been certified in accordance with 5 M.R.S. § 20005 (22), except that the person may receive housing assistance while residing in an uncertified recovery residence for one 30-day period only. The Administrator will inform the person of the requirements and time limits regarding recovery residences. A person who is ineligible for housing assistance under this subsection may remain eligible to receive GA for other basic necessities.”
• The ordinance was updated throughout with non-substantive stylistic and grammatical changes.

The Board of Selectpersons will conduct a public hearing on the proposed changes at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at the Town Office, 990 Augusta Road. The public may also participate via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81131427984. A hard copy of the proposed ordinance is also posted at the Town Office. 

Following the hearing, the Selectboard may consider adopting the ordinance.