§2108. Judicial review

1.  Petition.  The Superior Court, upon petition of 10 voters of the municipality or on petition of the Attorney General, may enforce this chapter. The charter commission may intervene as a party in any such proceeding.

[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

2.  Declaratory judgment.  A petition for declaratory relief under Title 14, chapter 707, may be brought on behalf of the public by the Attorney General or, by leave of the court, by 10 voters of the municipality. The charter commission shall be served with notice of the petition for declaratory judgment.

A. If 10 voters petition for declaratory relief, they shall serve the Attorney General and the charter commission with notice of the preliminary petition for leave.   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

B. The Attorney General or the charter commission may intervene as a party at any stage of the proceedings.   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

C. The petitioners are liable for costs. However, the court has discretion to award costs and reasonable attorney fees to the petitioners.   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

3.  Judicial review.  Any 10 voters of the municipality, by petition, may obtain judicial review to determine the validity of the procedures under which a charter was adopted, revised, modified or amended. The petition must be brought within 30 days after the election at which the charter, revision, modification or amendment is approved. If no such petition is filed within this period, compliance with all the procedures required by this chapter and the validity of the manner in which the charter adoption, revision, modification or amendment was approved is conclusively presumed. No charter adoption, revision, modification or amendment may be found invalid because of any procedural error or omission unless it is shown that the error or omission materially and substantially affected the adoption, revision, modification or amendment.

[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

4.  Resubmission upon judicial invalidation for procedural error.  If the court finds that the procedures under which any charter was adopted, revised, modified or amended are invalid, the Superior Court, on its own motion or the motion of any party, may order the resubmission of the charter adoption, revision, modification or amendment to the voters. This order shall require only the minimum procedures on resubmission to the voters that are necessary to cure the material and substantial errors or omissions. The Superior Court may also recommend or order other curative procedures to provide for valid charter adoption, revision, modification or amendment.

[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD).