Town of Bethel, Maine

Appointed Boards

Appointed Boards

Airport Authority

Duties & Responsibilities

There shall be a five-member Airport Authority. Members shall be appointed by the Selectmen for three-year staggered terms commencing in January. Each member of the Airport Authority shall be a registered voter of Bethel or other municipality, or territory located in Oxford County. The Airport Authority shall determine the minimum standards for operation of the Bethel Regional Airport (hereinafter called “Airport”). The Airport Authority shall also be responsible for the development of overall policies and long term plans for operation and development of the Airport. The Town Manager, as Airport Manager, shall be responsible for implementation of these standards, policies and plans. The Airport Authority shall conduct its meetings, and operate, in accordance with rules of procedure approved by the Select Board.

Members

  • Randy Autrey, Chair (12/31/2025)
  • Edwin Lovejoy, Vice Chair (12/31/2025)
  • Bill Allen, Member (12/31/2027)
  • John Mason, Member (12/31/2027)
  • Mark Szeliga, Member (12/31/2026)

Additional Resources & Information

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Bingham Forest Advisory Committee

There shall be a five-member Bingham Forest Advisory Committee. One member shall be a member of the Bethel Water District Board of Trustees and selected by that Board. The remaining four members shall be considered at large and shall be appointed by the Select Board for three-year staggered terms commencing in January. Each member of the Bingham Forest Advisory Committee shall be a registered voter of Bethel or Newry. 

The Bingham Forest Advisory Committee shall determine the minimum standards for proper management of the Bingham Forest. The Bingham Forest Advisory Committee shall also be responsible for the development of overall policies and long-term plans for operation and development of recreational amenities in the forest, subject to review and approval by the Select Board. 

Members

  • Reginald Brown - Water District Trustee Rep. (12/31/26)
  • Neil Scanlon Member (12/31/25)
  • Tom Shepherd - Member (12/31/26)
  • Peter Southam - Member (12/31/27)
  • Carina Walter, Member (12/31/26)
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Board of Appeals

Duties & Responsibilities

  • There shall be a five-member Board of Appeals. Members shall be appointed for three-year staggered terms commencing in January. Each member shall be a registered voter of the Town of Bethel throughout his/her tenure on the Board of Appeals.
  • The Board of Appeals shall have such powers and perform such duties as are provided by statue and Town ordinances.
  • The Board of Appeals shall conduct its meetings, and operate, in accordance with ruled of procedure approved by the Selectmen.

Members

  • Wende Gray, Chair (12/31/25)
  • Bill Allen, Member (12/31/26)
  • Reggie Brown, Member (12/31/26)
  • Jeff Martin, Member (12/31/25)
  • Lennie Shaw, Member (12/31/27)
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Budget Committee

Duties and Responsibilities

There shall be a twelve-member budget committee. Members shall be appointed by the Select Board for three-year staggered terms commencing in January. Each member shall be a registered voter in the Town of Bethel throughout his/her tenure on the Budget Committee.

The Budget Committee shall be empowered to review proposed general fund budgets jointly with the Select Board and make recommendations to be printed following each of the various articles of a Town Meeting warrant.

With the exception of personnel costs, the Budget Committee shall be empowered to make recommendation on any proposed general fund appropriation considered in any Town Meeting, regular or special.

Members

  • Levi Brown, Chair (12/31/25)
  • Ted Davis, Vice Chair (12/31/26)
  • Vacant, Member (12/31/25)
  • Jim Bennett, Member (12/31/25)
  • Jodi Everett, Member (12/31/25)
  • Robert Everett, Member (12/31/27)
  • Michael A. Jodrey, Member (12/31/27)
  • Tonya Lewis, Member (12/31/26)
  • Rose Lincoln, Member (12/31/27)
  • Clarke Reiner, Member (12/31/27)
  • Travis Wojcik, Member (12/31/26)
  • Vacant, Member (12/31/26)
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Capital Improvements Committee

Duties and Responsibilities

There shall be a five member Capital Improvements Committee. Four of those members shall consist of sitting Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Select Board and Budget Committee. The fifth member shall be known as the “at large member” and serve at the discretion of the Select Board. Each member of the Capital Improvements Committee shall be a registered voter of the Town of Bethel.

The Capital Improvements Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity and assist the Town Manager in developing a Capital plan which projects capital expenditures and related revenue sources for a minimum of five years into the future.

The Capital Improvements Committee shall meet at least annually and always before March 1 of each year to review the Capital plan prior to its conclusion in the annual budget proposal submitted by the Town Manager.

Members

  • Jim Bennett - Member at Large (12/31/25)
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Conservation Commission

Duties and Responsibilities

There shall be a five-member Conservation Commission. Members shall be appointed by the Select Board for three-year staggered terms commencing in January. Each member shall be a registered voter of the Town of Bethel throughout their tenure on the Conservation Commission.

The Conservation Commission shall carry out activities and serve as the advisory body for the protection, education about, development and use of natural resources located within the corporate boundaries of Bethel.

The Conservation Commission shall be authorized to investigate potential acquisition of land, or land interests, consistent with its charge described in Subsection B. All such acquisitions shall be subject to approval by the Select Board and subject to Town Meeting approval.

Members

  • Karen Bieluch, Member (12/31/25)
  • Julie Reiff, Member (12/31/26)
  • Jeff Sloan, Member (12/31/26)
  • Sarah Southam, Member (12/31/27)
  • Ann Speth, Member (12/31/25)
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Planning Board

Duties and Responsibilities

There shall be a seven-member Planning Board. Members shall be appointed by the Select Board for three-year staggered terms commencing in January. Each member shall be a registered voter of the Town of Bethel throughout his/her tenure on the Planning Board

The Planning Board shall have such powers and perform such duties as are provided by statute and Town ordinances.

Members

  • Laurie Winsor - Chair (12/31/26)
  • Carolyn Dunn - Member (12/31/2026)
  • Mitchell Benedict, Member (12/31/2025)
  • Jim Bennett, Member (12/31/26)
  • Aaron Osterhage, Member (12/31/27)
  • Brandy Lee Rodney, Member (12/31/27)
  • Travis Wojcik, Member (12/31/2027)
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Recreation Board

Duties and Responsibilities

There shall be a seven-member Bethel Area Recreation Board. Members shall be appointed by the Select Board for three-year staggered terms commencing in January. There shall be members from the towns of Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock; a majority of members shall be from Bethel. All members shall be registered voters of their respective towns throughout their tenure on the Board

The Recreation Board shall oversee recreational activities occurring in the greater Bethel area and operate programs deemed to serve the recreational interests of the greater Bethel community. The “greater Bethel area” includes the towns and townships of the Maine School Administrative District 44.

Members

  • Nate Crooker - Recreation Director
  • Travis Brooks, Member (12/31/2027)
  • Joshua Fortier, Member (12/31/2026)
  • Lindsay Gardner, Member (12/31/2027)
  • Suzanne Newsome Pierce-Member (Newry) (12/31/2025)
  • Susan Radway, Member (12/31/2027)
  • Melissa Sheridan-Member (Greenwood) (12/31/2026)
  • Christopher Spanks, Member (12/31/2025)
  • Vacancy, Member (12/31/2027)

Contact Information

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Ordinance Review Committee

There shall be a five-member Ordinance Review Committee. One member shall be a member of the Select Board and selected by that Board. A second member shall be a member of the Planning Board and selected by that Board. The remaining three members shall be considered at-large and serve at the discretion of the Select Board. Each member of the Ordinance Review Committee shall be a registered voter of the Town of Bethel

The Ordinance Review Committee shall be charged with ongoing review of Town ordinances. The Ordinance Review Committee shall, from time to time, make recommendations for ordinance amendment, enactment and repeal, all as needed. The Ordinance Review Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Select Board.

Members

  • Jim Bennett, Chair (12/31/25)
  • Benjamin Allen, Member (12/31/27)
  • Pat McCartney, Select Board Representative (12/31/25)
  • Carina Walter, Member (12/31/26)
  • Vacancy, Member (12/31/25)
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