Section 096-428-15 - Similar MunicipalitiesA.Defining Similar Municipalities. Participating municipalities are grouped into similar municipalities as follows:(1) Participating municipalities located in Lincoln, Penobscot, Knox, Kennebec, Cumberland, York, Androscoggin, and Sagadahoc counties made up of one or more city, town, township, or plantation with an average population of less than 6,500.(2) Participating municipalities located in Oxford, Franklin, Washington, Aroostook, Piscataquis, Waldo, Hancock, and Somerset counties made up of one or morecity, town, township, or plantation with an average population of less than 1,200.(3) Participating municipalities located in Lincoln, Penobscot, Knox, Kennebec, Cumberland, York, Androscoggin, and Sagadahoc counties made up of one or more city, town, township, or plantation with an average population of at least 6,500.(4) Participating municipalities located in Oxford, Franklin, Washington, Aroostook, Piscataquis, Waldo, Hancock, and Somerset counties made up of one or morecity, town, township, or plantation with an average population of at least 1,200.B.Annual Determination of Similar Municipalities. In the SO's annual report, it will include lists of participating municipalities as grouped into similar municipalities during the prior calendar year. Any participating municipality that disagrees with its grouping must contact the Department prior to its annual reporting to request an adjustment and provide justification for the request. After consultation with the municipality, if the Department finds the municipality has not been grouped in accordance with Section 15(A), the Department may direct the SO to move a municipality to a different group of similar municipalities prior to June 1st of the calendar year in which the request is made. The move will take effect the following calendar year.C.Process for Defining Similar Municipalities. The Department will review the grouping of participating municipalities into similar municipalities on an annual basis. The SO must provide an ongoing mechanism for participating municipalities to suggest changes to the definition of similar municipalities and must provide these suggestions, and any of its own suggestions, in an appendix to its annual report. After considering the suggestions in the SO's annual report and written comments received in response to those suggestions, the Department may initiate rulemaking to adjust the definition of similar municipalities in Section 15(A).06-096 C.M.R. ch. 428, § 15