HOULTON — The Houlton Town Council unanimously re-elected Michael McLaughlin as its chairman Wednesday afternoon during its annual organizational meeting.

Philip Bernaiche took the oath of office as the newest member of the council. He defeated incumbent Peter Moran. Incumbent Councilor Roger Rairdon, who was re-elected, was out of town and will take his oath of office later this week.

Administrative appointments approved by the council are as follows: Cathy O’Leary, town clerk; Nedra Hanson, treasurer; Carlene Bartlett, tax collector; Maryellen Emery, general assistance administrator; and Laureen Bither, town assessor.

Department heads were appointed as follows: Milton Cone, ambulance director, cemetery superintendent and fire chief; Arthur Carmichael, code enforcement officer; Charles Upton, community development director; Gary Edwards, parks and recreation superintendent; Darrell Malone, police chief; and Ralph Cleale, public works superintendent.

With the exception of the town’s attorney, all of the appointments were approved without discussion.

For several years the town has appointed Gary Serverson of the firm Severson, Hand and Nelson in Houlton, as the town’s attorney.

Councilor Lawrence Horten asked if the town could solicit proposals from other law firms in the town for legal service.

“I’m trying to be broad minded and not show partiality,” he said, adding that the suggestion was not personal since he used Severson as his personal lawyer.

Horten’s suggestion was supported by Bernaiche,

“To be harnessed with one attorney and firm is not good,” he said. “There are about 20 attorneys in town and I think we should make a change. I think the money ought to be spread around a bit.”

Bernaiche recently submitted nine petitions bearing more than 400 signatures calling for amendments to the town’s charter. One of those amendments would place a limit on the number of years that any one firm or person can serve as the town’s lawyer.

McLaughlin explained that Severson and his firm specialized in corporate law, and that not all of the other law firms in the town practiced in that area.

In the end, Severson’s appointment was unanimously approved by the council.

The council also set 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 as the time for a public hearing on the nine charter amendments proposed by Bernaiche.