Hamlet (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
A hamlet is a model of local governance
in Clackamas County
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. Like hamlets
elsewhere, it is a country subdivision; like New York's hamlets, the definition is unique to a state (in this case, to one county in a state).
Hamlets in Oregon are in addition to villages in Oregon
(which were defined at the same time as hamlets) and to Community Planning Organizations (CPOs), which predate both hamlets and villages.
To date, there are four hamlets: Beavercreek
, Molalla Prairie
, Mulino
, and Stafford
.
According to Chapter 2.10 of the Clackamas County Code, a hamlet is
A hamlet's boundaries cannot overlap the boundaries of another hamlet, village or city.
A public hearing is then held, with a defined method of public notice beforehand. The BCC can then approve the petition as is, approve it with modifications, or reject it.
If approved, within thirty days an organizational meeting must be held by the hamlet's citizens. The purpose of the meeting is to establish a list of candidates for the hamlet's Board. That list must also be approved by the BCC; once approved, the citizen's meet again, to vote on their board.
Once elected, the Board defines the hamlet's bylaws, which must also be approved by its citizens and the BCC. The Board also defines a hamlet's plan, which defines the activities to be undertaken by the hamlet, and which, like the bylaws, must be approved by its citizens and the BCC.
The ordinance defining hamlets defines similar processes for other aspects of hamlets, such as their dissolution. In particular, Board members acting within their authority as defined by bylaws and county policy are treated as agents of the county for claims made against the organization, officer or member for the purposes of the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
Local government in the United States
Local government in the United States is generally structured in accordance with the laws of the various individual states. Typically each state has at least two separate tiers: counties and municipalities. Some states have their counties divided into townships...
in Clackamas County
Clackamas County, Oregon
Clackamas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county was named after the Native Americans living in the area, the Clackamas Indians, who were part of the Chinookan people. As of 2010, the population was 375,992...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Like hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
elsewhere, it is a country subdivision; like New York's hamlets, the definition is unique to a state (in this case, to one county in a state).
Hamlets in Oregon are in addition to villages in Oregon
Village (Oregon)
A village in the U.S. state of Oregon is a model of local governance that only exists in Clackamas County. Like villages elsewhere, it is a subnational entity; like New York's villages, the definition is unique to a state .Villages in Oregon are in addition to hamlets in Oregon and to Community...
(which were defined at the same time as hamlets) and to Community Planning Organizations (CPOs), which predate both hamlets and villages.
To date, there are four hamlets: Beavercreek
Beavercreek, Oregon
Beavercreek is a hamlet in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, located four miles southeast of Oregon City. The population was 4,485 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Molalla Prairie
Molalla Prairie, Oregon
Molalla Prairie is an unincorporated community, classified as a hamlet, of approximately 3,500 residents in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States...
, Mulino
Mulino, Oregon
Mulino, Oregon is a hamlet located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, on Oregon Route 213 between the cities of Oregon City and Molalla.-History:...
, and Stafford
Stafford, Oregon
Stafford is an unincorporated community, classified as a hamlet, of approximately 2,200 residents in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. The community consists of approximately , located in a rough triangle south of Lake Oswego, east of Tualatin, and west of West Linn...
.
Definition
For purposes of the laws related to hamlets and villages, a "citizen" means either- a resident who is 18 years or older living within the boundaries of a hamlet or village, or
- a non-resident who owns property or a business there.
According to Chapter 2.10 of the Clackamas County Code, a hamlet is
- an unincorporated area that is an organized forum for citizens to express issues of concern, prioritize activities, and coordinate community-based activities, as may be approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). A hamlet is financed primarily through contributions and fundraisingFundraisingFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
activities.
- Hamlets are represented by an elected hamlet Board, according to procedures set forth in citizen-approved bylawBylawBy-law can refer to a law of local or limited application passed under the authority of a higher law specifying what things may be regulated by the by-law...
s that also have been approved by the BCC. A hamlet may assume the functions of a CPO upon agreement of the existing CPO, hamlet, and BCC. Upon approval of the BCC, a hamlet may also establish relationships with neighboring jurisdictions or organizations through Memoranda of Understanding. The County may, on behalf of a hamlet, enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with other governments. Hamlets are not direct providers of services and are not empowered to generate taxTaxTo tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es or feeFeeA fee is the price one pays as remuneration for services. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and markup.Traditionally, professionals in Great Britain received a fee in contradistinction to a payment, salary, or wage, and would often use guineas rather than pounds as units of account...
s.
A hamlet's boundaries cannot overlap the boundaries of another hamlet, village or city.
Process
To establish a hamlet, a chief petitioner is responsible to collect the required number of citizen signatures and complete a hamlet application form within 120 days. The petition:- must be signed by at least 10% of the citizens located within the proposed hamlet boundary or 100 citizens, whichever is the lesser number, and
- shall state the proposed name, preliminary purpose, boundaries, number of Board members, and activities for the hamlet.
A public hearing is then held, with a defined method of public notice beforehand. The BCC can then approve the petition as is, approve it with modifications, or reject it.
If approved, within thirty days an organizational meeting must be held by the hamlet's citizens. The purpose of the meeting is to establish a list of candidates for the hamlet's Board. That list must also be approved by the BCC; once approved, the citizen's meet again, to vote on their board.
Once elected, the Board defines the hamlet's bylaws, which must also be approved by its citizens and the BCC. The Board also defines a hamlet's plan, which defines the activities to be undertaken by the hamlet, and which, like the bylaws, must be approved by its citizens and the BCC.
The ordinance defining hamlets defines similar processes for other aspects of hamlets, such as their dissolution. In particular, Board members acting within their authority as defined by bylaws and county policy are treated as agents of the county for claims made against the organization, officer or member for the purposes of the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
External links
- Clackamas County website and announcements:
- Complete Communities, primary website for hamlets and villages
- Three communities apply for special status
- Stafford group ... to discuss hamlet proposal
- Clackamas County Considering Hamlets and Villages, a September 2005 article from Oregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public BroadcastingOregon Public Broadcasting is the primary television and radio public broadcasting network for most of Oregon as well as southern Washington. With its headquarters and television studios in Portland, OPB consists of five full-power television stations, dozens of VHF or UHF translators, and over...