09-20-1989 4101' '4111,
CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1989
3:00 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
Chairwoman Gigi Bennington called to order the regular meeting of
the Charter Review Committee at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, September
20, 1989, in the conference room of City Hall.
Members present were City Manager Elly Johnson, Councilwoman Gigi
Bennington, Jack Hayman, Dominick Fazzone, Mary Martin, and the
News Journal. City Attorney Jose Alvarez arrived shortly after
the meeting was called to order. Also present was Susan
Wadsworth, Secretary.
There was some discussion on ways to advertise the draft. Some
suggestions were putting it in the newspaper, or when an
organization responded, to send them a copy of the draft and to
have copies available for anyone who came to the September 25th
meeting. There was also some discussion on making inserts and
putting them in the Pennysaver.
The Committee discussed having a candidate pay a fee for signs.
The money is refundable after there is verification that all
signs are down.
There was some discussion on Section 5.03. It was decided by the
Committee that Section 5.03 be removed from the draft and that
the first option be taken out and the second option be used.
The Committee also discussed Section 5.03 - 5. The amount of $10
as a qualifying fee was changed to $25 payable by cashier's check
drawn on campaign account. It would cut down expenses because
signatures don't have to be verified. It costs $.10 to have each
signature verified and the money comes out of the general fund.
Staggered terms were discussed and the problem with a two year
staggered term was that people would have to vote every year. It
was mentioned that the citizens think the three year term was
better because you vote two years and skip one year. There was
some concern on whether or not all the options were going to be
listed on the ballot. Another concern was the citizens want the
two year term but they don't want to vote every year. The
Committee made it clear that you had to vote on either the two
year staggered term or the three year staggered term.
Some concern was expressed on getting rid of obsolete
information. It was mentioned that it should be addressed by
pointing out that part of the items are obsolete. An example was
some of the city clerk's duties were now a function of the
finance director or the city manager.
The Committee decided to remove Section 1.03.
gory Nor
There was a discussion on Section 3.08b. In this section by law
refers to state statutes. It was mentioned that there is a whole
section of the state statutes that empowers a governor to remove
a council member under certain criteria.
In Section 4.03 there was a request to put in or resolution after
the last sentence of that section. In Section 4.04 there was a
request to include or resolution so the sentence would ready the
city council shall by ordinance or resolution provide for duties,
responsbilities, and conditions of employment.
In Section 4.05 there was a request to change the sentence to
read the City Council shall by ordinance establish the necessary
personnel procedures and rules.
There was some discussion on where the charter will be posted.
It was decided it would be located at the polling place and in
the newspaper.
Councilwoman Bennington mentioned that the next meeting would be
in the library on Monday, September 25, 1989, at 7:00 p.m.
Since no further business need to be discussed, Mr. Fazzone moved
to adjourn the meeting and Mary Martin seconded the motion. The
Committee adjourned at approximately 4:55 p.m.