Changes to City Charter May Be Up for Vote in November

City Council got some food for thought Tuesday night over changes to the city charter that could eventually head to the ballot in November.

Human Resources Director Clayton Morris presented council with two resolutions that would bring the city’s charter up to date. You can view the changes in our photo gallery to the right.

The first proposed amendment would give the mayor the power to appoint police and fire chiefs, just like any other department head. Originally,  this was given to the director of public safety, a post the city hasn’t had in many years.

“I think we’re all under the impression that the mayor’s the director of public safety,” Morris said. “I’m not sure it says that anywhere, so we were trying to clarify that.”

The mayor is the only person in the city with the ability to hire and fire, Morris said, but there is still confusion on the role City Council will have on these appointments. He said the issue will be cleared up before council votes on the amendments in the next few weeks.

“That’s something they are still discussing,” Morris said. “That will definitely get clarified.”

The second amendment updates the charter in regards to the Civil Service Commission.

“The language is old and addresses positions we no longer have and not ones we do have,” Morris said.

It would eliminate listing positions such as the assistant director of public service, superintendent of sewage treatment plant, and chief building and zoning inspector. It would add positions like director of public works, director of human resources, golf course manager, and several others.

“We wanted to clean it up so it’s consistent with the way we are operating things now,” Morris said.

These changes went through the Charter Review Commission in 2009, but were pushed aside because they felt there was too much going to the ballot at once.

“When they submitted all of their changes they said, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of ballot language,’” Morris said.

While many of the changes have been posted, Morris said there are still parts on both amendments that need further clarification. Those changes will be made in the coming weeks before council votes.