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Home My Public Portal AboutCharter Review Committee Minutes 10-06-2011Charter Review Committee Minutes October 6, 2011 Community Board Room Members Present: Chairman Bill Agan Secretary/Vice Chair Jeff Ritter Member Loyce Greer Member Doug Knowlton Member LaRue Wall Members Absent: Member Ralph Smith Audience Present: Janece Hill Jeremy Hill Travis Malone The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bill Agan at 7:01 PM. 1 Read and Approve minutes from last meeting (September 22, 2011) Member Wall motioned to approve the minutes, Member Knowlton seconded. The minutes from the September 22, 2011 meeting were approved by unanimous vote. Member Greer stressed that we need to begin re-indexing the Charter as we go along. Chairman Agan and Secretary Ritter questioned if we should do the Charter Revisions first and then re-index. Member Greer maintained her belief that we must re-index as we go along to be sure all parts of the Charter are addressed and cataloged correctly. Member Knowlton stated that a re-indexing will help the organization of the Charter and make relevant and related sections easier to locate and understand. Secretary Ritter offered the following re-indexing in accordance with Member Greer's recommendation: Article 1 -Name, Form Of Government, City Borders Article 2 -Powers Of The City, Powers Adopted, Eminent Domain Article 3 -City Council Article 4 -Administration, City Manager Article 5 -Nominations And Elections Member Greer Motioned to accept the new re-indexing of Articles 1 through 5. Member Wall seconded. The motion was approved by unanimous vote. 2 Review Previous Articles through Section 5. Sec. 5.12 -Limitations on Successive Terms Extensive discussion by everyone regarding term limits. Member Knowlton stated that without term limits, the same Council Members will continue to be elected over and over again. Secretary Ritter stated that term limits create several issues: 1. There isn't a large pool from which candidates arise, so the same candidates, politically active individuals, Board Members, and Council Members continue to appear. 2. City Staff takes more control over the City due to the fact that there isn't long- term leadership on issues, projects, and direction of the City. 3. Lack of consistency with projects and vision. As Council Members change, the direction of the City changes and projects and money expended by one Council is wasted as those projects are either dropped, abandoned, or simply not addressed while additional money, time, and effort is expended on new projects. 4. While "bad" Council Members will be removed by term limits as Member Knowlton pointed out, "good" Council Members will also be removed as well. 5. The voting Citizens of Richland Hills should be the judge of the Council and its members and should have the right to re-elect or not any Council Member or Mayor. Chairman Agan stated that the lack of consistency in direction and expenditure of money and effort on abandoned projects is a primary concern of term limits. Member Wall stated she believed Term Limits were detrimental to the City due to constant turn-over and forcing effective members to leave office. Member Greer stated that Term Limits are important so that no ineffective member will be able to stay in office for an extended period of time. Member Knowlton maintained his position that after 6 years, a Council Member or Mayor should be removed to get "new blood" into office. Member Greer agreed with Member Knowlton. Secretary Ritter maintained that "new blood" is not bad, but leads to lack of experience, knowledge of how to get things done, and a lack of a long-term vision and direction for the City. Secretary Ritter offered a suggestion of a new election cycle and new length of term in order to eliminate the complete change of majority that occurs with the current system in odd-numbered years. Secretary Ritter recommended a 3 year election cycle, with 3 year terms and 4 term limits. Secretary Ritter offered the following cycle: Year one -Mayor and Place 1 Year two -Place 2 and Place 4 Year three -Place 3 and Place 5 Ritter recommended a 4 term limit. Member Knowlton stated the 3 year term was a good idea to eliminate the total change of majority, and allow Members an additional year to be effective. Member Wall stated that the change of majority in a single election leads to total change of direction and priorities. Member Greer stated the 3 year election cycle would definitely be a benefit to the Citizens of Richland Hills and offered up 3 term limits. Member Knowlton stated 9 years was plenty of time for any Council Member or Mayor to be in office and recommended the 3 successive term limits. Secretary Ritter motioned to have a 3 year election cycle, with 2 places elected each year, with 3 year terms and 3 successive term limits. Member Wall seconded. Members Greer, Wall and Ritter voted "YES", Member Knowlton voted "NO". Member Knowlton stated he is in favor of a 3 year election cycle, but would not support any Council Member or Mayor be in office longer than 6 successive years. Discussion by all regarding possible wording of the Charter specifying how to begin the 3 year election cycle and which places to be elected in order to begin the 3 year cycle. Member Knowlton indicated he would not be present at the next Charter Review meeting. 3. Assignment For Next Meeting Chairman Again encouraged everyone to be ready to continue discussion of the City Council section for next meeting. Member Ritter questioned Member Greer on the re-indexing of the City Council Section. Member Greer stated that City Council section is the new Section 3. 4. Public Comments Travis Malone :There is a small pool of candidates, so it is difficult to have new people become politically active. He stated he is against term limits. 5. Adjournment Member Knowlton motioned to adjourn, Member Wall seconded. Chairman Bill Agan adjourned the meeting at 8:34PM J ...... ~" ' ~ ~` ~"" U- Jeff Ritter-Secreta Bill Agan-Chairmt.,~~~ ~/~~`~~ v