HomeMy Public PortalAboutLetter From Your Charter CommissionCharter Commission
of the
City of Jefferson
D ear C itizens of Jeffers on C ity:
O n February 5, 1985, the people of Jefferson City voted overwhelm ingly in favor of the election of a
com m ission to draft a hom e rule charter for the city in accordance with the provisions of the Missouri
Constitution.
The "hom e rule" concept exem plifies the idea that a free people should control the process of
establishing a city governm ent, designing its form , fixing its powers, and determ ining the officers who are
to exercise the powers, duties, and responsibilities of that government rather than operating under the
statutes written by legislators with no interest in our city governm ent.
Since its first m eeting, the com m ission has worked earnestly to fulfill its responsibility. The
com m issioners considered current developments in municipal governm ent, solicited the views and
experiences of governmental officials and citizens in other cities, and secured recom m endations of our
own citizens, both within and without our city governm ent. The charters of other M issouri cities were
studied and com pared in detail. Public hearings were conducted as the provisions of the charter
progressed from prelim inary proposals to the final drafts.
After dozens of meetings of the entire comm ission involving many hours of effort, the com m ission has
finally prepared and adopted the proposed home rule charter to be submitted for voter approval on
F ebruary 4, 1 986. Every provision of th is charte r has be e n stu d ie d , c o n s id ered, and form ally
passed upon by the com m issioners.
A city charter provides the basic fram ework for the conduct of city governm ent. It provides the
governing body sufficient flexibility to deal effectively with problems conf renting the city, and contains the
necessary safeguards to protect citizens against the abuse of power. T he com m ission is pleased to
present this docum ent for your consideration. W e believe it will insure, to the extent possible in a written
docum ent, that this city will have effective governm ent responsive to the wishes of the citizens. Som e of
the features of the charter are briefly outlined below:
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
T he charter propos es no dram atic change in th e present form of go vernm ent. T he council will re tain
its legislative an d policy-m ak in g auth o rity, the m ayo r his ex e c u tiv e auth o rity, an d th e city a d m inistra tor his
adm inistrative authority.
C IT Y CO U N C IL
Under the proposed charter, the council will retain its present responsibilities and composition: two
councilm en from each of five w a rd s w h o serve for tw o -year term s . A s it d o e s to d a y, th e council will
establish policies, set tax rates, authorize expenditures and approve adm inistrative nom inees, including
the city adm inistrator.
MAYOR
The responsibilities and term of office for m ayor will rem ain the sam e. He will be elected for fouryears
from the city at-large. The mayor will be the official representative and executive of the city. He will preside
over the m eetings of the council and appoint m embers to various boards and
com m issions with th e consent of the counc il.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
The position of city administrator is to be continued. He is to be appointed by the mayor with the
advice and consent of the council on the basis of qualifications. He is to be responsible for the operation of
all city departm ents including the appointm ent and rem oval of all city em ployees except departm ent heads
and division supervisors whose appointm ent and rem oval are to be recom m ended by the city
adm inistrato r to th e m ayor and council for approval.
DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS AND COMM ISSIONS
All existing city departm ents, boards and com m issions are to be continued. Departm ents, boards and
com m issions other than the park board, the firemen's pension fund, and the police personnel board m ay
be elim inated, added or changed by ordinance in the future. The charter provides for a parks and
recreatio n com m ission along th e lines of th e present park board and requires the continuatio n of a m erit
system for the adm inistration of the police departm ent.
FINANCE
The charter provides for the establishm ent of financial procedures of the city and approval of a budget
after public hearing. The finance departm ent is to be managed by the fiscal officer whose qualifications
and duties are set by ordinance. W hen th e te rm of th e current city treasurer ex p ire s , the fis c a l officer will
serve as treasurer.
MUNICIPAL COURT
The charter provides for the election of a m unicipal judge elected for a term of two years.
CITY COUNSELOR AND CITY PROSECUTOR
The city counselor is to be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council to serve for an
indefinite term . It is his job to represent the city in all legal matters except the prosecution of violations of
city ordinances which is the responsibility of the city prosecutor who is elected for a two-
year term .
POPULAR CONTROL
Provisions are included in the charter so that citizens m ay petition to require an election to adopt an
ordinance (initiative), to repeal an existing ordinance (referendum) or to rem ove an elected official from
office (recall).
Please study the entire proposed charter and don't hesitate to call anyone of us with your questions.
Rem ember to vote on the proposed charter February 4, 1986.
Very truly yours,
Clyde G.Lear, Chairm an
ss/ Thom as P. Rackers, Vice Chair. ss/ Paul D. Schleer
ss/ Carolyn McDowell, Secretary ss/ Fred J. Vogel
ss/ Thom as H. Benton ss/ Charles A. W eber
ss/ Thom as J. Graham ss/ Steve W eber
ss/ Ed H. Rackers ss/ Kenneth V. W ildhaber
ss/ Patricia Sanders ss/ Richard J. W ilson