HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-11-25 03-20 ORDERItem No. 03-20
Date: November 25, 2002
Item/Subject: ORDER, Proposing Amendment to Bangor City Charter, Article II, Section 2,
City Council -- Council Term Limits
Responsible Department. Legal
Currently the City Charter limits City Councilors m serving two (2) complete consecutive ceons. This
Order w111 put a proposed Charter Amendment before the voters to change that provision to allow Cry
Councilors to serve three (3) complete consecutive terms.
The change would not be effective until after the 2008 municipal election.
Prior M voting on this item, a Public Hearing must be held.
Associated Information:
V*
Department Head
--
City Manager
Finance Director
X Passage
First Reading Page _.I_ of 4
_ Referral
Am ignedbcomeilor liealley Nwembe[ 25. 2002
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) ORDER, Proposing Amendment to Bangor City Charter, Article II, Section 2,
City Council — Council Term Limits.
WHEREAS, the Bangor City Charter provides that no person may serve more than two
consecutive complete terms as a member of the Bangor City Council; and
WHEREAS, such term limits hinder the City of Bangor's ability to utilize the experience
gained through Council service and consistency in policy leadership that
results from continuing service in pffice; and
WHEREAS, an increase in the number of terms members of the City Council may serve
would provide greater continuity and institutional memory, all of which Is
important when dealing with the issues and challenges facing a municipality;
and
WHEREAS, under the current term limit provision, It is difficult for elected officials of the
City of Bangor to gain leadership positions in statewide organizations which
would be of benefit to the City as it pursues its interests and issues on a
statewide basis, and
WHEREAS, increasing the number of consecutive terms a member of the Bangor City
Council may serve from two to three would address these concerns and be
beneficial to the citizens of Bangor; and
WHEREAS, to increase the number of terms a member of the Bangor City Council may
serve requires an amendment to the Bangor City Charter.
NOW, THEREFORE, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, BE IT
ORDERED
That the following amendment to Article e, Section 2, of the Bangor City Charter be
placed on the ballot of the 2003 regular municipal election, t0 be held November 4,
2003, for approval by the qualified voters of the qty of Bangor In accordance with Title
30-A M.R.S.A. §42104 (1) and 2105:
IN CITY MINIM
Noveabec 25, 2002
notion Naae and Seconded
to Open Public nearing.
Public Nearing Opened.
Charles Murray and Dennis
Marble, Hanger resideos,
spolee in opposition to Tern
Links. Nation Made and
Seconded to Close Public
Nearing.CPabille nearing
Closed.
Motion Made sad Seconded
for Passage
Motian Doubted
Vote: I yes . 2 no
cowciLrta voting yea:
Allen. Parolees. Creme,
Nealley, Palmer. Robinette
d Tremble
Counellors voting no:
Cranley S Farrington
Passed
CIC
rw�
D ED E
(TITLE,)raaing Ameneat to Naogor
CbarcarA—ic ecmouya
til
- Cddbuil Term Limits
Assigned! b Councilor
03-20
QUESTION
(CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT)
'Shall the proposed City Charter amendment summarized below be approved and
adopted by the City of Bangor?
"Sum: The proposed amendment to Article II, Section 2, of the City Charter
would change the tenn limits currently imposed upon members of the Bangor
City Council from two consecutive full terms to three consecutive full terms."
The Clerk is hereby directed to take all necessary action consistent with this Order.
(STATEMENT OF FACT: Deletions to the existing Charter provisions are stFuelk th %9H.
Additions are underlined. The intent of this amendment is to change the term limits for
members of the City Council from two consecutive full terms to three consecutive full
terms. It will not be effective until after the regularly scheduled 2008 municipal
.election.)
ARTICLE 11
CITY COUNCIL
Sec. 2. Composition, election, tenure of office, etc. [Amended 11-7-1989; 11ir2001]
There shall be elected at large from the qualified voters in said city a City Council
consisting of nine members. At the first election under the act there shall be elected
nine members of said City Council. No voter shall vote for more than nine. The three
candidates receiving the largest number of votes at mid election shall hold office for
three years, the three receiving the next largest number of votes shall hold office for
two years, and the three receiving the next largest number of votes shall hold office for
one year.
Thereafter at each annual municipal election there shall he chosen at large three
members of the City Council to hold office for a term of three years. No voter shall vote
for more than three. Each member of the City Council shall hold office unfil his
successor is elected and qualified. Members of the City Council shall receive the sum of
$400.00 per year in full compensation, same payable quarterly. Effective the first day
following the regularly scheduled 2004 municipal election, member of the City Council
shall receive the sum of $2,000.00 per year, same payable quarterly, and the Chair of
the City Council shall receive an additional $500.00 per year.
The City Council may by ordinance increase the amount members shall be entitled to
receive as compensation, provided, however, no such ordinance increasing the Council's
compensation shall take effect until approved by the voters at a public referendum and
until three (3) years after the date of adoption by the City Council.
Effective the first day following the h tl led 2008 municloal election, Poo
person may serve as a member of the City Council for more than We (2) three (3)
complete consecutive terms. No member of the Gty Council shall, during Me term for
which he or she shall have been elected and for one year thereafter, be appointed to
any other nonelected office of profit or employment position of the City.
And be it further
ORDERED,
THAT pursuant to Tilde 30-A M.R.S.A. §§2104 (6) and 2105 (2), the form of the
question to be submitted to the voters shall be as follows:
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03-30