Home Rule Charter Review Commission

MINUTES OF THE TOWN OF GREENVILLE HOME RULE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AT THE TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 6:30 pm 1. Call to Order: Commission Chair, Tracy Beil 2. Pledge of Allegiance: Benjamin Beck 3. Roll Call: Benjamin Beck Tracy Beil Patrick Eaton Mary Reames Joel Rinella Also Present: Paul Hamill, Lisa Hamill, Jean Carr-Fisher, Brian Shipley, Chad Bromley, Michelle Mueller, Gary Mueller, Barry Oman, Linda Oman, Anne Butcher, Greg Butcher, Joy Peterson, and Hal Johnson. Staff: Jasson Urey, Town Manager (via phone) Rosalynn Reagle, Assistant Town Manager (via phone) Amy Hollowell, Administrative Assistant Matt Breedlove, Director of Community Development, Code/Zoning Officer Media: Earl Corp, Record-Argus 4. Public Comments: 3 minute time limit, Agenda Items • No comments. 5. Approval of Minutes: A motion to approve the March 4, 2025 meeting minutes was made by Mary Reames and seconded by Joel Rinella. Motion carried 5-0. 6. New Business: A. Brian Shipley to present Council Recommendations on Citizen Reforms Package provided by Joel Rinella. See attached presentation. B. Discuss items to be requested from legal counsel. • Tracy Beil – Shared that she okayed two request to our lawyer when he would come available. The two questions were: Does the adoption of a Home Rule Charter negate the state enabling legislation for a municipality (in this case, borough code)? One of the commission members found language in the DCED guide to home rule manual and believes that this indicates once a charter is adopted you no longer follow borough code. I have been under the impression that if there are items not addressed in your home rule charter that are in the state-enabling legislation, then you have to follow both the charter (for those items it addresses) and the borough code (for those items the charter does not address). And Greenville's Home Rule Charter changes the name of Greenville from Borough to Town. This has been an issue over the last few years when borrowing funds, applying for grants, and dealing with state and federal agencies. We are still incorporated as a borough, and I do not believe our home rule charter addresses changing our articles of incorporation. I believe it was a name change only. Does that charter require Greenville to change its articles of incorporation to change its name to Town or are we using an alias? (Town of Greenville AKA Borough of Greenville or Borough of Greenville DBA Town of Greenville). On the second question, Tracy found on page 8 of the final report, the commission clearly states that the Town of Greenville is a branding and that Borough is a legal classification. Joel Rinella still feels that there is a disconnect and that there needs to be legal clarification. • Joel Rinella – He would also like answers on timing with changes to the charter and with upcoming elections. He wants to know if changes to duties would happen concurrently or if that would have to wait for the following election as well. There was discussion around views of whether changes to Mayor should take effect immediately or with the subsequent election. C. Review items for future discussion: i. Article 1.1 Name and Boundaries. ii. Article 3.3 Office of Mayor. iii. Article 3.8 Town Clerk. iv. Article 3.10 Investigations. • There was discussion on what should be stricken from this paragraph. There was not an agreement among commission members. The question on legality will be brought to our legal counsel. v. Article 3.16 Codes of Technical Regulations. • There was discussion around what this section means and whether it should remain.  A MOTION was made by Mary Reames to remove Article 3.16 Codes of Technical Regulations from the Home Rule Charter and seconded by Benjamin Beck. 3-2 (Yays being Benjamin Beck, Tracy Beil, and Mary Reames. Nays being Joel Rinella and Patrick Eaton) vi. Article 4.4 (9) Powers and Duties. • There was discussion around whether this section is a redundancy on whether or not this duty is actually explained elsewhere. Commissioners agree to keep the section as is. There was unanimous consent. vii. Article 6.14(c) Taxation. Property Tax Limitations. • There was discussion on waiting for legal counsel. 7. Public Comments: • Gary Mueller – He disagreed with earlier comments about on the changes of government structure and feels a stronger Mayor would be good. Tracy added that we need to not be stuck on the sins of our past. Mary also added that the position of running a town is much more complex than it has been in the past. He added that he feels it is important for the Mayor to have veto power. He also disagreed with comments on section 3.9 and 3.12 and section 5.2. He would like to have meeting broadcasted. • Michelle Mueller - She does not place blame on anyone on what has happened in the past. • Joy Peterson – She is not blaming anyone on what happened in the past, but does not want to make the same mistakes. • Paul Hamill – Spoke about the disconnect between council and the public. 8.Commission Comments: • Patrick Eaton – He feels that there should be compensation for council and mayor positions. He also doesn’t agree that there isn’t money. He also commented on why he feels no one comes to council meetings to provide public comment anymore. • Joel Rinella – Does not agree with what was presented by Brian Shipley. • Mary Reames – Does not feel this is the time or place to completely rewrite the document. Thanked Brian Shipley for his presentation. • Tracy Beil – Would like to add to the agenda for next week discussion from both Brain Shipley’s document and the Citizen Reform package as well as any updates from the lawyer. 9. Adjournment: Having no other business, a motion was made to adjourn by Benjamin Beck and seconded by Mary Reames. The meeting adjourned a 7:50 pm. Respectfully submitted, Benjamin Beck Secretary