Charter Review Committee

MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE JULY 12, 2010 - 6:00 P.M. WAYNE GILLEY CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Wayne Gilley City Hall Council Chambers. Meeting notice and agenda were posted on the City Hall bulletin board as required by State Law. 1. Roll Call: PRESENT: Ken Easton, John Purcell, Jr., Minnette Page, John Cameron, Albert Johnson, Emil Vyhlidal, Sr., Ernest Godlove. ABSENT: Gary Chambers, Lance Janda. ALSO PRESENT: Frank V. Jensen - City Attorney, Traci Hushbeck - City Clerk, Kim McConnell - Lawton Constitution. ________________________________________________________________________ 2. Approve minutes of June 21, 2010. MOVED by Johnson, SECOND by Cameron, to approve the minutes of June 21, 2010. AYE: Easton, Purcell, Page, Cameron, Johnson, Vyhlidal, Godlove. NAY: None. MOTION CARRIED. 3. Receive input from citizens regarding any issues/concerns they have with the City Charter. The following comments were made by the Mayor and members of the City Council speaking on behalf of themselves and their constituents: Michael Tenis, Councilmember Ward 2: -Does not favor term limits -Does not support at-large elections in wards Jay Burk, Councilmember Ward 4: -Does not necessarily believe in term limits, but believes that turnover is good. -Has concerns about at large voting. -Does not support terms less than three years. He felt that it takes at least two years to become acclimated. -He does not like the way abstentions are used. He felt that abstentions should count as a no vote. Minutes of Charter Review Committee Meeting of July 12, 2010 Page 2 Stanley Haywood, Councilmember Ward 7: -Does not favor at large voting. -Does not support term limits. -Does not have a preference on election dates. -He would prefer three year terms, not two. Richard Zarle, Councilmember Ward 6: -Does not favor at large voting -Does not support term limits -He would favor moving the election date in hopes more people would get out to vote. -He would support only one election with most votes winning election. -He would support election held in July or November. -He feels abstentions should not be addressed in the charter. Doug Wells, Councilmember Ward 8: -He feels abstentions should be addressed in council policy, not charter. -Does not favor at large voting for wards. -He feels three year terms are sufficient. -Does not favor term limits. -He feels elections should be held earlier in the year and members should be seated within a month after election. (He suggested election in August and take office in October) -He would support only one election with most votes winning election. Mayor Fred Fitch: -He would like to see abstentions clarified in the charter. -He has no problems supporting term limits. -He feels three year terms are sufficient. -Does not agree with eliminating run off election. -Feels there are both pros and cons of at large voting for wards. 4. Discuss input from citizens and continue committee discussion regarding issues/concerns with the City Charter. Purcell requested the City Attorney do some research to see if we were prohibited from holding an election at the same time the state and federal elections were being held. Johnson stated he would like to have a central location where residents could call in and voice their concerns regarding the charter. Jensen stated his summer intern could handle the calls. Minutes of Charter Review Committee Meeting of July 12, 2010 Page 3 5. Adjournment There was no further business to consider and upon motion, second and roll call vote the committee adjourned at 7:50 p.m.