Those gathering petitions to force a referendum on the chief operating officer proposal may have less time than they figured.
Though the law says they have 45 days from the time the City Council gave its final rejection to the idea to gather the more than 3,000 signatures needed, it isn’t clear whether that means they can turn in the petitions on the last day or if the names have to be certified by the city clerk within 45 days.
Dale Clift, the city attorney, said he’s not taking a position on the question unless he’s asked to provide a legal opinion on the issue.
But organizers of the petition drive that began last week are concerned they have may have as few as 35 days to get the petitions filed in order to give City Clerk Therese Pac time to check them over within the statutory deadline.
“Games are being played already at City Hall,” said rookie Republican city Councilor Ken Cockayne, one of the leaders of the petition drive.
Cockayne said he asked Clift on Friday for a formal opinion on the petition deadline issue.
But veteran Democratic Councilor Craig Minor said he’s not worried about it.
Minor, who teamed up with Cockayne to push the proposal that the council rejected, said he believes the needed petitions will be filed in plenty of time so that the question of the final deadline is moot.
Minor said that if everyone who took out petitions manages to get them filled in and returned, more than 2,000 signatures are already in the works.
Cockayne also said that the petition drive is going well.
But, he said, “I want my full 45 days.”
The Charter Revision Commission, which recently completed its work, recommended the city create a chief operating officer post to handle administrative oversight and provide long-term planning.
Supporters of the position said it would bring greater efficiency to City Hall and save taxpayers money in the long run.
But Mayor Art Ward and four of the six city councilors rejected the idea. They said it wouldn’t help or it would cost too much money.
If the council had approved it, the public would have the final say on the proposed charter change. It would have been on the November 4 ballot.
If the petition drive succeeds, voters will still get the chance to have the last word.
Cockayne said the petition drive is going well because “I’ve found people are upset that this wasn’t put on the ballot.”
He said many people who don’t necessarily agree with the concept nonetheless “felt very strongly that people should be able to vote on this.”
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
21 comments:
Great depiction: Ken says "I (repeat I) want....
Tell the whole story, doesn't it?
What if the City clerk requires 44 days to confirm the list???? Either state the requirement to check the list or give the 45 days as stated.
How are they doing this petition drive? Are they canvasing neighborhoods or just sitting somewhere? No one has approached me and I haven't seen any booths anywhere.
If they have 45 days then what would be the final date to retain signatures?
They are going to have a table in the parking lot at the Stop & Shop in Forestville on Saturday from 11 - 5 pm. Any voter who wants to sign the petition can do so then.
Therese Pac does not play politics!!
If you would like to sign the petition, volunteers will be at the Forestville Stop and Shop Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM. Please feel free to come on down. You must be a citizen of and a registered Voter in Bristol.
I ATTENDED THE LAST DRIVE AND WHAT I SAW WAS BOTH PARTIES UNITING AND THE PEOPLE SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
THIS IS A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR THE VOTERS IN BRISTOL TO GET ENVOLVED. THANKS TO CRAIG MINOR AND KEN FOR TAKING A STAND. GOOD LUCK TO YOU BOTH
How lazy of those people pushing this petition drive. Instead of going to the people, they are having the people come to them.
If they were really serious about this they would canvas neighborhoods with voting records in hand to ensure they were getting actual registered voters.
Sitting in a grocery store parking lot waiting for people to come to them with no verification that the people are registered voters is just stupid. That's how mistakes happen - and Therese Pac will find those mistakes. She's very thorough.
amazing that minor and cockayne are already trying to raise reasons for falling on their face - get out and do the job or drop the crap and forget it.
but you don't get headlines going house to house, in a parking lot many people see you and it looks like you are doing something.
Poster 10:19
Who said they aren't walking neighborhoods? Minor and Cockayne have this very well planned. They are the only two working for the people, letting them have a say! Unlike the others who are working for those they are beholden to!
McCauley gone in 09!
Lately, I have been seeing the petitions left unattended in various businesses around town. I remember something recently about petitions that were left at Job Lot unattended that were thrown out because there was no way to verify who actually signed them. Do the actual signers of the petitions have to be witnessed by anyone?
Ken campaigned, he says, on "Actions speak louder than words".
Then how come he doesn't show up at occaisions where people who give of themselves to Bristol are thanked. He was a no show when the chamber ackowledged those who beautify Bristol, yet he is making a production over HIS involvement in the West End.
Inconsistent, but then, maube he is hoping to get his picture in the paper pushing a broom.
Petitions that are left unattended can not be counted towards the final tally. When the person circulating the petition turns it in to the City Clerk, they have to swear an oath that states that they were there to verify each signature they received.
If you are seeing petitions unattended then you should turn that information in to the City Clerk's office.
"Games being played with the public (populace)"?
I think that whoever said that they have seen petitions around town in businesses without someone manning them should turn that information over to the city clerk's office. It violates the terms of the petition.
I am told that Craig Yarde has been leaving petitions left unattended all over town. I hope that store owners haven't been enlisted to swear to witnessing signatures they never saw signed just to push forward this issue. Sometimes people who are obsessed with an issue can find ways to get other people to do their work and take short cuts. I just think this process needs to be followed VERY closely by the clerk's office. If this petition drive falls apart it will be because people aren't following the rules of the process again.
I don't know why the petition people would even take a chance, since they claim that the populace is clamoring to sign the petition.
Makes one wonder, doesn't it?
A good example of someone who doesn't understand the process, who has no feel for following the laws.
Just think of what he would do as as a COO.
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