October 25, 2010

Don't forget important charter issues on the ballot

Lost amidst the swirling sea of political campaign advertising and yacking candidates are proposed charter changes that might have a lasting effect on how City Hall operates.
Though the ballot contains half a dozen questions for voters to decide, two are potentially significant revisions to the city government’s blueprint.
One proposal would double the length of the time between city elections from two years to four years, extending the time city councilors and the mayor would serve before facing the voters again.
The other would mandate that the mayor ensure that performance reviews are conducted annually on the city’s department heads.
The most controversial question backed by the Charter Revision Commission and the City Council is one that would give twice as much time between municipal elections.
Former Mayor John Leone said the extra time would give a mayor time to learn the ropes and to push through his agenda before he had to face the voters again.
But another ex-mayor, Frank Nicastro, said that political leaders who are doing a good job should have nothing to worry about from running every two years. On the other hand, he said, the people ought to have a chance to remove a mayor they’re not happy with without waiting four years.
Stortz, who served two stints as mayor, said that longer terms would “take the responsibility and need for involvement away from the voter.” Click here for the story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

6 comments:

disgusted once again said...

Extending the terms again? We just voted this down a year ago! What are these hacks on the city council doing here? Will they keep putting this on the ballot until one day the majority accepts this idea and votes for it? This is a disgrace. Almost as bad as appointing Bruce Suchinski to the Charter Rev. Commitee (like a Democrat tried to do).

Anonymous said...

Please Vote "yes" for the new proposed charter change which requires performance evaluations for all city department heads by the mayor. The city council must decide to wether or not to appoint these departments heads and doing so with a perfromance evaluation is a fair way. It also can help get rid of a department head who are failing the public...

duh? said...

8:02 - like your teacher failed you?

Anonymous said...

Because Ward is Mayor and he NOW wants it! My way or the highway Ward.

Anonymous said...

Ward is a good reason to vote NO!

Anonymous said...

WARD IS A GOOD REASON TO LEAVE THIS TOWN.