Agenda - Charter Commission - 01/08/2002 - Memorandum

Home

The charter ,:ommission may recall its proposed charter at co~cil has fixed a date for the electio~ ~d 'the co,oil may authc..r'ize the co~ission to recall the charter at ~y time prior to the first publication of the proposed charter ~e complete c~.~"mr must contai~md in the notice of election which'musq'be 'pubiished on'de a %~odk' fbr 'two successive weeks in the offieiat newspaper ~d may be published in any other legal newspaper in the m~micipality.! The charter campaign. Charter commission members have differed in their views of the role of the charter commissio~, and its members i_n the c~-mrter campaign. There is nothing in the law which .gives the co~m~ission responsibility after the charter has left the commission's hea~ds; ~aor is there any express restriction either. Some charter commissions ?,ave been the principal sponsoring organization for %he charter; its members ha~,e been responsible for publicity and have made many public speeches in ±~he char±.er's behalf. In other cities the commission as a whole has kept aloof from the campaign, though sometimes individual me~uers have participated personally. Since there is no statutory provision on the subject., what is done by the commission members will depend on their o~;~ perception of their appropriate role. Surely no group is likely to be better informed about ~'~.:at %he charter contains and ~:~hy particular provisions have been included or on'..itted: none is likely to be as interested in the charter election. No outsider can give much advice as to the campaign which should be conducted in favor of the adoption of the charter. Local conditio~'~s and the sort of opposition which develops will determi~ae what needs to be do~e. %?o points may be stressed, however. (1) Over-confidence of supporters fre~]uently results in the defeat of a charter. The opposition may be more effective and noisy, and it is no easy task, especially at a general election, to get the necessary majority to vote in favor of the charter. (2) Absolute frankness, and honesty.' about the contents of the charter go a long way toward disarming stay opposition. Throughout its entire proceedings, the commission should follow the policy of letting the public know exactly what is being done and of asking for public cooperation. If this has been done, there will be less opposition manifested during the campaign. Election. Form of ballots. (~.;LS.A. 410.10. ) The expense of a charter election is borne by the city. Presumably, the ordinar~j rules as to ~'~e co.~.~duct of elections will apply, but the statutes add the fol~lowing provision: "'1I' the election is held at the same time with the general election, the voting places and election officers shall be the same for both elctions . . .The ballot shall bear the printed words, 'Shall the proposed new charter be adopted? Yes -- No,' with a square after each of the last two words; in ;;'hich ~he voter may place a cross to express his choice. If any part of such charter be submitted in 'the alternative, 'the ballot ~hall be so printed as voter to indicate his preference in any instance by inserting a ',;ross in like manner." A sample ballot would therefore 'take somewhat the following form: lin first class cities publication must be made in a newspaper having an aggregate regular paid circulation of a !easq 25,000 copies.