Title
Matters relative to proposed Charter changes
Body
SUMMARY:
The Charter Review Committee (Laney Colvard, Randy Graham, Ted Meadows) has completed their review and made their recommendations. They reviewed the entire charter and thoroughly reviewed and discussed specific requests and issues raised by Council. Members will be available to answer any questions.
Councilman Souza raises the following proposed changes:
Article IV, Section 3 - remove the $5,000 assessed value to have voting rights (Argument-that the premise to have voting rights based on the property value of $5,000 is affording voting rights based on wealth. The dollar value is not relevant but rather the act of owning property and having a voice in the democratic process over which taxation may be legislated is the point.) *Attached are several documents that the committee reviewed in their deliberation.
Article IV, Section 5 - provide for term limits of two four-year terms (Argument-that our constituents overwhelmingly want term limits.)
BUDGET ACCOUNT:
Recommended Action
NECESSARY COUNCIL ACTION:
1. Approve changes recommended by the Charter Review Committee
2. Article IV, Section 3 - Non-resident voting - proposed motion by Councilman Souza "that the current language in paragraph two under Article IV, Section 3 be deleted in its entirety and replaced with "In any election under this Act, all registered voters, otherwise legally qualified to vote in county and state elections held in Cumberland County, Tennessee, and who are bona fide residents of said City and who have been such for three months preceding any election under this act, and all persons otherwise legally qualified to vote in county and state elections held in Cumberland County, Tennessee, who own parcels of real property, not including cemetery lots, in the City of Crossville shall be eligible to vote in municipal elections, not to exceed two persons to each parcel with at least fifty (50%) percent ownership in said parcel. Proof of ownership of parcels shall be presented to the voter registration office by deed or city tax notice no less than three months prior to the election date. The county election commission shall be requested to prepare and maintain separate voters' registration forms and books for voters eligible to vote in city elections."
3. Article IV, Section 5 - City Council terms - proposed motion by Councilman Souza - "that the following be added to Article IV, Section 5, "Councilmembers and the Mayor shall be limited in office to two consecutive four-year elected terms. A councilmember or mayor alternating from one position to the other shall be viewed as non-consecutive."