10-04-2021 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

6. Consider amendatory language proposed by the Consultant in Articles I, II, III and IV of the Charter. Consultant Don Edmonds began reviewing Article IJI, Section 16 and stated there were three parts to be considered which were election of the mayor at -large, length of terms and compensation. He inquired of the members if they wanted to compensate Council Members. Mr. Webb wanted to know what other cities the size of Paris normally do. Mr. Edmonds said smaller cities do not normally compensate their Council Members. The Commission discussed where the money comes from, the fact that other board members were not compensated, that $250.00 a month was too much, if the City had to pay them to volunteer then that could be an issue, and how much additional time Council Members expended volunteering. Ms. Holtman suggested they review this at the next meeting and asked Mr. Edmonds to review all cities with a 903 area code that were similar to the size of Paris. City Clerk Ms. Ellis suggested that they used the cities that city staff had previously conducted comparisons, with regard to other items. It was a consensus to do so, and Ms. Ellis said she would send a list of the cities to Mr. Edmonds. Next, Mr. Edmonds reviewed the length of terms and stated the City Council currently could serve three two-year terms. He inquired if they wanted to look at changing that to two three-year terms. Following discussion, it was a consensus that they did not want to make any changes to this section but wanted to keep the terms at three two-year terms. Mr. Edmonds began reviewing the mayor at -large issue and stated there was a lot of history surrounding having a mayor at -large, one of which was a voting rights lawsuit in the seventies, which placed the City in seven single member districts. He added that in 2007 the Charter Review Commission decided to leave the section as written. He said in 2011, the City Council put two propositions on the ballot, which did not include the mayor at -large election. In 2015, Mr. Edmonds said the Charter Review Commission met twice and recommended no changes at all to the Charter. Mr. Edmonds said in 2015, there was discussion about electing a mayor at -large. Mr. Edmonds said this was complicated and they would need to get pre -clearance from the Department of Justice and that would require a lot of time. City Attorney Stephanie Harris explained the pre -clearance issue could change depending on the administration at the DOJ. Ms. Harris said the City was in the beginning stages of redistricting that is required every ten years, and suggested that this item be reviewed in five years because the Charter provides for a review every five years. Ms. Harris inquired of Ms. Ellis if the Commission in 2007 had discussed electing a mayor at -large and Ms. Ellis recollected they did. Jessica Holtman asked Ms. Ellis if she could provide the Commission with that information and Ms. Ellis said staff would review the old files. Mr. Hayter wanted to know about putting the issue on electing a mayor at -large as a referendum. Ms. Harris advised him that did not fall within a Charter Amendment. Ms. Cherry said the people should be allowed to vote on the mayor, as did other Commission Members. They discussed changing to six single member districts and electing a mayor at -large, as well as keeping the seven single member districts, and electing a mayor at -large who would not vote except in case of a tie vote. Mr. Edmonds reminded everyone of the intercession in place by the Federal Government. The Commission 4