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<br />d. While an argument may be made that this charter provision allows an alternative <br />date to a uniform date, it is more consistent, as well as less expensive, to hold such elections <br />on uniform dates. <br /> <br />30. a. Section 111 states that any member of the city council may be removed by recall, and <br />Section 112 requires that an affidavit for a petition for recall must state the grounds for <br />removal, but the Charter does not specify what serves as grounds for removal. <br />b. By not specifying the grounds for which a council member may be recalled, the door <br />is open to groups of citizens to initiate recall elections for any conceivable reason, no reason, <br />or an improper reason, at great expense and turmoil for the City. State law specifies the <br />grounds for which a member of general law city council member may be removed (which is <br />by a process other than recall). <br />c. Amend the section to spell out the grounds for removal, such as misconduct, <br />malfeasance, etc., and define the meaning of each. <br />d. Some cities have been crippled or serious distracted from the business of governing by <br />repeated petitions for recall that are, in fact, based only on dissatisfaction rather than a valid <br />reason for removal from office. Paris council members deserve at least the same protections <br />that general law council members enjoy with regard to grounds for removal from office. <br /> <br />31. a. Section 112 provides that an affidavit for a petition for recall must state a ground for <br />removal from office, but no provision is made for verification that the ground is sufficient. <br />b. Without a mechanism for the council, city manager, city secretary, city attorney, or <br />disinterested third party to examine and determine that an alleged ground for removal from <br />office is, if true, sufficient for removal, an applicant may falsely accuse a council member of <br />any type of crime or misconduct and force an election. <br />c. Amend the section to provide for verification of stated grounds for removal by a <br />qualified person or persons. <br />d. This amendment should help prevent unfounded and expensive recall elections. <br /> <br />32. * a. Section 113 provides for the contents of a recall petition, but does not specify that <br />those signing it must reside in the district of the council member subject to recall. <br />b. In single member districts, council members should be subject to recall only by the <br />voters who elected him or her to office. <br />c. Amend the section to provide that the petition shall be signed by residents of the <br />council member's district. <br />d. Failure to make this amendment may subject a council member to recall based on <br />signatures of persons who are not in his or her district. <br /> <br />33*. a. Section 114 provides for a recall election not less than 30 nor more than sixty days <br />after a recall petition is presented. <br />b.---d. See Comment 28 above. <br /> <br />34. a. Sections 119 through 130 contain detailed requirements for the issuance, contents, <br />terms, condition, limitations, and applicability of franchises. <br />b. Changes in the law have made some of these provisions obsolete, while new <br />arguments advanced by utility companies have created opportunities to amend the Charter in <br /> <br />8 <br />