BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— During its May 12 meeting, the city’s Charter Review Committee dropped one proposal that would have loosened the requirements for qualifying in city council races.
The Charter Review Committee recommends changes to the city’s governing document. All changes must be approved by voters during an April 11, 2023, election. Charter Review Committee members include airport board member Bruce Harvin, former City Council Member Larry Peoples, former Clay County Schools Superintendent Charlie Van Zant, Lou Mallory and Steve Starling.
Now, a person running for the council must have been a qualified elector living within Keystone Heights for at least one year.
During the Charter Review Committee’s April 14 meeting, the panel discussed dropping the one-year residency requirement or replacing it with a provision that potential candidates obtain 50 signatures to qualify.
However, during the May 12 meeting, Van Zant, who proposed the change, said he was not committed to the idea, and the committee discarded the proposal.
Two other proposals did move forward during the May meeting. One would establish a censor policy for city council members, setting procedures to file complaints against council members and outlining an investigation, reporting, hearing and voting process for members accused of violating laws or city policies.
Committee Chair Larry Peoples said he modeled the proposed amendment after a similar ordnance in Stockton, California, where he used to live.
“It is not meant for getting rid of somebody,” said Peoples. “It is meant to correct somebody and so I think it’s appropriate for this town to have a censor policy for the city council. I think the best way to do that is to put it in the charter. That way the city council or future city councils cannot remove it by themselves. They would have to have the people vote to remove it.”
The committee also discussed an amendment originally brought to it by City Councilman Tony Brown in March. That amendment would change the mayor’s office from an at-large, elected council seat to an office appointed by the council.
“This would not kick the mayor out as some people may want to characterize it,” Peoples said during the CRCs April 14 meeting. “Whoever it may be next year (that) wins Seat 4 is still the mayor for three years and then after the end of the three years then this kicks in.”
During the May 12 meeting Van Zant announced that he was leaving the Charter Review Committee because he is moving outside the city.
