To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Bob Slentz, Town Attorney
Lisa Anderson, Town Clerk
Title
Resolution Regarding Election Commission Terms
Body
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Executive Summary
Prior to 2015, the Town’s regular municipal elections were held each April. Town Charter Section 4-4 states that the Election Commission is made up of five registered electors of the Town and are appointed at the first organizational meeting following the regular elections for staggered terms of three years. Interviews for the Election Commission were done in conjunction with the annual interviews for all Boards and Commissions in April for appointments to occur in May. This worked well as interviews and appointments to all Boards and Commissions could happen at the same time.
However, in 2015 there was a Charter Amendment approved that changed regular municipal elections to every two years in November of even numbered years. With that change, the Election Commission terms no longer correspond to the timing of the regular municipal elections.
In order to allow the Election Commission interviews and appointments to continue to occur with all other Boards and Commissions; staff is proposing a Charter Amendment for the November 2018 election to state that Election Commission appointments will coincide with the timing of the other Boards and Commissions. This will also allow appointments each year vs. every two years. Appointments every two years would not work with their three year staggered terms.
In the meantime, we have two Election Commission members whose terms expire May 31, 2018. Staff is recommending that Council approve a transition plan which extends their terms to December 31, 2018 to avoid a vacancy during the redistricting process (if approved at the May 15 Special Election). Staff would then propose a Charter Amendment in November 2018 to have Election Commission appointments coincide with all other Boards and Commissions in May each year.
Discussion
This information was presented to the Election Commission at their March 14 meeting; and they concurred with this approach.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approving the Resolution to extend the terms of the Election Commission members whose terms expire on May 31, 2018 to December 31, 2018.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the Resolution as introduced by title.”
Attachments
Attachment A Resolution