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From: Ward I - Troy Krenning Troy. Krenning@cityofloveland.org To: City Council CCouncil@cityofloveland.org, Bill Cahill Bill.Cahill@cityofloveland.org, Judy Schmidt Judy.Schmidt@cityofloveland.org, Terry Andrews Terry.Andrews@cityofloveland.org Cc Jessica Maher maherj@reporter-herald.com, LovelandPolitics Guchwale@aol.com, Temp CCMAIL TEMPCC@cityofloveland.org Tonight I plan to ask the City Attorney to prepare a draft charter amendment for council consideration at our first July meeting. I am asking the Council to consider passing an ordinance that will submit to the voters in November two changes to our Charter. Currently our charter allows for the City Manager and City Attorney to be appointed or removed by a vote of 2/3 of the Council. In other words it takes a super majority of council to hire or replace the two most senior executives of municipal government. Members of Council are elected by a majority of voters in their respective ward and the Mayor is elected by a majority of voters of the City. The idea that it takes a super majority of the elected officials to effect change, if change is needed seems counter intuitive to the notion of representative government. Under our current model, our two executives really answer to a minority of the Council knowing that their tenure is tied to maintaining support of only four of nine. I fuly support our current City Manager and this proposal in no way should be considered an attempt to discredit his leadership or job performance. In fact, I plan to ask that the charter Amendment be prospective, not retroactive and thus even if my proposal makes it’s way to the ballot and is approved by the voters, our current City Manager would still serve under the 6/9ths rule. However, as we embark on the task of hiring a new City Attorney I believe that this and future Councils should have the ability to make leadership changes based upon the majority of council, not a super majority. If a majority of council can pass a budget, adopt new laws, set fees and fines I believe that the same majority should be able to influence city leadership. Citizens demand accountability in government. Giving the council the ability to change course, if and when needed is my desire. Troy Krenning City Council Ward 1 |