The Wellington Village Council hosted a sparsely attended charter review public forum meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
“The purpose of this meeting tonight was to take public comment on the proposed revisions to the charter,” Village Attorney Laurie Cohen said. “Unfortunately, there is no public here to comment.”
The meeting, which was recorded and is available to the public, reviewed proposed new language for the village’s charter, as well as the series of referendum questions that Wellington voters will decide at the upcoming municipal election on March 15, 2016.
Vice Mayor John Greene inquired as to the public notice of the meeting, to which Cohen explained that it had been posted on social media, on the village’s web site, on Channel 18 and with a legal notice.
“All of the usual,” she said. “It has definitely been put out there by every means that we have available to us.”
It was not the first time that the public has been able to comment on the proposed charter changes. The Charter Review Task Force’s meetings were open to the public, and it also held a public forum meeting.
Cohen reminded the council that there will be time for public comment at the council’s upcoming meetings. Residents will be able to express their views at that time.
The charter will be a discussion item at the council’s Oct. 13 meeting, where the questions presented to the public will be finalized. The Oct. 27 meeting will include the first reading of the ordinances placing the questions on the ballot, with the second reading taking place at the council’s Nov. 10 meeting.
Currently, there are six proposed referendum questions. Each will include a detailed ballot summary and the following ballot questions:
1. Shall the charter be amended to allow council compensation to be increased by majority vote?
2. Shall vacancies in the office of council members be filled the same way as the mayor?
3. Shall the charter be amended to allow notice of special meetings pursuant to state law?
4. Shall the charter be amended to include a provision protecting the Equestrian Preserve Area?
5. Shall the charter require winning candidates to receive more than fifty percent of the votes?
6. Shall the canvassing board be composed of a county commissioner, judge and village clerk?
For more information, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov.
ABOVE: Village Attorney Laurie Cohen reviews the proposed changes.
