Question 13: Proposed Charter Amendment

An ordinance submitting to the electors of Madeira certain amendments to the City
Charter for the purpose of modernizing the document.
Shall Articles II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVI, and XVII of the Charter of the
City of Madeira be amended as follows:
*modernize terminology and gender references; add continuity and severability
provisions; allow electronic notice of special Council meetings while increasing the
minimum notice from 24 to 48 hours; clarify Council vacancy language; and move,
without changing, the rule requiring three readings of ordinances and resolutions
having the force of law;
*allow Council to appoint a qualified person to perform the Manager's duties when the
Manager cannot perform those duties for an extended period;
*eliminate the Treasurer office created by the Charter and the authority to combine the
Clerk and Treasurer offices; replace the requirement that the Treasurer sign and the
Manager countersign expenditure warrants with authorization by the Manager; require
Council members and the Manager to agree annually on an administrative threshold
for contracts and purchases, with Council approval above that amount and
administrative approval below it; and revise public contracting notice and bid selection
provisions;
*revise the Planning Commission's source of authority to include municipal legislation;
remove its duty to submit an annual five-year capital improvement list; and allow the
Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals not to meet when they have no
business; and
*replace the Charter's automatic protection of the Hosbrook House, Muchmore House,
and Railroad Depot with Charter protection only for properties listed on the National
Register of Historic Places or designated as historic by City ordinance; require
qualifying properties to be preserved and maintained under applicable federal, state,
and local guidelines to the greatest extent practicable; and provide that no property is
subject to mandatory preservation, protection, location, or other restrictions under the
Charter unless it is so listed or designated?