Two weeks ago, my Outtakes column focused on my recommendations for changes to the city charter. As set forth in the charter, a charter review commission has been established and has begun meeting.
Mayor Grover Robinson would like to see the mayor’s tenure limited to two four-year terms. My suggestions were more radical:
- City council members should run every two years and be limited to three terms, or six years.
- Any restructuring of city government should require a council vote.
- The charter needs to require that each department head appointee appear before the city council and answer questions from the board.
- The charter needs to have an employee rights section. Employees need an independent, non-political appeal process. An HR manual must be approved by the city council, as well as any changes to it.
On NewsTalk 1370 WCOA, I had DeeDee Davis, a member of the 2008 Charter Review Commission, talk about some of the challenges that board had.