What will proposed County Charter Committee look like?

John Peacock and friends have asked the Board of County Commissioners to create an Escambia County Charter Study Commission  to conduct a review of best practices in county governments within Florida and, if appropriate, develop a proposed charter for Escambia County. 

Earlier this year, Inweekly advocated such a commission, but I no longer think the timing is right. Peacock has made it known that his  goal is to put the county under one elected  leader – a county mayor or county CEO.  I don’t like the idea of putting that much power into one person’s hands.

County operations – day-to-day efforts – are best in the hands of experienced, professional administrators, not politicians.

Under the draft proposal, the core committee will consist of:

The membership of the ECCSC may not exceed 25 persons.  The members of the commission shall be appointed by (date), as follows:

1. 1. The BOCC shall appoint five members.  Each commissioner shall appoint one member who shall reside, work, or own property in the appointing commissioner’s district.
   2. The Mayor and the Town Council of the Town of Century shall appoint one member who shall be a resident of the Town of Century.
   3. The Mayor and City Council of the City of Pensacola shall appoint one member who shall be a resident of the City of Pensacola. 
   4. The following organizations may each appoint one member to the commission:

– The Escambia County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

– Justice United Seeking Transformation in Pensacola

– Escambia County Taxpayer’s Association 

– The League of Women Voters of Pensacola Bay Area

– The Pensacola Young Professionals

– The Escambia County Farm Bureau

– The Home Builders Association of West Florida

– The President of the University of West Florida shall appoint one member who shall have expertise in local government matters.

– Escambia County Sheriff

– Escambia County Tax Collector

– Escambia County Property Appraiser

– Escambia County Clerk of the Court

– Escambia County Supervisor of Elections

– The Chief Judge of the First Judicial Circuit shall appoint two members who shall be members of the Florida Bar and have legal expertise in local government matters

– The Escambia County School Board may appoint one member by a majority vote of the board

– The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority shall appoint one member

– The President of Pensacola State College shall appoint one member. 

– The Commanding Officer of NAS Pensacola shall appoint one member

– United Way of Escambia County shall appoint one member

 

Here is the draft given to the commissioners: Escambia County Charter Study Commission