At the general election in November, 1999, and every five (5) years thereafter, a Charter Review Commission of seven (7) members shall be appointed in the following manner. At first regular meeting of Council in November, 2004, the Mayor shall appoint four (4) members to the Charter Review Commission. At first regular meeting of Council in November, 2004, the Council shall appoint three (3) members to the Charter Review Commission. Each member appointed by the Mayor or Council shall have been a resident and qualified elector of the Municipality for at least three (3) continuous years immediately prior to his/her appointment, and shall continue to be a resident throughout his/her term of office. No elected official or employee of the Municipality shall be eligible to serve on the Charter Review Commission. Each Charter Review Commission shall cease to function on the day of the next November election following appointment.
Within seven (7) days of the appointment of the Charter Review Commission, the Clerk of Council shall notify each member appointed to the Commission that the Commission shall schedule its first meeting within thirty (30) days after the appointment thereof. At the initial meeting the Commission shall elect one of its members as Chairperson. Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor or Council, whomever made the original appointment to the seat declared vacant. A member so appointed to serve in the position where a vacancy was created shall serve as though originally appointed to such position. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation unless otherwise provided by an ordinance duly adopted by Council. At the initial meeting the Commission shall, by majority vote, approve rules or organization and procedure.
The Council shall provide funds for the Commission to retain the services of a recording secretary and additional legal counsel to be selected by a majority vote of the Commission, if necessary. The Law Director shall be the legal advisor of the Charter Review Commission. All proposed amendments, revisions and alterations to this Charter, approved by a majority vote of any Charter Review Commission, shall be submitted to the Council on or before August 1st of the year following appointment of the Charter Review Commission which shall submit the same without alteration, to the electors for their approval or rejection on a separate ballot at the next general election in November following the appointment of the members of the Charter Review Commission.
If a majority of electors voting on the same shall approve such amendment, revision or alteration, the same shall become a part of this Charter. When more than one amendment, revision or alteration to this Charter shall be submitted to the electors at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote on each amendment, revision or alterations separately.
The effective date to this section shall be immediately upon certification by the appropriate board of elections. (Amended 11-2-10)