Lake City Charter Review
Board
Up-Up and Away
Columbia
County, FL (Posted March 10, 2010 at 09:25 am)
by Stew Lilker
The Charter Review Board met for its first meeting on
Tuesday evening. The members are, from left to right,
advisor - Wendell Johnson, City Manager; members OJ
Lake, Victoria Ellis, City Clerk - Audrey Sikes; members
Mario Coppock; Ann Skinner; Dwight Kamback and City
Attorney Herbert Darby.
A charter city is a city in which the governing
system is defined by the city's own charter document
rather than by state, provincial, regional or national
laws. Lake City can adopt or modify its organizing
charter by a majority vote of its residents. A charter
gives a city's residents the flexibility to choose any
kind of government structure allowed by law.
It is the duty of the Charter Review Board to
recommend changes in the Lake City Charter to the City
Council, which will put those changes on the ballot in
the next regularly scheduled or special election.
It is your responsibility as a citizen to come
before the Charter Review Board and recommend changes
that you think will make Lake City better.
Tuesday evening at six o'clock, the
Lake City Charter Review Board rolled down the
runway and took off on a ninety day journey that could
change Lake City for at least the next ten years.
The Charter Review Board is appointed by the City
Council. Each Council member appoints one member from
their district. The appointments are:
Councilman Eugene Jefferson appointed OJ Lake.
Councilwoman Melinda Moses appointed Victoria Ellis;
Mayor Witt appointed Ann Skinner; Councilman Jake Hill
appointed Mario Coppock; Councilman George Ward appointed
Dwight Kamback.
Mario
Coppock, who was appointed by the city council to chair
the CRB, explained to Board members that he could have
some scheduling conflicts and suggested that another
member become the chair.
Mr. Coppock is a veteran at charter review and had
important words of wisdom the CRB.
Mr. Coppock told the CRB that they never wanted to
give the public the idea that they didn't want to be
there.
Mr. Coppock said, "This is a serious and respected
position we hold."
Ann Skinner was elected chairperson.
City Attorney Darby explains the Sunshine Law as CRB
member Dwight Kamback listens.
Long time City Attorney Herbert Darby is the legal
counsel for the Charter Review Board ("CRB") and City
Manager Wendell Johnson will be there as an advisor.
CM Johnson told the CRB that he will set up a city e
mail account for Chairperson Skinner and that he will
make the city staff available for the CRB.
Mr. Darby told the group, "It is necessary that you
have public meetings that not only comply with the
sunshine law, but comply with common sense."
OJ Lake and Victoria Ellis share a light moment as the
legendary Mr. Darby explained that there are still parts
of the charter that he is trying to understand.
OJ Lake asked how the CRB accepts recommendations.
Mr. Darby explained that all recommendations to the
council have to be in writing and that the CRB could
listen to anyone.
Anyone in the county or from anywhere can make
recommendations to the CRB, but only city residents can
vote on the recommendations, which will be on the
ballot at the next scheduled general election, unless
there is a special election first.
The normally stoic City Clerk and Lake City
Sunshine Girl also shared the moment.
Mr. Lake asked if a CRB member could confer with the
attorney or the city manager individually.
Mr. Darby replied, "That is a close question. I will
look into it. I discourage you from doing that."
Victoria Ellis asked, "Is there a pool of
recommendations that have been accumulated over the past
ten years?"
The CM Johnson will be looking into that.
It was determined that the city council members will
be invited to address the CRB, as well as the City
Manager.
CM Johnson told the CRB that he would only need one
minute.
There was a discussion about time limits and limiting
speaking time.
CM Johnson said, "I don't think you want to limit
speaking time. From experience, I don't think that that is
going to be a problem."
Chairperson Skinner, like the Mayor who appointed her,
will be representing Lake City's open style of
government well.
It was decided that like the city council, the board
will listen to anyone, whether they fill out a slip or
not.
The first meeting of the Charter Review Board ran
smoothly and openly and the city is once again leading
the way in Columbia County for open and responsive
government.
Ms. Skinner, like Mayor Witt who appointed her, was
attentive and open to suggestions from anyone, including
the public.
The City Charter Review Board is off to a good start.
(corrections:
March 12, 2010 - Fixed the spelling of Mr. Kamback and
one grammar correction.