Lake City Charter Review Board
Decision time on the
horizon
Columbia County, FL (Posted April 23, 2010 02:55 pm)
by Stew Lilker
Decision time is on the horizon for the Lake
City Charter Review Board, whose decisions may
well affect the future of Lake City for the next
ten years and beyond. Last night, in the absence
of Chairperson Ann Skinner, charter review
veteran and Vice Chair, Mario Coppock led the
review board in its usual high level of
discussion.
The Charter Review Board has been operating
on a high plain and the discussions have been
missed by just about everyone in the county
except for City Council District 10 candidate
Tammy Harris, who has regularly attended the
meetings.
Earlier this morning Mr. Coppock told the
Observer, "I'm very disappointed that the public
has not been involved in this important process
for Lake City. I am hoping, as we are now in the
final decision making process, that the public
comes to the meetings and participates. The
Charter Review Board welcomes their suggestions
and comments on the issues that we will be
presenting for discussion."
Other than some housekeeping issues,
the following questions are on the docket for
discussion:
City Clerk, Audrey Sikes, delayed a family trip
to Key West and time from her annual leave to
take the minutes of this important meeting.
- Should the city council decide that the
fire department or the police department
should be consolidated with the county --
the decision must be approved by the people
in a citywide referendum?
- Should the Police Chief be appointed by
the City Council?
- Should the job qualifications for the
City Clerk and the City Manager be added to
the charter?
- Should a
Citizens' Bill of Rights be added to the
charter?
- Should a Code of Ethics be added to the
charter?
- Should term limits for the City Council
members be added to the charter?
- Should the five member CRB be expanded
to seven members, with two at large members,
who would be chosen at random from
volunteers, who put their name in a hat?
- Should the 90 day time limit for the CRB
be expanded to include more time?
- Should there a date certain for council
members taking office?
- Should there be a mandatory residency
requirement, i.e. minimum number of days, to
qualify to run for the City Council?
The next meeting of the Charter Review Board
is scheduled for May 6th at 06:00 pm at City
Hall.
