Crestwood voters will eye three amendments to the city Charter when they go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 8.
The proposed amendments are:
Proposition 1 — This proposed amendment would add language clarifying that “authorized members” or “authorized membership” when referring to the city’s Board of Aldermen means the board’s entire membership of eight, regardless of any vacancies.
Proposition 2 — This proposed amendment would eliminate the words “or on the date of appointment to office,” as it refers to when a mayoral candidate must meet all the qualifications for office. In the event the mayoral post becomes vacant, the Board of Aldermen does not appoint a mayor, the board president becomes acting mayor.
Proposition 3 — This proposed amendment seeks to clarify that the time frame for forming the Charter Review Commission is required at least every 10 years and would change the election of any proposed Charter amendments to the next general municipal election.
Under the proposed amendment, the 10-year period would begin from the date of the previous Charter Review Commission’s first meeting.
The Board of Aldermen voted unanimously in February to adopt an ordinance placing the proposed amendments on the ballot.
The city’s Charter Review Commission recommended the board place the amendments before voters. The commission began meeting in April 2015 and concluded its work in September 2015.
Ward 1 Alderman Darryl Wallach served as the aldermanic representative to the commission, which included former aldermen nd members of the 2005 Charter Review Commission and the original Charter Commission.
Voters approved the Charter on Nov. 7, 1995. Since then, only one change to the Charter has been approved by voters.
In November 2006, voters approved Proposition 3, which allows for the censure of elected officials who commit a Charter violation. Previously, the only disciplinary provision in the Charter was removing an elected official from office.
The censure option, essentially a public reprimand for a Charter violation, was approved by 57.79 percent of 5,693 people who voted on that proposal.
Four other proposed changes were defeated by voters 10 years ago:
Proposition 1, which proposed amending 18 sections of the charter by changing and updating various language, was rejected by 54.92 percent of voters. That proposal was voted on by 5,401 residents.
Proposition 2, which would have eliminated term limits for aldermen, was shot down by 63.59 percent of voters. That proposal was voted on by 5,806 residents — the most of the five propositions.
Proposition 4, which would have reduced the number of signatures required on initiative and referendum petitions, garnered the most opposition from Crestwood residents in the election and was nixed by 64.67 percent of voters. That proposal was voted on by 5,766 residents.
Proposition 5, which would have cut the number of signatures needed on a petition for recall, was rejected by 60.81 percent of voters. That proposal was considered by 5,744 residents.