City Charter ballot proposals. To be discussed at the Flint Public Library on 10/14/13 at 5:30 . You are invited. Its time for change in how the municipality called Flint organizes its services. Since 1974 since the current Flint City Charter was enacted we as a city have suffered under emergency managers twice. What ever the cause a reasonable person asks whats wrong with Flint. We start here what is wrong with our charter. Over time several efforts have been made to answer the question how to make Flint Better. 1974 Adopted 11/05/1994 THE NEW FLINT CHARTER Nine charter commission with hundreds of other participating and an affirmative vote of the people met to discuss how to make things better in Flint by the adopted Charter 2009 League of Women Voters Report. 19 Good people met to discuss how to make things better in Flint and issued a report. 2014 Blue Ribbon Committee on Governance July 2014, 22 Good people met to discuss how to make Flint Better and issued a report 2014 MASTER PLAN FOR A SUSTAINABLE FLINT. Thousands of people met to discuss how to make Flint Better and issues a report. The time for discussion by people who cannot act is over. PURPOSE OF THE 10/14/14 FORUM Inform the voters about the most important issues in these proposals so they can vote wisely. The format outline here is intended to help accomplish this goal. FIRST by Paul Rozcki Neutral description of the City Charter and recent discussions of it. Then panelists will give reasons to vote either for or against the proposals. The panelists speaking in favor of the proposals2-6 are Jim Richardson and Denise Smith-Allen. Those opposed are Nayyirah Shariff and Terry Bankert. Introduction of the topic and format will last about 15 minutes. Paul will Describe; the City Charter, the Blue Ribbon Commission and the specific proposals. He will also introduce the speakers. Then the panel will address the first of the two basic questions for the program. The first question is: should proposals 2 through 6 be passed? Why or why not? We will begin with the pro side. This side will explain why voters should vote yes. Time limit 10 minutes. Then the con side will speak on why voters should vote no. Nayyirah and Terry should decide if one of them will make the case or if they will share their time of 10 minutes.For all, please do not try to discuss every one of these proposals. Try to focus on the major reasons for passing or defeating the proposals and use specific proposals as examples. The premise of the Blue Committee recommendations is that Flint will be a City Manager Hybrid city which will correct the fatal flaws of the current system that contributed to Flints instability. 1. Reporting structure, 2. qualifications, and information. This presumptuous premise of a hybrid city manager dooms their argument since the current form and possibly future for of Flint Government is strong Mayor lay person and these recommendations cannot be logically adopted until the final form is recommended by the Charter Commission. So these arguments belong in front of the charter commission not here. Proposal 2: Shall there be a reduction in the number of principal staff appointed by the mayor for legal counsel and administrative services from no more than 10 to no more than five? pro/yes- con/no -Do not bind the mayor without public debate and public analysis best done by an elected Charter Commission. This presumptuous premise of a hybrid city manager dooms their argument since the current form and possibly future for of Flint Government is strong Mayor lay person and these recommendations cannot be logically adopted until the final form is recommended by the Charter Commission. So these arguments belong in front of the charter commission not here.see page 8 of Final Report of Blue Committee. On page 21 of the Blue report says things must happen immediately to transition flint out of emergency managership. Bunk I say but lets hear them out. Their premis is that the messy business of involving the public by the election of a flint charter commission will result in the commission recommending and the people adopting a new form of government in place nowhere else on this planet called a hybrid design. I think not. But they argue presuming a professional will lead the government when that has yet to be decided. The urge the public actions should happen immediately. Again false premise we that will not continue as a strong mayor. VOTE YES ON ONE AND NO ON THE REST IN FLINT. On page 21 of the Blue report they say “..we recommend....Removal of the Civil Service Commission.... But on the same page they say..Attention must be paid to the city administrator and finance director positions to provide civil service protectiion similar to that afforded currently to the treasure and asserror. Appears to be a contradiction. Proposal 3: Shall there be a requirement that the annual budget presented to the City Council be accompanied by a a message explaining the budget, to provide for multi-year financial plans and revenue projections, and the establishment of a budget stabilization fund? pro/yes con/no-Do not bind the mayor without public debate and public analysis best done by an elected Charter Commission. This presumptuous premise of a hybrid city manager dooms their argument since the current form and possibly future form of Flint Government is strong Mayor lay person and these recommendations cannot be logically adopted until the final form is recommended by the Charter Commission. So these arguments belong in front of the charter commission not here.see page 8 of Final Report of Blue Committee. See page 21 of the Blue report Amend the budget section of the city charter to include best-practice provisions above (borrow from the model charter so that this is about principals not the specifics that need to be in ordinance). Proposal 4: Shall the requirement for specific executive departments be eliminated? pro/yes con/no-Do not bind the mayor without public debate and public analysis best done by an elected Charter Commission. This presumptuous premise of a hybrid city manager dooms their argument since the current form and possibly future form of Flint Government is strong Mayor lay person and these recommendations cannot be logically adopted until the final form is recommended by the Charter Commission. So these arguments belong in front of the charter commission not here.see page 8 of Final Report of Blue Committee. Proposal 5: Shall the Civil Service Commission be eliminated? pro/yes con/no-Do not bind the mayor without public debate and public analysis best done by an elected Charter Commission. This presumptuous premise of a hybrid city manager dooms their argument since the current form and possibly future form of Flint Government is strong Mayor lay person and these recommendations cannot be logically adopted until the final form is recommended by the Charter Commission. So these arguments belong in front of the charter commission not here.see page 8 of Final Report of Blue Committee. Proposal 6: Shall the Office of Ombudsman be eliminated? pro/yes con/no-Do not bind the mayor without public debate and public analysis best done by an elected Charter Commission. This presumptuous premise of a hybrid city manager dooms their argument since the current form and possibly future for of Flint Government is strong Mayor lay person and these recommendations cannot be logically adopted until the final form is recommended by the Charter Commission. So these arguments belong in front of the charter commission not here. see page 8 of Final Report of Blue Committee. The Ombudsmand office has been adopted / ratifed three time. 1 adoption of 197 Proposal 1: Shall there be a general revision of the city charter? pro/yes, Let the people make these decisions by their own elected Charter Commisson. con/no Then Paul will talk in general about the second basic question for the program. Either Jim or Denise or both would then give reasons for supporting Proposal 1. The panels debate here has to take into account that Terry is actually in favor of this proposal. We suggest that Jim, Denise and Terry divide the 10 minutes 3 ways. Nayyirah would then have 10 minutes to explain why voters should vote no on this proposal. This question is: should there be a general revision of the City Charter (proposal 1)? Why or why not? pro con AUDIENCE QUESTION Then we will turn to audience questions. These will be on cards. We will also allow oral questions at the end if there is time. Your responses should be no more than 2 minutes. We will allow a response from both sides for each question. SUGGESTED QUESTIONS FOR PANELISTS PANEL SUMMARY AT THE END You will another couple of minutes at the very end of the evening to sum up your recommendations to voters. TERRY BANKERT SUMMARY The time is now for Flint Citizens to act and change the culture of Governance in Flint. The Ballot Question put to the community is best described as a question” Do the Citizens of Flint desire to elect a Charter Commission ?” . It actually says shall there be a general revision of the Flint City Charter I suggest we bury our respective political hatchets and work together for Flint future. Imagine that! A trilogy of change is upon us, educate yourself , roll your sleeves up and assist in the work at hand. That trilogy of change is ; 1. The creation of a Flint Master Plan. 2. The impending rezoning of Flint as an element to enact the Flint Master Plan. 3 .A new Flint City Charter to put us and keep us on the right path. EDUCATION -what is on the November ballot - advocate yes vote on charter revision - informed decisions on other ballot questions - if yes on charter revision how will members of the commission be placed on a ballot for election of one commission member per ward -will candidates be able to be on the ballot by paying a fee? - will candidates be required to collect signatures from voters in their ward to get their name on the ballot. - how many signatures ? - will there be an approved petition . It would help if the city attorney caused one to be provided . -when will the election be scheduled ? Feb, May , june,next august. - just what does a new to politics Flint person need to know to run for one of these positions. -will any community organization run a political charter commission campaign education series ? - a study group should be formed to identify issues to assist the Flint Charter Commission when seated . COALITION BUILDING Bring Flints communities to the table. ACTION Vote yes for charter revision then later for the best candidates from each ward. .....to the reader ...... ANNOUNCEMENT OF A WORKSHOP HOW TO RUN FOR FLINT CHARTER COMMISSION. (Assuming the yes votes carry) when NOVEMBER 15,2014 SATURDAY 10AM TO NOON where who presenters cost Source [1] Blue Ribbon Committee on Governance July 2014, 22 Good people met to discuss how to make Flint Better and issued a report [2] 2009 League of Women Voters Report. 19 Good people met to discuss how to make things better in Flint and issued a report. [3] MASTER PLAN FOR A SUSTAINABLE FLINT. Thousands of people met to discuss how to make Flint Better and issues a report. [4] Adopted 11/05/1994 THE NEW FLINT CHARTER Nine charter commission with hundreds of other participating and an affirmative vote of the people met to discuss how to make things better in Flint by the adopted Charter -
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 19:08:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015