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recommendations to the town council

Other February 20, 2020 · 13 page(s)

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Council of 5
Advisory
Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS TO TOWN COUNCIL
February 20, 2020

Overview
I. Status of Council-Directed Deliverables
II. Review of Jan 16, 2020 Town Council Feedback
III. Recommended Options
IV. Implementation Timeline
V. Marketing Considerations
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I. Status of Council-Directed Deliverables
Charge Item Status
A. All meetings shall conform to the Maryland Open Completed; four open meetings advertised/held:
Meetings Act and provide the opportunity • Thurs, Dec 19 @ 6:30 pm
for public comment • Tues, Jan 7 @ 6:30 pm
• Wed, Jan 22 @ 6:30 pm
• Tues, Feb 4 @ 6:30 pm
B. Work with Town Attorney Sharon VanEmburgh Completed; Committee worked with Ms.
and include her in your meetings VanEmburgh and reviewed her memos of:
• Thurs, Nov 5, 2019 (to Town Council)
• Fri, Jan 3, 2020 (to Advisory Committee)
C. Please take into account the cause and effect of Completed:
any recommendations which would require • Discussed at each meeting
additional charter changes and their effect on each • Incorporated into final recommendations
other • Addressed tie scenarios as well
D. A budget of $5,000 is available which can include Apart from additional town staff time required,
attorney time, administrative expenses, and Committee did not require any additional
professional services expenses
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I. Status of Council-Directed Deliverables
Charge Item Status
E. Look into other jurisdictions that have made this Reviewed data from Ms. VanEmburgh:
transition for advice • June 1991 MML Memo
• Dec 2019 MML Data
Reviewed email traffic exchanged between Elaine
Studley and regional towns (sent 01/23/20)
F. Provide at least 5 separate ideas of how to make Completed; reflected in this briefing
the transition
G. At the first meeting, a chair will be elected to run Completed; Eric Johnson elected Chair and Joseph
the meetings and a meeting timeline will Saboury elected Vice Chair; group agreed to meet
be established as needed to complete the deliverables
H. A progress update to the Town Council is Completed
requested at their January 16, 2020 meeting which
will include a timeline for measurables and an
estimated completion date
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II. Review of Jan 16, 2020 Town Council Feedback
A. Council believes the 3 year term is best and believes that extending to 4
years will reduce the pool of willing candidates.
B. We should include costs for marketing and communications regarding the
recommendations out of the $5k budget.
C. Agreed that the “why” behind the recommendations is important and that
we should be sure to include that in our report.
D. Advised against having an election year where a majority of the council is
up for election as the learning curve is significant.
E. Advised against providing districting-based recommendations at this time.
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III. Recommended Options
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Option 1: 3-year term scenario
Option 1: 3-year term option where there would be an election every year (i.e., 1/2/2)
Notes:
• Preserves current council member individual preference for maintaining 3-year terms
• No “off” year for elections
• Charter amendments needed for additional 2 seats, in general, and:
• 2-year term for 5th seat (Oct 2020-Oct 2022 term)
• 2 seat election, 2 candidates = no election
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Option 2A: 4-year term scenario
Option 2: 4-year term scenario where there would be one “off” year (i.e., 1/2/0/2)
Notes:
• Does not preserve current council member individual preference for maintaining 3-year terms
• Allows for an “off” year for elections every third year
• Charter amendments needed for additional 2 seats, in general, and:
• 2-year term required for fifth seat (Oct 2020-Oct 2022 term)
• 2 seat election, 2 candidates = no election
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Option 2B: 4-year term scenario
Option 2: 4-year term scenario where there would be one “off” year (i.e., 1/2/2/0)
Notes:
• Does not preserve current council member individual preference for maintaining 3-year terms
• Allows for an “off” year for elections every fourth year (the Presidential Election year)
• Charter amendments needed for additional 2 seats, in general, and:
• 3-year term requirement for Jeff Morgan’s seat (Oct 2020-Oct 2023)
• 3-year term required for fourth seat (Oct 2020-Oct 2023 term)
• 2-year term required for fifth seat (Oct 2020-Oct 2022 term)
• 2 seat election, 2 candidates = no election
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Option 3: Districting
Option 3: A 2-district/3-year term scenario where there would be an election every year (i.e., 2/2/1)
Notes:
• Preserves current council member individual preference for maintaining 3-year terms
• Allows for implementation of district-based representation while continuing at-large representation
• Charter amendments needed for additional 2 seats, in general, and:
• 2-year term required for fifth seat (Oct 2020-Oct 2022 term)
• 2 seat election, 2 candidates = no election
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IV. Implementation Timeline
Charter Candidates
Advisory
Amendments File For
Committee
/ Public Election
Presents Absentee Ballot
Hearings Deadline
Recommendations Request Deadline
(FEB 20) (APR 2) (AUG 3) (SEP 28)
Town Council Charter Public Notice of Election Day
Reviews / Amendments Candidates for (OCT 5)
Decides on Completed Election (SEP 21)
Transition Plan (APR-JUL)
(MAR 5 & 19)
Approx. 8 Months From Council Decision On Recommendation to Election
We strongly encourage citizen participation in this effort and invite all to participate
in our committee meetings as scheduled and posted on the town website.
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V. Marketing Considerations
In any scenario, it is the recommendation of this
committee that a great deal of effort is spent on
communications and marketing to keep the citizens
informed
A. Formal/Recurring Email Alerts from Town on Mtgs
B. Web Page with Advisory Committee Agendas/Minutes
C. Social Media Platforms – Unofficial
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Questions
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