ARCHIVE

City commission to become a five-member council

Staff reporter

Preliminary approval was given Monday by Marion City Commission to expand the commission to a five-member council.

After much discussion and concerns expressed by the commission, commissioner Max Hayen made a motion to change the current city government from two commissioners and mayor to four councilmen and mayor by charter ordinance. The motion also included the mayor voting on all issues.

Mayor Martin Tice seconded the motion after he previously had expressed "mixed feelings" about the change. The motion passed 2-1 with commissioner Jim Crofoot voting against the change.

Prior to the motion and vote, Crofoot said he could see a few benefits but was concerned about making the decision without the public voting on the issue.

The commission was faced with three options: keep the commission as it is which would require the general public to request the question be placed on the ballot in the April elections, the commission could place the question on the ballot with specific stipulations included, or the commission could expand the commission by charter ordinance.

Hayen said the majority of Marion residents he had talked to would like a five-member council. Hayen expressed his desire to have a voting mayor. He also wanted a quorum to be four members.

Typically three members of a five-member council would constitute a quorum but Hayen said he was concerned with government officials taking advantage of making decisions when two members may be absent.

Hayen suggested elections be in April. At the first election, the top two vote-getters would serve four-year terms, the next two would serve two-year terms.

The current mayor, Tice, would serve until 2008 to assure continuity.

Meetings would be held two times a month instead of weekly. State statute requires councils to meet at least once a month.

Dan Baldwin, city attorney, said meeting two times a month makes it difficult to complete city work. He said meeting every other week might be a consideration.

David Mayfield, city administrator, said he had recently read in the League of Kansas Municipalities monthly publication that a five-member council would require a four-vote council to pass issues. Baldwin clarified that majority vote would always be four.

Hayen asked Baldwin if two councilmen could discuss city business with a five-member council. Baldwin said in the best interest of good government, he would not recommend it.

Marion resident Roger Hannaford III said he was in favor of a five-member council and people had expressed to him the same opinion.

Crofoot said most of the people he had talked with did not see a need for change.

When the motion was passed, Crofoot asked if five councilmen could fit in the current commission room setting and said he was concerned about space. He added he wasn't sure if five heads were better than three.

The commission and Mayfield will present proposals at the next commission meeting for a five-member council. Public comments also will be accepted.

Quantcast