MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL

TOWN OF FOREST HEIGHTS

CHARTER AMENDMENT RESOLUTION NUMBER 21 –

PROPOSING TO AMEND THE FOREST HEIGHTS TOWN CHARTER

SECTION 33-15. SELECTION AND TERM.

INTRODUCED BY: Councilman George Wiggers

ENACTED: March 9, 2007

WHEREAS, the Town of Forest Heights government was established to follow democratic principles in the election of the Town Executive; and

WHEREAS, Town residents and members of the Town Council have expressed concern over the inability of the Executive to faithfully execute the responsibilities of the office; and

WHEREAS, Maryland Code Article 23A § 12 and 13 governing municipalities empower and regulate the Town Council in enacting charter amendments and the Mayor in posting and publication of proposed charter amendments;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of Forest Heights proposes to amend the Charter of the Town of Forest Heights Section 33-15 Selection and Term. The amendment of the Charter of the Town of Forest Heights shall be enacted by striking the current language [boldface in brackets] which reads:

“[The Mayor shall be elected as hereinafter provided and shall hold office for a term of four years or until his successor is elected and qualified. The newly elected mayor shall take office on the first Wednesday following his election. The Mayor holding office on January 6, 2006 shall cease to hold office and the Council, by an enactment, shall appoint, elect or cause a new mayor to be elected under the provisions of this charter.]”

and replacing said language with the following (underscored) language:

“The Mayor shall be elected as hereinafter provided and shall hold office for a term of two years or until his successor is elected and qualified. The newly elected mayor shall take office on the first Wednesday following his election. The Mayor holding office (suspended or otherwise) on March 9, 2007 shall cease to hold that office beginning on April 28, 2007, and the Council President shall act as Mayor until the person elected to that seat, in an election to be held on Wednesday May 9, 2007, is sworn in as Mayor. ”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Acting Mayor shall give notice of this resolution for a proposed Charter Amendment by posting an exact copy thereof at the town hall for a period of at least forty days following its adoption and shall cause a fair summary of this proposed Charter Amendment to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Forest Heights not less than four times, at weekly intervals within a period of at least forty days starting not later than three days immediately following the date of the adoption of this resolution containing the proposed charter amendment.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that failure to comply with this resolution shall be deemed a misdemeanor and subject to 30 days in prison and a fine not to exceed $1,000.00; and

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and the Charter Amendment hereby proposed shall take effect April 28, 2007.

PASSED THIS DAY OF March 9, 2007.

<>Carmelita Lynn Smith-Barnes, Councilwoman Ward I

Attest:

Bonita Anderson, Town Clerk