MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL

TOWN OF FOREST HEIGHTS


CHARTER AMENDMENT RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 –

PROPOSING TO AMEND THE FOREST HEIGHTS TOWN CHARTER

SECTION 33-33. ELECTION OF COUNCILMEN


INTRODUCED BY: Councilman George Wiggers


ENACTED: March 9, 2007


WHEREAS, the Town of Forest Heights functioned in a stable manner with a two-year term for Council members for over forty years; and


WHEREAS, many citizens have expressed a desire to return to a two year election cycle; 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 33-33 Election of Councilmen. The amendment of the Charter of the Town of Forest Heights shall be enacted by striking the current language [boldface in brackets] which reads:


“[On the second Wednesday of March in 2007 and every four years thereafter, one person from each Ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of his Ward to serve as Councilman for a four year term.


On the second Wednesday of March in 2009 and every four years thereafter one person from each Ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of his Ward to serve as Councilman for a four year term.]” (Ch. Res. 17, February 16, 2006)


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


“On the second Wednesday of March in 2007 and every two years thereafter, one person from each Ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of his Ward to serve as Councilman for a two year term.


On the second Wednesday of March in 2008 and every two years thereafter one person from each Ward shall be elected by the qualified voters of his Ward to serve as Councilman for a two year term.”


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.


Larry Stoner, Acting Mayor & Councilman Ward III
Clifton Atkinson, Councilman Ward II

Carmelita Lynn Smith-Barnes, Councilwoman Ward I

Andrea McCutcheon, Acting Council President & Councilwoman Ward II
George F. Wiggers, Councilman Ward I

Attest:

Bonita Anderson, Town Clerk