Auburn + LewistonDrafting A New Charter

January 14, 2015

Agenda1. What we’ve been doing2. Questions so far on some key issues

• City Council: composition, terms, President• Mayor: terms, term limits, power, duties• Holding Other Offices• First Council Meeting After Election• Quorum• Voting Appropriations• When An Ordinance Takes Effect• Audit Committee

3. Your reactions and input 4. Other thoughts, ideas

City Council Composition • Auburn. 5 ward councilors, 2 “at large”• Lewiston. 7 ward councilors, no “at large”

(only mayor is “at large”)

• Draft Charter.* 11 ward councilors with 2 or more wards straddling river– Each ward representing ~5,400 persons, roughly same as

present– “At large” councilor is the mayor

* Nothing is final. We’re presenting what we’ve been thinking and talking about so far.

Councilor Terms• Auburn and Lewiston. 2 years, not staggered

• Draft Charter. Leaning toward 3 years staggered– More complex than today and some elections would be out of

sync with state/national elections– Staggering allows for “continuity”– Would the Mayor’s term need to be staggered too?

Mayor Terms and Limits• Auburn. 2 year term, no limits• Lewiston. 2 year terms, limit is 3 successive terms

• Draft. 2 year terms– Some CC members see value in term limit depending on

power invested in mayor, but others feel there should be no term limit

– If limits, mayor needs at least 6 or 8 years to accomplish goals.

– If staggered city council, should the mayor also serve for a 3 year term?

Mayor Power and Duties• Auburn. Preside, vote only in case of tie, appoint committees• Lewiston. Preside, vote only in case of tie or when there is a

council vacancy or absence of councilor, appoint committees

• Draft. Preside, vote only in case of tie, appoint committees with council approval, present annual “state of city” message– Should mayor be full voting member or only to break tie or

vote in councilor absence?– Why note allow the mayor to have full vote?– Broadly, how much power should a mayor have vis a vis the

city manager and council?

Council President• Auburn. None• Lewiston. Council elects President for 2 year term,

acts as mayor during temporary absences. • Draft. Council elects President for 2 year term, acts

as mayor during temporary absences

Holding Other Offices• Auburn. Mayor and councilors may not hold other

public offices• Lewiston. Mayor and councilors may hold other

public offices

• Draft. Uncertain, seeking more input

First Council Meeting After Election

• Auburn. 45 days after election• Lewiston. After January swearing in

• Draft. 45 days after election– Do not want too much time to elapse before new council

comes together.– What if there is a mayoral run off election?

Quorum

• Auburn. Majority of voting members• Lewiston. 4 members

• Draft. Majority of elected members• If mayor can vote in certain situations, does

his/her presence enable a quorum

Process for Voting Appropriations

• Auburn. Read on 2 separate days, unless unanimous vote of Councilors present and voting

• Lewiston. Normal resolve vote

• Draft. Read on 2 separate days, unless rule has been dispensed by vote of 8 of 11 Councilors

• Bonus Question: What should constitute a super majority – 2/3, 3/4, 7/8 -- and what issues should require such a majority to pass?

Ordinance Takes Effect• Auburn. 5 days after passage• Lewiston. 30 days

• Draft. 30 calendar days after passage, unless otherwise specified in ordinance

Note: There would be a separate provision for “emergency ordinances.”

Audit Committee• Auburn. Audit committee of 2 Councilors, 2 School

Committee who agree on fifth member• Lewiston. Audit firm reports to full city council

• Draft. Audit committee of 2 Councilors, 2 School Committee who agree on 5th member, hire and direct audit firm, receive report, present to joint City Council and School Committee meeting• Is there a need for an audit committee or should

the full city council serve in that role?