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Committee members discussed elimination of primary election process. |
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* Bev Jasinski, City Clerk, provided the following information: |
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* Cities throughout the State have been eliminating their primary election due to |
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monetary constraint. |
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* Turnout in Rochester Hills Primary Elections under 15 percent of voting public. |
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* Farmington Hills and Troy have eliminated their primary elections. |
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* Section 9.9 Primary Election of the City Charter reads as follows: |
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* City primary election shall be held on the Tuesday after the second |
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Monday in September of each odd-numbered year. |
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* If there are not more than twice the number of candidates for each office |
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to be filled as there are persons to be elected, the primary election shall |
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not be held, and those persons filing valid petitions shall be declared the |
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* Rochester Hills became a City in 1984. |
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* Rochester Hills has had seven (7) primary elections out of nine (9) |
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* Rochester Hills had two (2) general elections without a primary. |
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* The percentage of registered voters who voted in the primary elections are: |
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* The victor of primary election traditionally becomes victor in general election. |
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* The cost of a primary election is $30,000 minimum. |
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* Ms. Jasinski's recommended the following course of action: |
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* Request City Attorney to draft appropriate language to change |
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* Forward attorney's draft to Governor for approval prior to placement |
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* She noted deadline for ballot wording is August 24, 2004. |
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Discussion commenced amongst Committee Members including the following: |
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* Primary Election plays an important function in the Election process. |
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* Elimination of Primary would reduce information provided to the public on the |
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candidates. |
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* If the ballot question is placed on a regularly scheduled election, there is no cost for |
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putting anything additional on the ballot. |
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* The Committee requested Ms. Jasinski obtain feedback from other municipal City |
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Clerks regarding comments from their respective constituents. |
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Committee members discussed Administration Request Policy |
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* Mayor directed Council Members to put their requests through City Council Liaison. |
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* Mayor brought up a matter that the committees were micro-managing the operations. |
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* Mayor speculates that some information requests are beyond the level of certain |
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committee's responsibilities. |
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* Discussed use of computers at Council meetings to receive email and research the |
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Web. |
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* Discussed reviewing policies as to what Council's duties are and how to govern |
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themselves in the appropriate manor. |
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* Discussed defining guidelines for newly elected Council Members. |
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* Committees formed to create better communication between the Administration and |
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City Council. |
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* Chairperson Hill indicated she will speak with City Council President regarding having |
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someone from MML facilitate. |
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* It was noted that a member must be present to vote. |
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Liquor License Application |
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* Clerk is working on liquor license application. |
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* Request for the old CVS drugstore for a class "C" license was received by Clerk's |
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Office. |
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* Possible new tenant will bring in a liquor license. |
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Council Members Administrative/City Council Policies Paperwork |
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* Request to have Administrative Policies and City Council Policies on CD. |
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* Ordinances are updated electronically through the year. |
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* Ordinance in place allows the Sheriff's Department as well as the Ordinance |
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Enforcement to look at possible problems that may occur. |
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City Council Members Longevity Issue |
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* Pam Lee noted pension plan revision will be brought to AIS once completed including |
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appropriate changes in language. |
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* Affects other service time such as longevity. |
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* Possibility of some affect on language that says City Council Members elected to |
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full-time position receive service credit for years of service on City Council. |
