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Big Changes Proposed For Century’s Government In Draft Charter
August 18, 2022
Big changes have been proposed to how the Town of Century governs itself in a new draft charter.
The new roadmap for Century’s government was created by the Century Charter Review Committee — which started as 11-member committee that was cut to six people due to declining participation. With delays due to the pandemic, the committee worked with consultant Buz Eddy for three years to create the 18-page document.
The town charter — the document that establishes the town, outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The current charter has not been updated in almost 40 years.
The draft charter has not been formally approved by a vote of the charter review committee. The town council must approve the final proposed charter and schedule it for a vote by the citizens. There’s no definitive timetable, but that could happen in early 2023 during a special election for what will then be two open council seats.
Here’s a look at some of the major changes and other highlights of the draft charter:
- Establishes a consecutive two-term, or eight-year limit for the mayor. A mayor that has reached the term limit may then seek election as a council member. There are no term limits in the current charter.
- A consecutive two-term, or eight-year limit is established for council members. A council that has reached the term limit may then seek election as mayor. There are no term limits in the current charter.
- The mayor and council members will not be paid if they miss a meeting, unless it’s due to an emergency. With two or more unexcused absences per quarter from consecutive meetings, the council can determine with a fourth-fifths vote that the council member or mayor has abandoned their seat.
- The town council shall conduct all meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order.
- The town will create the position of town clerk/finance director, along with a public works director position that reports directly to the mayor. Both will be hired by the mayor with approval by the council. With the approval of the mayor — not the council — the town clerk/finance director and public works director will hire, fire and supervise the employees in their respective departments. (Currently, the council must approve all hires, from the highest to lowest positions in the town.)
- The charter establishes the right of the town clerk/finance director to take part in town council discussion. The clerk has no guaranteed right to take part in discussions under the current charter.
- The mayor will establish an agenda for all council meetings.
- The mayor will provide quarterly reports on finances, administrative activities, and actions of various departments. The mayor will also present an annual budget to the town council.
- The mayor will be able to authorize expenditures up to $5,000, or up to $10,000 in a declared emergency, without town council approval.
- The council will request and receive bids and award contracts for expenditures of $5,001 or more.
- To be eligible to seek election as a council member, one year residency in the town will be required. (There is currently no length of residency requirement for council members, and a 6-month requirement for the mayor.)
- Before being sworn in as mayor or town council member, the individual must agree to complete any state-mandated training or orientation, and complete Sunshine Law and public records law conducted by the town attorney.
Any portion of the draft charter, including the items listed above. could be altered or removed from a final charter. The town council also has the option to reject the charter or never place it on the ballot.
Pictured top: Century Charter Review Committee chairperson Mary Bourgeois speaks as consultant Buz Eddy listens in April 2022. Pictured below: Committee member Kathryn Fleming reviews a draft charter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “Big Changes Proposed For Century’s Government In Draft Charter”
There are many that work and do business within the town that live outside of the city limits. I would encourage those that draft the final document to allow those with a Century address to be able to run for those positions. At least make it within a specified radius.
I get the term limit idea but I’m not sure how that will work with no Candidates to run.
Guess we’ll see how it works out with no one running for 2 vacant seats currently.
@ Buford. A winner is somebody who knows when to cut their losses.
We don’t want to disincorporate. The incorporation keeps the street lights on and the water running in and the sewer running out and the trash picked up.
If It went to the county they could access MSBU on property tax to cover these and cost more. Plus ECUA rate would go for the rest of you if they take over.
Most of the people complaining must not live here.
Water off a ducks back.
Everyone complaining but none willing to step up. Bunch of whinners
There is a reason the Florida Legislature changed the laws to require a population of 5,000 to incorporate a new municipality. It takes at least that many people for it to be viable. Century, as of the 2020 census, has a population of 1,713.
Just surrender the charter and let the county return to rule.
The community of Century will still remain.
Might be useful for citizens if NorthEscambia.com posted a copy here. Based on what is written here, the intent seems to be to give the Mayor significantly more political power at the expense of the Town Council, the opposite of what is needed. By the way, there is a simple state law procedure to abolish the Town of Century as many posting here seem to want. However, it cannot be done using a charter provision. The town council can adopt an ordinance to abolish the town that if approved by voters would do the job. The charter can also give voters a power to propose ordinances giving voters a back-door way to propose such an ordinance. The most recent Florida municipality to be “disincorporated” was Hastings in 2018. Before that Cedar Grove was disincorporated in 2008, Monte Vista in 2003 and North Key Largo Beach also in 2003. Lastly, anyone can propose a municipal charter or charter amendment. Any group of Century town residents could get together at a BBQ and come up with a better plan than this one.
“Agenda, reports, rules of order, mayoral limits on expenditures – these are all things that should have been done all along”
The mayor has a spending limit now…$200 on a good day and $500 for emergencies.
Agenda, reports, rules of order, mayoral limits on expenditures – these are all things that should have been done all along.
This is like the epitome of “busy work.” The town council shall conduct all meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order. Ha Ha.The town can hardly stay solvent. Make it easy. Dissolve the town. Fire the council. Give the control to the county.
Thank you for your work on this. Hope the two empty seats will be filled.
All you can do is your absolute best. If you gave 100% it won’t matter what anyone says because you have already given your time, emotion, stress, sacrifice ect. And any Nay Sayer will not affect you.
They talk about term limits when they cant get anybody to run for positions. No mention of shutting down city.
Forget updating; just eliminate it, dissolve the failed little town, and sell off assets. Let the county run it.
It’s like changing the curtains in a burning building, just put an end to all of this, remove the charter and disband this wasteful, redundant, historically corrupt, unapologetically ineffective layer of needless government.
A funny document for a funny town.