Blog

(July 12, 2011)

By Carol Arnett

After an extensive debate, the Florissant City Council passed a bill by a 5-2 vote to establish a Charter Review Commission. The commission the bill would establish would consist of nine members, each appointed by a different council member. The commission would be tasked with reviewing the city charter.

If the commission wanted to recommend any changes, it would present them to the council. The council would then vote on putting any proposed changes on the ballot for citizens to vote on.

Councilmen John Grib and Keith Schildroth voted “no” on the bill. Councilman Mark Schmidt, who had previously opposed the charter review, was not present. Mayor Tom Schneider can veto the bill. When another version of this bill came before the council in March 2010, Schneider voiced his opposition to the charter review commission and voted “no.”

“I’m not opposed to a charter review,” Grib said. “It’s time.” However, he continued, “I am to the proposed method. I don’t believe it’s necessary to have a charter review commission.” Grib said he would be open to the council reviewing the charter, perhaps with public hearings.

Schildroth agreed. “We can use work session, or discuss on of the 14 sections each month at a meeting,” he said.

Councilman Tim Lee voted for the bill. “Last March, a similar bill passed and was vetoed. Some councilman said that the council should review, and I was all for it, but it never happened.” It’s been over a year, and the council has done nothing.” Lee continued, “Quite frankly, I don’t understand why there’s fear in reviewing an old document, and I find it ironic that everyone was vehemently opposed to letting citizens participate in government.”

Councilwoman Karen McKay noted the difficulty in getting the council together outside of regularly scheduled meetings. “Let the citizens do it,” she said of the review. “We have budget sessions coming up and legislations we must review.” McKay also likened the charter to other documents. “Do you review your will?” she asked.

Councilman Andrew Podleski said that the proposed commission would be similar to others in the city. “We have several commissions now; this is nothing new.”

Council President Keith English pointed out the difficulty he has had setting up work sessions with the council. “I tried all spring to set up a work session, and we had one date that worked in the last three months,” he said. “I see no other way than a charter review commission.”

Schneider submitted a letter from a member of the original charter commission, set up in 1967 to establish the city. The member Ray Barett is opposed to a charter review commission. The mayor said he knows of two others on the  council at that time, who oppose it.

Several candidates in the upcoming election weighed in with their views. In Ward 6, Steve Purgahn said he was for it. “Everything comes back to the council,” he noted.

His opponent, Pat Stinnet, said he was against it. “This is not important to the residents,” he said.

In Ward 4, candidate Joe Eagan said he was against it. While campaigning, “not one person has mentioned a charter review to Joe Eagan.”

His opponents, Mark Behlmann and Elizabeth O’Fallon, both said they were in favor of the charter review.

The bill passed and will go to Schneider for his signature. If he vetoes, it will return to the council for an override vote.

In other matters, the council held a public hearing regarding plans by the McDonald’s restaurant at 3165 North Highway 67 to remodel. This is the McDonalds near the intersection of Lindbergh and New Halls Ferry, in front of Shop N Save and Kmart. The restaurant will receive a remodel to make it more similar to newer McDonalds.

The council approved a bill that proclaims “Valley of Flowers,” the official city motto. They also held a first reading on a bill that would set the salary of the new Municipal Judge as of the November election.

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