Share on FacebookTweetFollow us
Read More
Mayor Schneider’s Veto Message On City Charter Commission Bill
Mayor Ton Schneider:
” These five sponsors, one of which is temporary, created an avoidable distraction and impediment to good governance at a time when our city and all cities are facing more urgent challenges.
” The City Charter is the foundation of our government and the citizens deserve to have the Charter reviewed by the people that they elected to serve them. The City Council has an obligation given to them by the citizens to become as familiar with the Charter as possible. The duly elected officials who work under the guidelines of our Charter are obligated to continually study it and when necessary seek input from all citizens in public meetings where everyone would have the opportunity to participate.”
“I was a member of the City Council for 32 years and on several occasions the Charter was reviewed by the Council during public meetings and amendments were submitted to the voter for approval. In 1987 alone after considerable public discussion three Charter amendments were offered to the voters and they approved all three.
“Four other members from the 1987 Council (B. Garrett, K. Bond, T. Menke & C. DeMoulin), two members of the original 1963 Council (R. Barrett & B. McLaughlin), and three other former Council members (G. Debo, J. Brazil & K. Fowler), have contacted the Mayors office to endorse this method. So it has been ou experience that this is the ideal and correct way to handle a Charter Review.
” I will not endorse any legislation that allows the City Council to abdicate the responsibilities that were given to them by the citizens of Florissant. I voted against this legislation when it was introduced while I was a council member because it shifts the job from the citizens and their elected City Council to a few hand picked residents. As your new Mayor, it is now my duty to veto this legislation for the same reason.”
” I challenge the four sponsors of this bill who will remain on the Council to accept the responsibilities that come with their elected position, and encourage them to undertake the task of reviewing the Charter in such a way that all of the citizens of Florissant will be represented and involved,”
