2005 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE

The 2005 Charter Review Committee met on November 17, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. with Chairman Leary presiding. Members present were Mr. Christiansen, Mrs. Greenwood, Mrs. Malone, and Dr. Miller. Mr. Scheller and Mr. Jones were absent. Mrs. McDowell was also present.

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS

Mr. Christiansen moved for approval of the agenda, seconded by Dr. Miller and unanimously carried.

Discussion - Review of City Charter

Members discussed options for the form of government, including the possibility of a strong Mayor as the Chief Executive Officer with a professional City Manager. With this form of government members suggested that a search committee comprised of the Mayor, Council President, and Standing Committee Chairs would serve as a search committee for future City Managers and the City Manager would be nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by Council. The role of Council would be legislative and appropriative in this form of government.

Members discussed several different options for the number of Council districts and how members might be elected, such as six (6) districts with the Council president and two (2) Council members being elected at large. Mr. Leary advised members that the demographics of Dover have become so diluted that it is difficult to draw the boundary lines for the minority district. Members also discussed the NAACP consent decree with regard to an increased number of districts being beneficial in establishing a minority district or enabling the City to have two (2) minority districts.

Terms of office for the Mayor and Council were discussed, including the possibility of adopting a recall option for both offices and eliminating the requirement that Council members relinquish their seat in order to run for another office, such as Mayor, Levy Court, etc.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

Adjournment

Mr. Christiansen moved for adjournment, seconded by Dr. Miller and unanimously carried.

Meeting Adjourned at 8:49 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas J. Leary, Chairman

TJL/tm

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