Minutes 09/28/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

September 28. 2010 Next Steps Following Council Action: . Committee will have its organizational meeting as quickly as possible, followed by regular meetings. . Law Department will provide organizational support to the commission. . Two Council Members, City Manager, and City Attorney will serve ex officio. . Commission will submit its report to City Council by November 8. 1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, P. O. Box 50141, spoke in support of this item. Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Ms. Randall, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE WILLIAM B. SPONG, JR. CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND APPOINTING MEMBERS THERETO. WHEREAS, the Portsmouth City Charter (the "Charter") has not had a comprehensive review or revision since its most recent adoption by the General Assembly of Virginia in 1970; and WHEREAS, the Charter contains some provIsions which are outdated, incomplete, unnecessary, or so poorly worded that it is difficult to discern their intent and meaning; and WHEREAS, other important provisions are omitted from the Charter; and WHEREAS, the Charter also sets forth several procedures or requirements that deserve reconsideration and possible revision, because of changed circumstances and reasons of sound public policy; and WHEREAS, under Virginia's legal system, a charter functions almost as a local constitution, setting forth general guidelines defining the proper role and functioning of local government; and WHEREAS, City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City and its citizens to have a comprehensive review and revision of the Charter; and WHEREAS, in considering any possible revisions to the Charter, Portsmouth should be guided by principles of statesmanship and good government, and the most distinguished Portsmouth statesman of the modern era was the Honorable William B. Spong, Jr., United States Senator, Dean of the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, and President of Old Dominion University, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: 1. That the William B. Spong, Jr. Charter Review Commission IS hereby established, with a mission and membership as set forth in this resolution. 2. The Commission shall review the Charter and recommend changes that are believed to be in the public interest. By way of example, and without limitation, recommendations could include: A. Repealing non-controversial provisions that are outdated, duplicate existing law, are inconsistent with other laws or practices, or serve no clear purpose. B. Revision of non-controversial provisions that are poorly worded, ambiguous and/or confusing. C. Adding any new, non-controversial provisions that should be present and that are common in other charters, but are not in our Charter.