To the Editor:
Now is your chance to make a difference! Most residents observe the workings of City government from the sidelines and never have the opportunity to have a direct impact on how things are done. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, 2011, you can go to the polls to vote to change how Newburgh government functions by voting YES to the two proposed revisions to the City of Newburgh Charter.
Over the past several months, nine of your fellow City of Newburgh residents from every area of the city and many walks of life have studied the Charter. After committee discussion, it was decided that we would concentrate on the two areas we saw as the most problematic and recommend changes which are being brought to the voters on November 8, 2011. The two propositions which you will have the opportunity to vote on pertain to the Sections of the Charter dealing with the composition of the Council and the process for the Appointment/Replacement/Removal of the City Manager.
City Proposition #1
Shall the proposal by the City of Newburgh Charter Review Commission to amend the Newburgh City Charter to increase the number of members of the City Council from five (5) to seven (7) consisting of a Mayor and two (2) Council members elected at large and four (4) Council members elected from the four (4) wards into which the City is to be divided by a districting commission be approved? Yes or No
It has been the opinion of many residents of this City that the size of the Council should be expanded. Many times resolutions & ordinances, the decisions affecting a city of almost 30,000, are being passed by three votes of the current five members of the Council.
After studying governments of other municipalities of similar size in New York State, it was decided to increase the Council to seven members. There are some municipalities who have all at-large representation and some where all representatives are elected from wards. The Charter Review Commission decided to go with a hybrid form of government with both at-large (a Mayor and two Councilpersons) and ward representation (four Councilpersons – to be elected one from each of four wards which will be established if this proposition is passed). The benefit of this hybrid form of government is that the ward Council members will be the voice of the residents in your individual neighborhood or ward (and the decision to elect or re-elect would be made based on the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the residents of your ward only and not diluted by the voters of the rest of the City who are not directly affected by their performance) and the at-large members, chosen by the voters of the entire City, will make decisions in the interest of the City as a whole.
Ward representation would also guarantee that at least four members of the Council would come from four different sections of the City so that residents are represented equally. Currently, with all at-large representation, the entire Council could live in one area of the City. Ward representation also brings accountability to our government; something which most residents do not feel currently exists.
City Proposition #2
Shall the proposal by the City of Newburgh Charter Review Commission to amend the Newburgh City Charter to change the method of appointment, replacement and removal of the City Manager be approved? Yes or No
This proposition deals exclusively with the City Manager and sets minimum qualifications, requires a super majority vote to hire or fire and requires residence in the City by the Manager.
Since 1917, when our City moved to the Council/Manager form of government, our City has had 50 City Managers. Some may have been removed for just cause, others because of changes in the political tide. Continuity is needed in this position and the changes being proposed by the Charter Review Commission would continue to allow a Council to dismiss a Manager for cause but hopefully would create stability in this position.
Proposition #2 would change the Charter so that a vote of a majority plus one of the Council would be needed either to hire or fire a City Manager. If Proposition #1 passes, that would mean that five of the seven council persons would have to vote to hire or dismiss. If Proposition #1 does not pass and the Council remains a five member body but the electorate passes Proposition #2 on November 8, it would take four votes to hire or fire. The process being proposed would also require two separate votes by the Council before the Manager could be terminated. There would be a cooling off period between the two votes during which time the City Manager could request a public hearing to bring his/her side of the story to the people.
The Commission has also created a process to be followed by the Council which would become a part of the Charter upon passing of Proposition #2 in regard to the steps to be followed and time frame allowed for replacement of a City Manager. An interim/acting City Manager could serve a term of six months with a possible one time extension of six months voted on by the Council if a permanent replacement was not hired and/or on the job at the end of the six months. The City Manager would have to become a resident of the City within 120 days of appointment.
These are the changes you as residents of the City of Newburgh have the opportunity to vote on. My opinion, as a lifelong Newburgher, is that the status quo is not working. We have to start to make changes to move our City in a new direction and to correct problems that have existed for far too long. I believe that these are the first steps to create a more responsive, effective government. I will be voting YES on November 8 to Proposition #1 and #2.
Mary Ann Prokosch
Member-Charter Review Commission
City of Newburgh
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