City Charter Amendments Pass Across the Board
All seven propositions passed in today’s special election to amend the Bedford City Charter. From providing a stipend to Council members to updating residency requirements for Council and staff, the results of the votes of each proposition are detailed below.
PROPOSITION A
An amendment modifying the minimum one-year residency requirement to serve on City Council to be one “continuous year.” It also requires any Council member who is “convicted of a Class A or a Class B misdemeanor or felony” to “immediately” vacate their seat. Currently, the requirement to vacate is limited to a felony conviction.
PROPOSITION B
Would provide a one-dollar-per-month “stipend” as compensation for members of the City Council. Currently, Council members receive no compensation other than reimbursement for expenses “while on official duty.”
PROPOSITION C
Would be an addition to the Charter, which would set the protocols for the removal of a City Council member for having “violated the City Charter.” The procedure would require a sworn complaint, for the complainant to be identified, no expiration of the complaint and a vote by a simple majority of the Council to remove from office.
PROPOSITION D
An amendment requiring the City Manager to reside within 30 miles of Bedford’s City Hall, rather than currently requiring them to be a Bedford resident.
PROPOSITION E
Sets to clarify the Council “vote” for appointing a city attorney by requiring “a minimum of four (4) affirmative votes on the City Council” for approval.
PROPOSITION F
Adds the requirements of a one-year Bedford residency and “competent practicing lawyer” provision for Municipal Judge to the Charter by specifying that qualified candidates need to “maintain” a law office or are employed at a law office in Tarrant County. This amendment also specifies that the Municipal Judge is appointed and serves at the discretion of the City Council and “may be removed after notice and an opportunity to be heard at a public hearing.”
PROPOSITION G
Amends the City Charter by deleting the requirement of the Master Plan for “widening, narrowing, re-locating, vacating or change in the use of any street, alley or public way or ground or the sale of any public building or real property shall be subject to similar submission and approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and, failure to approve, may be similarly overruled by the City Council.”
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