All charter amendments pass in North Bay Village, except the one to raise salaries

North Bay Village residents voted on 15 charter amendments ranging from pay level for elected officials to a green initiative to reduce paper waste. Others proposed to change the balance of power between elected officials and the appointed village manager, tasked with day-to-day management of the village.

The charter amendments considered by Village voters were proposed by a committee of residents and approved by the commission. The charter review committee meets every six years.

Charter amendments require a simple majority to pass. Of the 16, only one failed to pass—an amendment that would raise salaries of commissioners and the mayor in the cash-strapped village. Another was withdrawn. All 14 others passed.

Here are the results:

Passed — 76.81% in favor — Charter Amendment 1 : It is proposed that the Definitions section in the Charter be amended to reorganize and modernize certain definitions as well as to reflect non-substantive stylistic and technical changes.

Passed — 84.80% in favor — Charter Amendment 2 : The current Charter has no provision for a Citizens’ Bill of Rights. It is proposed that the Village Charter be amended to establish a Citizens’ Bill of Rights.

Failed — 36.64% in favor — Charter Amendment 3 : It is proposed that the Commissions’ salaries be increased from $525.00 per month to $750.00 per month and the Mayor’s salary be increased from $650.00 per month to $875.00 per month.

Passed — 82.50% in favor — Charter Amendment 4 : It is proposed that a forfeiture hearing be held at a regular or special meeting of the Commission and that notice be increased from one week to ten calendar days in advance of the hearing.

Withdrawn — Charter Amendment 5 : The current Charter requires that the Village Manager consent to a salary reduction during the fiscal year for which the budget is prepared. It is proposed that the Village Manager’s consent no longer be required for a salary reduction.

Passed — 77.39% in favor — Charter Amendment 6 : The current Charter allows the Village Manager to designate an acting appointee during a brief absence or incapacity, for an indefinite period of time. It is proposed that the Village Manager’s designation authority be limited to thirty (30) consecutive calendar days or less.

Passed — 67.23% in favor — Charter Amendment 7 : The current Charter allows the Village Manager to convey his powers to his subordinates without Village Commission approval. It is proposed that the Village Manager obtain Commission approval prior to conveying his powers to his subordinates.

Passed — 83.08% in favor — Charter Amendment 8 : The Village Manager is not currently explicitly held accountable to enforce the Village code or to provide necessary support and resources to the code enforcement department to enforce the code. It is proposed that the Village Manager now be held accountable to enforce the Village code and provide necessary support and resources to uphold the code.

Passed — 61.64% in favor — Charter Amendment 9 : It is proposed that the Village Clerk section be updated to remove the requirement that Village records be kept in a physical book.

Passed — 62.57% in favor — Charter Amendment 10 : The current charter provides that in the absence of the Village Clerk, the Village Manager may act as Village Clerk or make a temporary appointment. It is proposed that the Village Clerk section be updated to remove the provision providing for the Village Manager to act as or appoint a Clerk in the absence of a Village Clerk.

Passed — 58.92% in favor — Charter Amendment 11 : It is proposed that the Village Commission establish the time for the qualification period for elected office instead of the time currently established, which is no sooner than seventy-five (75) days prior to the election date and no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the election date.

Passed — 64.52% in favor — Charter Amendment 12 : It is proposed that the time by which nominating petitions can be amended and/or re-filed be changed from not less than forty (40) days before an election to any time prior to the qualifying deadline.

Passed — 77.87% in favor — Charter Amendment 13 : Current elected or sitting officials must file a notice of resignation with the Village Clerk on the day the individual qualifies to run for elective office. It is proposed that the Charter now require a notice of resignation be sent to the Clerk at least ten (10) calendar days before the beginning of the qualification period.

Passed — 69.58% in favor — Charter Amendment 14 : It is proposed that an elected or appointed sitting commissioner who fails to be elected as mayor, shall not be appointed by the Commission until at least two (2) years after the resignation.

Passed — 60.43% in favor — Charter Amendment 15 : The current Charter prohibits any person related up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to an elected or appointed Village official (department head and above) from holding a remunerative position with the Village. It is proposed the Charter be amended to change second degree of consanguinity or affinity to third degree.

Passed — 73.16% in favor — Charter Amendment 16 : It is proposed that the Charter be amended to 1) update and re-organize certain provisions, 2) consolidate redundant language, 3) reflect non-substantive stylistic and technical changes, along with amendments needed for conformity, consistency of statutory authority, and implementation, and 4) authorize Commission to enact implementing legislation and codification.