SUBJECT: GENERAL BUSINESS
Title
Home Rule Presentation
Body
DEPARTMENT: Administration
PRESENTER: Farrell Buller, Deputy Town Administrator
Hilary M. Graham, Hoffmann, Parker, Wilson & Carberry, P.C.
TIME ESTIMATE: 30 minutes
only required for non-consent items
FISCAL INFORMATION:
Cost as Recommended: $ 140,000
Balance Available: 0
Budget Line Item Number: Various
New Appropriation Required: No
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
This presentation and discussion is intended to review-especially for Trustees new to the Board-the implications Home Rule would have for Erie, the required steps and timeline for pursuing Home Rule, and the proposed community engagement the Board had previously agreed on. In light of the pandemic impact on the Town's budget, and the constraints the pandemic may impose on community engagement, staff is seeking confirmation whether the Board wants staff to continue working on this project in 2020, or to defer pursuing Home Rule until 2021, as proposed in the budget actions to address the pandemic impact.
During the Board's October 15 Study Session, the Board asked staff to provide analysis of how the Town could facilitate a November 2020 Home Rule Charter election, what kind of outreach/engagement would be necessary to inform the electorate and get enough interested candidates to run for the Home Rule Commission. Then, during the Board's November 12, 2019 meeting, the Board reached a consensus to pursue a Home Rule election schedule of November 3, 2020 (for the initial question and election of Home Rule Commissioners) and November 2, 2021 (for the election on a proposed Home Rule Charter). That schedule includes the following steps:
* January-July 2020: Community engagement on Home Rule and process
* August 2020: BoT calls election to form a Charter Commission and vote on commissioners
* September 2020: Within 30 days of notice of election, Commission candidates must file nomination petitions
* November 2020: Electo...
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