Charter changes hit a snag

The state is requiring some changes in the language of three city charter ballot proposals. The council is seeking the changes to the city charter, one of which would give them salary raises.

By Charles Sercombe
The State of Michigan is saying ‘not so fast’ about three ballot proposals the city council wants voters to consider.
In a not-unusual move, the state is insisting on minor changes in the language of the ballot proposals, which is something a number of cities stumble over.
City Manager Max Garbarino said he would come back with the modified changes in the coming weeks. He did not specify what changes the state is seeking.
The council wants these three changes to the charter, which was adopted in 2004 – replacing the city’s original charter from 1922.
Councilmembers are seeking a pay raise from $3,249 a year to $9,749.
The mayor pro tem’s increase would go from $4,874 to $11,374 per year. Councilmember Mohammed Hassan is the current mayor pro tem, whose duty is to chair council meetings when the mayor is absent, as well as fill in for the mayor as needed.
Finally, for the mayor, the current salary of $6,499 a year would go up to $12,998.
The total increase for the council and mayor is $45,500 for the year.
The yearly salaries are based on a percentage of the governor’s salary. For council, it’s currently 2 percent, for the mayor pro tem it’s 3 percent and for the mayor, 4 percent.
The changes, if approved, would move that to 6, 7, and 8 percent respectively.
Councilmember Mohammed Hassan, who is mayor pro tem, proposed the changes, and justified the increases because the cost of living has increased.
“It’s not only money, it’s time and respect,” Hassan said.
Another change in the charter would remove the restriction of making councilmembers and the mayor wait at least two years before being appointed as city manager here.
And the third would-be charter change would strike down the requirement for a councilmember who wants to run for mayor to first resign from council no later than 60 days prior to the filing deadline to run for mayor.
The same would apply to a mayor who wants to run for council while still in office.
In both instances, no resignation is needed if they are in the last year of their term.
If the modified changes in the ballot proposal are made in time, voters will have their say on the matter in the August Primary Election.
Posted April 14, 2023