Oxford Village council members took another step toward potentially amending the municipality’s charter by voting 5-0 at their Feb. 9 meeting to publish the draft language for six proposed charter amendments.
State law requires they must now remain on the table for 30 days before any action is taken. After that, the language for the proposed amendments must be approved by a two-thirds vote of council before it can be submitted to the governor for approval.
If okayed by the governor, then the proposed amendments can be placed on the Nov. 8 general election ballot for village voters to decide their fates. Charter amendments can only be approved by village voters.
The six proposed amendments cover a variety of topics.
They’re designed to bring the charter up to date since it hasn’t been significantly reviewed or amended since 1978. Village attorney Bob Davis has been working closely with council on this project since October 2014.
One proposed amendment deals with conflicts of interest.
It would prohibit council members and officers of the village from having an interest, either ‘directly or indirectly, in any contract made, or service to be performed, for or on behalf of the village unless such interest is authorized by the then-existing state law and in the manner required by such state law.?
Right now, the charter allows village officials to have such interests as long as council votes unanimously to allow it.
Another amendment would prohibit residents from holding any elective or appointed office for the village ‘if he/she has any indebtedness, statutory or otherwise? to the municipality.
The proposed amendment defines ‘indebtedness? as ‘any water bill or other financial obligation to the village which is more than 90 days past due, in whole or in part.?
This would apply to individuals seeking election to council and those serving on council as well as those seeking appointment to or serving on other village boards such as the planning commission, zoning board of appeals and downtown development authority.
Two of the proposed amendments deal with the village manager and village clerk.
Basically, they would require council to conduct annual performance reviews for both officials at a regular meeting in November, then at the last meeting in December, adopt resolutions outlining the responsibilities and duties for each for the next calendar year.
The final two proposed amendments are simply required by state law.
One states, ‘All public records of the Village of Oxford shall be available to the public under the Freedom of Information Act.?
The other declares, ‘The village council is empowered to adopt, continue, amend or repeal village ordinances.?