Politics & Government

Some Residents Sound Off About Council Compensation and No Term Limits

Several residents spoke out Monday night about the council's legislation for compensation and other changes to University Park's charter regarding elections.

Several University Park residents voiced concerns about the council's process to change the town's charter in regards to elections and compensation.

Some of it was due to confusion, as there was some misinformation that stated that the charter change would be voted on in October.

However, Mayor John Tabori assured the residents that the council would hold a public hearing about the issue before any vote would take place at the end of November or early December.

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The charter amendment would look at term limits, the length of terms, if elections should remain staggered.

Former Mayor Harold Freeman said he was against getting rid of term limits.

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"Term limits allows us to take a look at the council," Freeman said, allowing residents to determine whether or not someone is doing their work. He also said he believes if term limits are removed residents would become apathetic about council.

Resident Ed Lee believes that each of the topics concerning the elections and term limits should be broken down into separate amendments, so residents could vote in favor of one thing or against another.

"Personally don’t have any feeling about term limits, the only comment I have is that term limits on the municipal level are a rarity," Lee said.

He added that having half the town vote every year and the other half of the town vote every other year is unfair. Lee also thinks council should consider language for a recall be placed in the charter if term limits are eliminated, so residents are able to remove someone from office if necessary.

Resident Paul Essex wants four year terms that overlaps, continuing the staggering currently in place.

They have also opted to look into .

Although in past meetings, residents have voiced that council should be paid, Monday night the opinion was the opposite.

Essex said he is against the council receiving compensation because he believes it's self-serving.

He also doesn't understand why they should get compensation, when the town has no commercial businesses — he added, "comparing yourselves to Greenbelt and Hyattsville, they have some real work to do."

Resident Joanne Fletcher also agreed with Essex about compensation.

"This town is volunteer," Fletcher said, noting that everything in the town works with the help of resident volunteers. She added she didn't want taxes increased for the elderly or for the young families making ends meet.

Council has not raised taxes in five years, according to former councilman Mickey Lucas, and he doesn't believe they will have to in order for council to be compensated.

Resident Bruce Burrows said he is looking forward to public hearing, when he hopes more residents will share their thoughts. He added that he likes that the current council has some experience and some fresh stock and looks at the compensation not as a salary, but as a thank you for the council's time.

Resident Dana Shea added he also believes that the amendments should be separated.

"We can get rid of term limits, that's fine," Shea said. he said according to the Maryland Municipal League 106 municipalities in the state stagger elections.

However, he noted there's some confusion on the salary issue — wondering is it a stipend, does it include benefits and retirement.

Councilwoman Jacqueline Bradley-Chacon asked that the council move to separate the amendments and to table the discussion until after the policy and rules committee meets and discusses the amendments.

Bradley-Chacon also asked that a public hearing be held about the issue and it not be brought again to council until November.


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