Lakewood Charter Changes Overwhelmingly Approved

OK’d eight changes to the city's Second Amended Charter on Tuesday.

Kevin Butler, the city's law director, told that the overall idea of the changes is to provide consistency — and modernization — to the language of the charter.

He called them “housekeeping items.”

All of the charter changes passed easily.

One of the proposed issues is changing the language of the line of succession of the mayor's office — a recent issue stemming from the election of former-mayor .

No one in the city's line of succession (law director, finance director and so on) wanted to take the post. then-Ward 3 councilman Michael Summers, who will retain his mayoral post after he ran unopposed.

The charter amendment will keep the power of mayoral appointment with council should there be an absence in the mayoral post again.

Other changes to the charter include allowing the city to perform any action covered under the state's constitution; providing more flexibility in the posting of public announcements; and including the city's sewer system among municipal improvements supported by millage.

Butler pointed out that two “well-respected, apolitical” Lakewood residents, Larry Keller and Steve Davis, helped to draft the changes.

“They’ve studied these issues through and through,” he said.

“Did the great majority of people recognize these issues? Maybe Lakewood Patch helped.”

The Second Amended Charter was approved by voters in November 2000 — which was a complete overhaul of the original charter. Most recently, a charter issue came up again in November 2008, when voters OK'd moving primary elections from September to October.

“I think tonight’s outcome reflects that Lakewood’s residents are serious about preserving their home rule authority and good drafting.”

Charter changes

Yes

No

Issue 65 – City action, state laws

8,181

2,316

Issue 66 – Mayor investigation

6,902

3,301

Issue 67 – Acting mayor

8,809

2,082

Issue 68 – Qualifications/vacancies

9,527

1,336

Issue 69 – Open meetings

7,405

3,262

Issue 70 – Public announcements

8,270

2,519

Issue 71 – Home rule

7,160

3,041

Issue 72 – Infrastructure

8,454

2,404