Council to call for election

Jacksonville Progress

JACKSONVILLE February 12, 2008 12:11 am

— By Kelly Young
kyoung@jacksonvilleprogress.com
Jacksonville City Council is expected to pass a resolution, during the Tuesday night meeting, calling for a May city election and a special election for amendments to the city charter. The council will also consider an agreement between the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Independent School District in order to hold joint elections.
“There are two seats up for re-election in May — the seats for districts No. 2 and 4. Council members Jeff Smith (District No. 2) and Phyllis Wilburn (District No. 4) are currently filling those seats,” City Manager Mo Raissi said. “Members of the city council serve a two-year term, so this year we are electing two of the councilmembers and next year we will vote for the other two members and the mayor.”
If passed, the resolution would set May 10 as election day and would set the Jacksonville Public Library as the city’s election day polling place. Early voting would be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays from April 28 through May 6 at city hall — except for April 30 and May 1 when the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
At last month’s City Council meeting, Mayor Robert Haberle asked the council to review the city charter for any possible changes that need to be made. The mayor said he hopes to have any proposed amendments ready to be included on the May ballot.
An ordinance will also come before the council Tuesday night which would amend the procedures of the city’s Board of Adjustments. Haberle declined to make an appointment to that board last month because he wanted to see if he could find a better method of governing the board.
“According to the 1995 ordinance that pertains to this board, the mayoral appointment automatically becomes the chairman of the board. I would ask the council to review the ordinance to see if we couldn’t allow the board to choose its own leadership,” Haberle said during last month’s meeting.
If the ordinance passes, the Board of Adjustments would be able to select its chairman by majority vote at the first meeting of each calendar year. The mayor will also recommend Jason Childress to serve on the board, and action will be taken to either approve or deny his appointment.
Other agenda items include:
• approval of previous meetings’ minutes;
• approval for the city to sell surplus items at auction;
• approval of an ordinance allowing Oncor Electric Delivery Company to replace its mercury vapor light fixtures to more energy efficient high-pressure sodium fixtures;
• approval to modify and renew the city’s contract with East Texas Medical Center’s Emergency Medical Service;
• approval of an ordinance increasing the subscription rates for Jacksonville EMS to match the rates of local hospitals;
• approval of Julie Duren to serve on the Jacksonville Beautification Committee; and
• approval of three appointments to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
The Jacksonville City Council regularly meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, at the Norman Activity Center. All meetings of the Jacksonville City Council are open to the public.