Home rule study ordinance back on Erie City Council's agenda
An ordinance regarding what's known as a home rule form of government is on City Council's Wednesday meeting agenda.
The ordinance, if approved, would not put home rule in place. It would authorize the creation of a ballot question that would ask city voters if they want to launch a nine-member commission to study the possibility of moving to a home rule charter.
The question could be on the ballot as soon as the Nov. 4 municipal election.
City Council rejected a similar ordinance in January after some members said they felt the issue was being rushed.
The ordinance would have to pass two readings of City Council. If it gets preliminary approval on Wednesday, a final vote could take place as soon as council's April 16 meeting.
The process would essentially empower city government to create its own constitution with greater flexibility and independence regarding issues such as city operations, taxation and executive/legislative structure.
Erie currently adheres to the state's Third Class City Code, with an optional charter, in terms of how its government operates. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, 'the basic authority to act in municipal affairs is transferred from state law, as set forth by the General Assembly, to a local charter, adopted and amended by the voters."
Home rule municipalities also have significant latitude to craft their own governmental rules in various areas, according to DCED, except where specifically limited by state law.
City Councilman Chuck Nelson is among those who has pushed hardest for home rule. He has said the move would give citizens more say on how the city is governed and give city officials more ability to craft laws/make decisions based on needs specific to Erie.
If city voters approve a home rule study, the commission would compile a public report on what home rule government might look like in Erie and make a recommendation on whether or not to move forward with home rule.
Then Erie voters would either approve or reject home rule through a second ballot question. The entire process could take years.
Voters in Lancaster recently approved a home rule study. Two other third-class cities in Pennsylvania, Reading and Allentown, adopted home rule decades ago.
Council members and city officials have met with DCED representatives and talked with officials in other cities to gather more information about home rule.
The issue was previously brought to a vote.
Council on Jan. 22 voted 4-3, on second reading, against authorizing a home rule ballot question that would have been placed on the May 20 municipal primary ballot.
At that time, a number of council members said the pace of the discussion over home rule was not giving citizens enough time to understand the full context of a ballot question.
Councilman Ed Brezezinski, at that time, voted against the home rule ordinance. He mentioned that citizens interested in serving on the home rule commission would have to be elected to those posts in relation to the ballot question.
Those candidates would be required to collect 200 non-partisan signatures on nominating petitions before the March 18 filing deadline for the municipal primary, just like candidates for local office are required to do.
Brzezinski said the city could slow the process down, 'get it right,' and still have time to place the study commission question on the ballot for the November election.
If any ballot question is rejected, it cannot be placed before voters again for at least five years, according to state law.
Nelson and his City Council colleagues Jasmine Flores and Tyler Titus voted for the home rule ordinance on Jan. 22. Besides Brzezinski, Council President Mel Witherspoon and two other members of the panel, Kathy Schaaf and Maurice Troop, voted against it.
Council meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Bagnoni Council Chambers at City Hall, 626 State St. The meeting can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube.
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie City Council weighs home rule charter ordinance again
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