(2/10) Two resolutions to the Town Charter were approved at the February Burgess and Commissioners meeting. Commissioner Betsey Brannen introduced staggering terms for elected officials in January to help alleviate the issue of a full council turnover due to the current practice of electing all its members on the same date and for the same length of time.
Brannen explained that when she ran in 2018, she noticed the stress that a full turnover of the Council and the Burgess could have on the Town staff. It would also give the incoming council members the chance to learn from already established council members. Brannen said she was still learning about government processes and has been in office since May.
The first resolution she introduced changed the Town Charter to increase the terms for each commissioner from three years to four years. This change also lengthens the Burgess’ term from a three-year term to a four-year term. With this change, the election day will also be changed from the second Monday every three years to the second Monday every two years. Polls will return to being open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., because in 2023’s special election to fill a vacant commissioner seat, they were changed to 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The second resolution specifically impacts the upcoming 2024 elections and staggers the terms. The elected Burgess will hold a four-year term expiring in 2028 and the two commissioners with the highest vote count will serve four-year terms also expiring in 2028. The three commissioners with the lowest votes will serve terms of two years that will expire in 2026. Currently both the Burgess and the commissioners serve three-year terms which will change to four-year terms indefinitely with the new resolutions.
Elections will be held every two years, as opposed to the typical three years, until the new code is back on track in 2026. This change will create the desired staggered effect of commissioners beginning their terms every two years and holding office for four years.
Middletown and Thurmont both have the same schedule of staggered elections for their commissioners' terms. Emmitsburg, Woodsboro and Taneytown hold an election every year in which at least one commissioner is put up for re-election so there is always a changeover in their Town Council’s makeup.
Both resolutions passed with the required minimum of three votes from Commissioners Tom Gilbert, Mary Ann Ennis and Betsey Brannen. Commissioner Gary Baker and Commissioner Mike McNiesh were not present. A public hearing to review the changes to the Town Code will be planned for March.
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