What exactly is Measure 6-143, this Coos County Home Rule Charter?
It's a Constitution creating an enforceable contract between county citizens and their elected officials.
Nine Oregon counties have charters. Charters can be amended, not by the commissioners, but by a vote of the people.
In late 2010 several troublesome issues began to arise: an unelected County Administrator; Urban Renewal Tax expansion; Bandon Marsh Expansion; and the Coos Bay Wagon Road timber management. Some citizens wondered what they could do. This "Voice of the Voters" Charter started there.
With this Charter there will be no County Administrator without an amendment by the people (Section 3.24). County Urban Renewal Tax decisions will go to a vote of the people (Section 12). Transfer of major county assets ($100,000-plus) will go to a vote of the people (Section 7.2). Five commissioners will be full time, fully accountable, elected at large (Sections 3.1 and 3.9), paid for by eliminating credit cards, reducing Human Resource's
salary, bulk purchasing, and required maintenance savings.
Commissioners will vote only at regularly scheduled Coquille Board meetings (Section 3.12).
Citizen comments will be allowed at all meetings (Section 3.20.B). The county will have open published
contract bids and accountability for quality and compliance (Section 16). Major decisions on Wagon Road timber,
county water rights, and county forestlands will be decided by the voters (Secton 7.2). And, following the
abandonment and dismantling of the unmaintained Beaver Hill incinerators, Preventative Maintenance will now include dedicated funds (Section 9).
To qualify for the ballot, this Charter needed 1,521 signatures. It garnered 2,701 or almost 80% more than needed, and in only two months.
A county administrator? Why have an expensive, unelected, golden-parachuted firewall between you and your elected commissioners?
Also, this Charter requires no special elections. The State sets regular election days in March, May, September, and November every year, when major issues can be brought before the voters.
The Charter is online: www.koosnews.com and www.cooscountywatchdog.com and www.mgx.com
Take control.
Get informed.
Vote.
Ronnie Herne
ARRRG2012@dishmail.net
Additionally: Longevity raises for county employees at 5, 10, and 20 years have existed for years. The charter simply adds year 15 as an additional anniversary. If providing free document copies to the taxpaying citizens is going to cost "tens to hundreds of thousands", then where in the county budget are these currently-collected amounts, while the county is still charging 50 cents per copy?
This Charter's name is "Voice of the Voters". It is not only its name but also its philosophy. It was written from the view of the voters and it returns local county government to that old fashioned American value of government "of the
People..."
Related Posts:
Home Rule Charter is officially on the ballot
Americans for Prosperity Presents the Panal on the Home Rule Charter
"Voice of the Voters" Home Rule Charter 8-7-12
BOC Meeting discussing Governance Advisory Committee
BOC Watch...Aug 14 & 15, 2012
The BOC will decide on the county Administrator and the Urban Renewal Amendment
SOS OR Counties 2012 Financial Condidtion Review 2012-17
COOS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Board of Commissioners Meeting
Board of Commissioners Meeting the Sturcture Committee
Does Portland employ one manager for every six non-managers?
It's a Constitution creating an enforceable contract between county citizens and their elected officials.
Nine Oregon counties have charters. Charters can be amended, not by the commissioners, but by a vote of the people.
In late 2010 several troublesome issues began to arise: an unelected County Administrator; Urban Renewal Tax expansion; Bandon Marsh Expansion; and the Coos Bay Wagon Road timber management. Some citizens wondered what they could do. This "Voice of the Voters" Charter started there.
With this Charter there will be no County Administrator without an amendment by the people (Section 3.24). County Urban Renewal Tax decisions will go to a vote of the people (Section 12). Transfer of major county assets ($100,000-plus) will go to a vote of the people (Section 7.2). Five commissioners will be full time, fully accountable, elected at large (Sections 3.1 and 3.9), paid for by eliminating credit cards, reducing Human Resource's
salary, bulk purchasing, and required maintenance savings.
Commissioners will vote only at regularly scheduled Coquille Board meetings (Section 3.12).
Citizen comments will be allowed at all meetings (Section 3.20.B). The county will have open published
contract bids and accountability for quality and compliance (Section 16). Major decisions on Wagon Road timber,
county water rights, and county forestlands will be decided by the voters (Secton 7.2). And, following the
abandonment and dismantling of the unmaintained Beaver Hill incinerators, Preventative Maintenance will now include dedicated funds (Section 9).
To qualify for the ballot, this Charter needed 1,521 signatures. It garnered 2,701 or almost 80% more than needed, and in only two months.
A county administrator? Why have an expensive, unelected, golden-parachuted firewall between you and your elected commissioners?
Also, this Charter requires no special elections. The State sets regular election days in March, May, September, and November every year, when major issues can be brought before the voters.
The Charter is online: www.koosnews.com and www.cooscountywatchdog.com and www.mgx.com
Take control.
Get informed.
Vote.
Ronnie Herne
ARRRG2012@dishmail.net
Additionally: Longevity raises for county employees at 5, 10, and 20 years have existed for years. The charter simply adds year 15 as an additional anniversary. If providing free document copies to the taxpaying citizens is going to cost "tens to hundreds of thousands", then where in the county budget are these currently-collected amounts, while the county is still charging 50 cents per copy?
This Charter's name is "Voice of the Voters". It is not only its name but also its philosophy. It was written from the view of the voters and it returns local county government to that old fashioned American value of government "of the
People..."
Related Posts:
Home Rule Charter is officially on the ballot
Americans for Prosperity Presents the Panal on the Home Rule Charter
"Voice of the Voters" Home Rule Charter 8-7-12
BOC Meeting discussing Governance Advisory Committee
BOC Watch...Aug 14 & 15, 2012
The BOC will decide on the county Administrator and the Urban Renewal Amendment
SOS OR Counties 2012 Financial Condidtion Review 2012-17
COOS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Board of Commissioners Meeting
Board of Commissioners Meeting the Sturcture Committee
Does Portland employ one manager for every six non-managers?
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