Charter Limits Mayoral Power!

Dear Editor:

We've heard several people on the "con" side of the debate about the Home Rule Charter comment that they don't want the mayor to have "all that power." They actually seem to believe that becoming a Home Rule City, like the other 92 Home Rule cities in Colorado, would give the mayor czar-like powers. We'd like to permanently put that argument to rest.

Here is the quote from the state statute on a statutory mayor's powers. These are the powers the mayor currently has, because they are the powers prescribed by state statute. The statutory Mayor of Centennial has not chosen to use most of these powers, but that has been his choice.

This is from Title 31 of the Colorado Revised State Statutes.

31- 4-102. Mayor - qualifications and duties. (2) The mayor of the city shall be its chief executive officer and conservator of the peace, and it is his special duty to cause the ordinances and the regulations of the city to be faithfully and constantly obeyed. He shall supervise the conduct of all the officers of the city, examine the grounds of all reasonable complaints made against any of them, and cause any violations or neglect of duty to be promptly corrected or reported to the proper tribunal for punishment and correction. The mayor has and shall exercise, within the city limits, the powers conferred upon the sheriffs of counties to suppress disorders and keep the peace. He shall also perform such other duties compatible with the nature of his office as the city council may from time to time require.

(3) The mayor shall be the presiding officer of the city council and shall have the same voting powers as any member of said council. The mayor shall be considered a member of the governing body and the city council. However, a city may provide by ordinance that the mayor shall not be entitled to vote on any matter before the council, except in the case of a tie vote. If such an ordinance is adopted, it shall also provide that any ordinance adopted and all resolutions authorizing the expenditure of money or the entering into of a contract shall be subject to disapproval by the mayor as provided in section 31-16-104. Such an ordinance may provide or may be amended to provide that the mayor shall not be counted for purposes of determining a quorum or the requisite majority on any matter to be voted on by the council. Any such ordinance may be adopted, amended, or repealed only within the sixty days pre-ceding the election of any mayor, to take effect upon such mayor's assumption of office.

The Charter removes these powers, limiting the powers of this and any future mayor to being just one of nine on the City Council and the ceremonial head of the city. The Charter also makes sure that the mayor would not have veto power, per Charter Section 2. 5.

Luckily for the city, Mayor Pye has chosen not to use these extensive powers, but they are still there for any future mayor to do so, unless we accept this Charter and become a Home Rule City. We ask you to join us in voting "Yes" on the Home Rule Charter.

Sincerely,

Bart Miller
Former City Council Member Ward II

Dr. George G. Gatseos II
Former City Council Member Ward I