I went to the meeting of Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability Committee at the Fleming Island Library Wednesday night, hoping to meet in person some of the bloggers who've been complaining that the political action committee doesn't hold open meetings.
The conspiracy theorists had contended that CTLAC should, despite no legal basis, hold its meetings in the open because the PAC is proposing amendments to the County Charter. Open the discussion to the public, like the recent official government Charter Review Commission that is required by law to hold open meetings. That way, the theorists said, people would be able to see that CTLAC for what it really is - a small group of disgruntled people with questionable motives.
I didn't get to meet a single one of the bloggers who thought CTLAC holding an open meeting was so critical a few weeks ago. The meeting was open but they were absent. Too bad, too, because there was some neat stuff discussed. Things like motives and reasons and process and even possible future amendments.
Heck, I even learned a little about how much money I'll be making next year if District 3 voters send me to the County Commission. You guys wouldn't believe how warped the BCC's salary structure is going to be the next couple of years.
Two of CTLAC's amendments proposals have already qualified for November's ballot, and I hope both are passed. One will establish the salaries of all County Commissioners at 37K annually and, more importantly, require voter approval for any pay raises. The second will require all future Charter Amendments to be passed by a minimum of 60 percent of the voters instead of the current 50 percent.
A boatload of signed petitions were turned in Wednesday morning for CTLAC's third proposed amendment, the one that would eliminate the scheduled addition of two at-large members to the County Commission. That should put them somewhere around 90 percent of the number required to make sure that also appears on this fall's ballot.
Michael S. Mann
michaelsmann@comcast.net [1]