EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a series of five blog posts that will examine the City of College Station’s nine proposed charter amendments that appear on the November election ballot. The charter is the city’s governing document.
Two of the nine amendments address language and processes in the charter. One concerns the process of filling a vacancy on the city council and the other defines a business and calendar day throughout the document. Click on the proposition name to see the actual changes that would be made to the charter language if voters approve the propositions.
Proposition No. 2
FOR/AGAINST: Shall Article III (The City Council), Section 21 (Vacancies) of the College Station City Charter be amended to authorize a process to be followed to call an election in the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor and in the event of a vacancy in the office of Mayor and all Council Members?
What does it mean?
- The current charter is unclear about what happens if the mayor or other council members are unable to order a special election to fill a council vacancy.
- The amendment gives the remaining members of the council the authority to order a special election if the mayor is unable.
- If all the council places are vacant, the amendment authorizes the city manager, city secretary, city attorney or municipal court judge to perform any required actions.
Proposition No. 5
FOR/AGAINST: Shall a provision be added to Article XII (General Provisions) of the College Station City Charter to define business day and calendar day and the charter amended throughout to specify when business day applies and when calendar day applies?
What does it mean?
- Amendment No. 5 would add a provision to the charter to define a business day as Monday through Friday (except for holidays).
- The amendment would define a calendar day as a 24-hour period as shown on a calendar.
- The changes would clarify whether current non-specific references throughout the charter are calendar or business days.
On Tuesday, we looked at Amendments No. 1 and No. 3, which concern the recall sections of the charter. 
We’ll take a closer look at the remaining propositions over the next few days.
Scroll to the bottom of the ballot!
When you vote Nov. 6, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the ballot to vote in your local elections. A straight party vote will not select local choices that directly affect your community.
For more information on these or the other proposed charter amendments, go to cstx.gov/elections or brazosvotes.org, where you’ll also find information about polling places, early voting and absentee ballots.
Related Links:
- City Blog: Two proposed charter amendments would affect recall (City Blog, Oct. 23, 2012)
- City Blog: A closer look at the proposed city charter amendments (City Blog, Oct. 22, 2012)
- Conflict of interest policy among 9 charter amendments on ballot (The Eagle, Oct. 22, 2012)
- Proposed CS Charter Change Defining Council Conflict of Interest (WTAW, July 30, 2012)
- What CS Voters Will Consider to Change Charter Gets Council Approval (July 27, 2012)
- Changes to College Station Charter (YouTube, July 24, 2012)
- College Station City Charter
- Charter Review Advisory Committee
