Bastrop, Tx–Tuesday the Bastrop City Council hammered out details of changes to the city charter which will go before voters in a November election, chiefly making council terms three years long instead of the current two.
The change was recommended earlier this year by a charter review committee headed by Council Member Ken Kesselus. The study panel was named by the mayor and other council members.
The council, however, declined to ask voters to consider adding two additional members to the city governing board, saying there appears to be little public support for such a measure now.
As currently proposed, the charter change would limit the mayor and council members to two consecutive three-year terms. Those officers would be forced to wait a year before seeking re-election.
The Texas Constitution will force additional changes in current city election rules if voters endorse three-year council terms, said city attorney J.C. Brown. The chief change will require that council members and the mayor be elected by majority vote instead of the plurality currently required. That could force run-off elections in some cases, said Brown.
In a related measure the council agreed to ask voters to decide if a sitting council member should be required to resign in order to run for the mayor’s seat. At the same time a mayor would be required to step aside in order to seek a council seat.
Other charter changes to go before voters include changing the title of the presiding officers of the Planning and Zoning commission from “chairman” and “vice chairman” to “chair” and “vice chair.” The mayor would also become the city’s “chief presiding officer” instead of the city’s “chief executive officer.”