PAIR OF PUBLIC MEETINGS WILL TARGET POSSIBLE CHARTER REVISIONS

A Cape Girardeau city charter that governs those who represent the people also could be affected by input from the people.

At least this was the idea put forth by the Cape Charter Review Committee, which will hold two public meetings to solicit comments and suggestions from the public on possible charter revisions.

The first meeting will take place at the Cape City Council Chambers at City Hall on Monday, April 25 at 7 p.m. The second meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 10, at the Cape Public Library in the Hirsch Room at 7 p.m.

Cape Charter Review chairman Paul Stehr said the time is right to tap public input. "The committee has been meeting since April of 1993, evaluating what technical or material changes might be considered for charter revision," said Stehr. "Before we consider recommending charter amendments to the council, we want to know what changes the public felt were important to be made."

The committee has discussed conflict of interest provisions or ethics, debt limit provisions on the city, certain fee increases to be voted on by the public, term limits, a rainy day fund, and revisions in the Ward system.

Many of those areas were key issues in newly elected mayor Al Spradling III's campaign and the campaigns of the three new city council members.

Stehr said no decisions have been made on revisions thus far. "The committee feels it is critical that the people of the community have an opportunity to voice concerns on areas of the charter," said Stehr.

"The charter is the people's governing document that controls the structure and powers granted our appointeed and elected officials."

Public scrutiny of the charter and possible revisions that might reshape its content would provide a fresh outlook for the charter committee.

"It has been over 10 years since it was adopted and now is a good time to review it to see if there are any changes needed," said Stehr.

The committee members have had different opinions on whether there should be little or no changes to the existing charter or several changes made.

"Whatever revisions the Charter Review Committee recommends will go before the Cape Girardeau City Council later this year for their consideration," said Stehr.

Stehr added that "the city council will decide to put all, some, or none of the revisions recommended on the ballot, or voters could ask for signatures through a petition drive to place the issues on the ballot."

The Charter Review Committee set the two public hearing dates at different locations to help facilitate public participation. Committee members are David Barklage, Peter Bergerson, Sandy Bonner, Ora James Gibson, Jr., Peter Hilty, David Kaelin, Evelyn LeGrand, Keith Russell, Loretta Schneider, Stehr, Donald Strohmeyer and Debra Willis.