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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPUBLIC HEARING 2004-10-13 ELECTION CONSOLIDATION 34871 PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF LIVONIA Minutes of Meeting Held October 13, 2004 A Public hearing of the Council of the City of Livonia was held at the City Hall Auditorium on Wednesday, October 13, 2004 MEMBERS PRESENT Gerald Taylor, President Brian Meakin, Vice President Frank J Kokenakes Terry A. Godfroid-Marecki Don Knapp James C McCann Thomas A. Robinson MEMBERS ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT Robert Schron, City Engineer Mark Taormina, City Planner Karen Szymula, Director of Legislative Affairs Jeff Bryant, Economic Development Director Linda McCann, Director of Community Resources Val Vandersloot, City Clerk Sean Kavanagh, City Attorney Ian Wilshaw, Traffic Commission This is a Public Hearing regarding Public Act No 298 of 2003, known as the "Hammerstrom Election Consolidation Law" that Council President Gerald D Taylor brought to the attention of the City Councilmembers in a communication dated September 1, 2004 The State legislature has passed this Act that provides for the consolidation of local elections, and this consolidation law applies to all local elections on and after January 1, 2005 In order to maintain the City's September Primary election date, Council must hold a Public Hearing and adopt a resolution immediately following the public hearing The resolution must pass by a majority vote on a record roll call vote and be filed with the Secretary of State before December 31 , 2004 The meeting was called to order at 8 36 p m with President Taylor presiding There were 2 persons present HAMMERSTROM ELECTION CONSOLIDATION LAW. Council President Taylor explained that this legislation would have the City move the Primary Election date to August instead of the City's usual September date This Public Hearing is an opportunity for the City to keep the September Primary Election date instead of the Act's August Primary Election date 34872 Ralph Williams, 18630 Foch, Livonia, Michigan, 48152 was in the audience, and he stated that he is in favor of the City holding a Primary Election in August. He felt the state acted wisely in consolidating elections and maximizing the number of elections to 4 per year He stated that there are 44 individuals that will be elected in State and County positions on the November 2, 2004 ballot. If some of these individuals were not able to complete their term, special elections would have to be held anyway City Attorney Sean Kavanagh explained that the City of Livonia holds their elections in the off-years of State elections to avoid the intermingling of State and local issues, therefore, the September date was chosen for the City Primary election and this has been in effect for a couple of decades Council President Taylor stated another reason that the September Primary date is beneficial is because more people are finished with vacationing by this date, it allows more people to get out and vote, and this is the time of year that the population has come to expect for a Primary election Ralph Williams again addressed the need for special City elections in case of vacancies at the County level Councilmember McCann cited a case where a vacancy for a County Prosecutor occurred, and the judge appointed a new person until the time of the next election, and no special election was held City Attorney Kavanagh agreed and said there would be no duplication of efforts under those circumstances Councilmember Meakin moved and support was given by Councilmember Knapp, that a resolution be adopted approving the City of Livonia's September Primary election date for its odd-year elections, and the City Primary ghall continue to be held on the Tuesday following the second Monday in September of each odd-numbered year as opposed to Act No 298's August Primary election date As there were no further questions or comments, the Public Hearing was declared closed at 8 43 p m VAL VANDERSLOOT, CITY CLERK