HomeMy WebLinkAboutELEC COMM 1999-07-21 MINUTES OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LIVONIA, MICHIGAN
A meeting of the Election Commission of the City of Livonia, Michigan, was held on
Wednesday, July 21, 1999, at Livonia City Hall, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia,
Michigan, at 2 03 p m , at which time and place the following members of said
Commission were present:
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT Jack E Kirksey, Mayor
Sean P Kavanagh, City Attorney
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT Joan McCotter, City Clerk
OTHERS PRESENT Ron Mardiros
William J Dorough
William C Fried
Larry Schweiger
Matt Jachman (Livonia Observer)
Karen A. Tesner, Assistant City Clerk
Eileen Davis, Election Records Clerk
Mayor Kirksey assumed the duties as temporary Chairperson of the Election
Commission
On a motion by Commissioner Kavanagh, seconded by Commissioner
Kirksey, and unanimously adopted, it was
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the Election Commission meeting held
May 17, 1999, are hereby approved as submitted
On a motion by Commissioner Kavanagh, seconded by Commissioner
Kirksey, it was
RESOLVED, that the request of Mr Lewis B Caves to remove Joan
McCotter's name from the ballot of the City Regular Election of November
2, 1999, claiming a violation of the Charter Amendment pertaining to term
limits, be denied
A letter submitted by Lewis B Caves, dated July 9, 1999, requesting to remove Joan
McCotter's name from the ballot pursuant to Chapter V, Section 2, Term Limits, was
read into the record, as well as a subsequent letter submitted by Lewis B Caves, dated
July 20, 1999, stating that due to jury duty, he would not be able to attend the Election
Commission meeting of July 21, 1999
A letter submitted by Ron Mardiros, dated July 21, 1999, asking the Election
Commission to remove J McCotter from the ballot due to term limits, was also read into
the record
Election Commission Minutes of July 21, 1999 2
Ron Mardiros inquired as to whether an opinion was written by the City Attorney
explaining why Joan McCotter's name will not be removed from the ballot. City Attorney
Kavanagh said "no," then proceeded to explain that at a City Council meeting held on
August 14, 1995, in the auditorium, a resolution was put on the floor for a Charter
Amendment designating that the City Treasurer and City Clerk shall be prohibited from
seeking reelection if they have served, or after having served, eight (8) consecutive
years in that particular office That resolution failed with a resultant vote of 4-3 (5
affirmative votes were required)
A substitute resolution was then offered to add the words "effective January 1, 1996" to
the foregoing resolution The motion to substitute passed, 4-3
The resolution was then put on the floor containing the verbiage "effective January 1,
1996 " That resolution passed with a 5-2 vote, and the proposed Charter Amendment
was placed on the ballot.
City Attorney Kavanagh explained that term limits for the City Treasurer and City Clerk
began on January 1, 1996, prospectively; that is why he is offering the denying
resolution
William Fried inquired if City Attorney Kavanagh's explanation would become a part of
the minutes, to which he was told "yes "
A roll call vote was then taken on the resolution by Commissioner Kavanagh, seconded
by Commissioner Kirksey, as follows
RESOLVED, that the request of Mr Lewis B Caves to remove Joan
McCotter's name from the ballot of the City Regular Election of November
2, 1999, claiming a violation of the Charter Amendment pertaining to term
limits, be denied
with the following roll call vote
AYES Kavanagh and Kirksey
NAYS None
The resolution was declared adopted
On a motion by Commissioner Kavanagh, seconded by Commissioner
Kirksey, and unanimously adopted, this meeting of the Election Commission of the City
of Livonia was adjourned at 2 16 p m , July 21, 1999
—Jack E Kirksey
Election Commission Temporary Chairperson