Royal Oak Voters Have Five Ballot Proposals to Consider
(City of Royal Oak, Orig. Sept. 19, 2105, republished Oct. 19)
 
Voters to Decide on 5 City Ballot Proposals
Royal Oak officials are asking voters to consider five updates to the city’s charter in the Nov. 3 municipal election.
A city’s charter is its primary governing document, similar to a constitution. Voters in Royal Oak adopted the Royal Oak City Charter in 1921. A copy of the Royal Oak City
Charter can be found at http://ecode360.com/12078295.
Voters have approved amendments to the Royal Oak City Charter in the past.  For example, a number of amendments have adjusted dollar amounts in the charter for inflation.
Other amendments have eliminated out-of-date sections and language.  The proposed amendments in November’s election include:
Proposal 1 and Proposal 2: Adjusts Library Board Spending Limits and Contractor Performance Bond Amounts
What does it mean?
If adopted, Proposal 1 would allow the library board to spend up to $10,000 per invoice without city commission approval. The charter currently allows the board to spend up to $500 per invoice without commission approval. The city commission will still approve the library’s annual budget.
If adopted, Proposal 2 would raise the amount of the performance bond that a contractor must provide to the city from $3000 to $50,000. Performance bonds guarantee a contractor’s faithful performance of a contract with the city.
Proposal 3:  Removes Obsolete Provisions
What does it mean?
Chapter 3, Sections 35 and 36 of the charter allows the city to appoint representatives to the Oakland County Board of Supervisors. The Oakland County Board of Supervisors has been replaced by the elected Oakland County Commission. Proposal 3 would eliminate Sections 35 and 36.
Proposal 4:  Clarifies the City Manager Position
What does it mean?
If adopted, Proposal 4 would make it clear that the city manager serves at the will of the city commission. This proposal would also place certain limits on the terms of the city manager’s contract.
Proposal 5:  Restates the Charter in Gender-Neutral Terms
What does it mean?
If adopted, Proposal 5 would eliminate all gender-based language in the charter, such as “he” and “his”, and replace those words with gender-neutral language. For example, the sentence which currently reads “The manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the city. He shall the chosen by the commission” would be reworded to say “The manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the city. The manager shall be chosen by the commission.”
To see the actual changes that would be made to the charter if voters approve this proposal go to: http://romi.gov/sites/default/files/meetings/City%20Commission/2015/CRC%20Recommendation%20Revised.pdf
Ballot Language
Below is the exact language of the ballot proposals as they appear on the Nov. 3 ballot:
PROPOSAL 1. CITY OF ROYAL OAK CHARTER AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 48

Currently, the City Charter at Chapter Three, Section 48, allows the Library Board to spend up to $500 without the concurrence of the City Commission.
The proposed amendment, if adopted, would allow the Library Board to spend up to $10,000 without the concurrence of the City Commission and tie the spending limit to the rate of inflation. The library budget would still have to be approved by the City Commission.
Shall the proposal be adopted?
PROPOSAL 2. CITY OF ROYAL OAK CHARTER AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 14, SECTION 9
Currently, the City Charter at Chapter 14, Section 9, obligates the City Commission to require a city contractor to obtain a bond for the faithful performance of a city contract over $3,000 and permits the City Commission to require a bond for contracts up to and including $3,000.
The proposal, if adopted, would move the threshold for which a bond is required from $3,000 to $50,000 as adjusted thereafterfor inflation.
Shall the proposal be adopted?

PROPOSAL 3. CITY OF ROYAL OAK CHARTER AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER THREE, SECTIONS 35 AND 36
Currently, the City Charter at Chapter Three, Sections 35 and 36, requires the City Commission to appoint representatives to the Oakland County Board of Supervisors (now known as the Oakland County Board of Commissioners), and provides for the representatives’ rights and responsibilities.
The proposed amendment, if adopted, would delete Sections 35 and 36 and allow for the renumbering of Chapter Three in recognition of applicable state law which provides for the
county to be divided into commissioner districts, each of which elects a member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
Shall the proposal be adopted?
PROPOSAL 4. CITY OF ROYAL OAK CHARTER AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER THREE, SECTION 19
This section of the Charter provides the City Commission may remove the City Manager after one year for any reason, subject to providing a notice and a hearing. This section further determines the City Manager’s compensation. The proposed amendment deletes the current language and provides instead that the City Commission may enter into a written agreement with the City Manager, who serves at the pleasure of the City Commission as head of the city’s administrative branch. The City Manager’s contract may be for up-to two years, one year’s severance pay and six months’ severance benefits.
Shall the proposal be adopted?
PROPOSAL 5. CITY OF ROYAL OAK CHARTER AMENDMENT TO MAKE THE CHARTER GENDER NEUTRAL
Shall various articles and sections of the Royal Oak City Charter be amended to restate the Charter in gender neutral terms?
Shall the proposal be adopted?
 
For more election info check out our election section at http://oaklandcounty115.com/category/election-information/.