Slidell voters have seven charter amendments to vote on

Slidell voters will have to either approve or reject seven amendments to their city charter Tuesday.

The Slidell Council approved the charter changes in August, and if approved will change the way vacancies on the council and mayor are done, change the mayor’s ability to veto a bill, how the city incurs debts, voting on initiatives, and changing the city’s code of ethics.

1. Filling a vacancy on the council

The first charter change has to do with how a council vacancy is filled when a council member either dies or resigns. During the past year, the council has lost two at large council members to death, and in each case, voters had to wait a long time to fill the vacancy, so the council hopes the changes will expedite the process of filling a vacancy.

In the case of a vacancy on the council, a person will be appointed to the post within 15 days of the vacancy, and approved by a majority vote of the council. The appointee shall serve out the remaining term, but will not be allowed to run for the office when the election is called.

2. Filling the vacancy of the mayor’s office

In the event the Slidell mayor either dies or resigns from office, the new charter change appoints one of the two at large council members with the largest number of votes from the previous election to assume the office of mayor. If both at large members had an equal number of votes, the council will vote on who shall take over the office.

If the vacancy occurs with less than a year on the term, the appointee will serve until the next election. If the vacancy occurs with more than a year remaining on the term, the council will call for an election within 15 days of the vacancy to be held according to state regulations and schedules. In either case, the appointee will be paid the mayor’s salary and allowed to run for office in the election.

3. Vacancy by Chief of Police

In case there is a sudden vacancy for the Slidell Chief of Police, the proposed amendment would allow the Assistant Chief of Police to assume the chief’s office to serve the remaining term.

If the vacancy occurs with more than one year left on the term, the council will call for an election within 15 days of the vacancy to be held according to the state’s regulations and schedules. Being a Civil Service employee, the acting Chief of Police will not be allowed to run for the office.

4. Vetoes of legislation

The proposed change says the mayor will have seven working days to either sign or veto legislation from the council. If no action is taken after seven days, the legislation automatically becomes law. This would change the charter, which said the mayor has 14 days to either sign or veto a bill.

5. Bond issues

If voters approve this charter change, then the council would be able to approve the sale of bonds backed by an existing revenue stream without going to the voters for approval. An existing revenue source is defined like utility revenues and sales tax. If a bond issue requires a new tax, then the public will have to vote on the issue.

6. Initiative referendums

If an initiative ordinance is submitted to the voters for approval or rejection, the election will be held according to state regulations and schedule for elections. If that is not possible, the council will call for an election within 15 days after the decision to put the initiative on the ballot.

7. Code of Ethics

If approved, this amendment would delete the current code of ethics in the city charter and adopt the new Louisiana Code of Ethics, which is stricter than the city’s current code.