With congressional elections looming in the fall of this year, the 2010 election cycle begins with the City of Slidell and the City of Mandeville featuring municipal elections on Saturday March 27th. While Slidell will hold elections for Mayor, Chief of Police and Council Districts B, C and F, the City of Mandeville will hold a special election to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Eddie Price.
In Slidell, Incumbent Council Members At-Large Landon Cusimano and Kim Harbison were re-elected without opposition. Incumbent Council Members from District A - Lionel Hicks, District D - Joe Fraught, and District G - Bill Borchert, Jr. were re-elected without opposition as well. The new Council Member from District E, former Mayor Sam Caruso, was elected without opposition.
While the candidates take to the stump, don’t forget about the Charter amendments proposed in Slidell. There are nine proposed charter amendments in all, ranging from the mundane deletions of obsolete sections to more contentious changes that affect the Mayor’s and Council’s compensation to title changes for Clerk of the Council and employment timelines. Nonetheless, it’s worthy of your time to review its contents included in this issue of the Northshore Conifer.
In Mandeville, there is a proposition of a half-cent sales tax renewal for 10 years for paving, improving, repairing and maintaining streets (including sidewalks and bike paths), repairing and maintaining existing bridges and constructing, acquiring and maintaining roadside drainage improvements.
While these municipal elections get more attention, the Folsom area will vote on a 10 year 19.68 mills property tax for their fire department. The Folsom fire department had this election delayed by the state’s bond commission, which had been a source of controversy late last year when the fire department feared it would run out of money to keep its operations up and running.
Early voting for the March 27th election will begin on Saturday, March 13th and run through Saturday, March 20th.
To assist in informing the northshore electorate, the Northshore Conifer has provided information for all candidates running for office, Charter amendments and tax propositions to be held this month
Mandeville Mayoral Special Election
Trilby Lenfant
Donald J. Villere
Slidell Mayoral Election
Freddy Drennan
Rickey Hursey
Jay Trainor
Slidell Chief of Police Election
JJ Jennings
Ben Morris
Randy Smith
Jason Zar
Slidell Council Member District B
Sam Abney
Richard Reardon
Slidell Council Member District C
Warren Crockett
Buddy Lloyd
Val Vanney
Slidell Council Member District F
Jay Newcomb
Terry Youngs
City of Slidell Home Rule Charter Proposed Amendment Propositions
Proposition No. 1
Summary: Provides for the deletion of the following obsolete sections.
Shall the following Section 2-02(A) of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “A. In the event of annexation by the governing body of the City of Slidell between the time of adoption of this charter and thirty (30) days before the election of the first city council, provided for herein, the charter commission shall immediately alter, change or rearrange council district lines in order to incorporate into such districts those persons living in the newly annexed areas.” AND shall the following Section 2-02(B) of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “B. Following the election of the first council under this charter, any ordinance annexing new areas to the City shall prescribe the council district or districts in which said area shall be included.”
Proposition No. 2
Summary: Provides for the deletion of the following obsolete sections.
Shall the following Section 8-11 of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “The alternative proposition concerning selection of the chief of police approved by the voters shall become Section 4-05 of the new charter. The alternative proposition not approved shall be null, void and of no effect and shall be deemed stricken from the proposed charter.” AND shall the following Section 8-12 of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted.
Proposition No. 3
Summary: Changes the term “clerk of the council” to “Council Administrator” throughout the Charter.
Shall the Slidell Home Rule Charter Sections 2-08, 2-12(B) and (C), 2-13(B), 2-14 and 2-15 be amended to change the term “clerk of the council” to “Council Administrator”
Proposition No. 4
Summary: Provides for annual establishment of Council member compensation through the budget process.
Shall the following Section 2-04(A) of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “A council member shall be paid compensation of five hundred fifty dollars ($550.00) per month, until charged [changed] by ordinance. No ordinance changing the compensation of a council member shall be adopted during the last year of a term of office and no such ordinance shall become effective during the term of the council adopting the ordinance.” And reenacted to read as follows: “Council members’ salary shall be established annually by ordinance through the budget process. No ordinance changing the salary shall increase the salary by more than the average percentage of increase granted annually to all city employees.”
Proposition No. 5
Summary: Provides for annual establishment of the Mayor’s compensation through the budget process.
Shall the following Section 3-06 Compensation of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “The annual salary of the mayor shall be no less than twenty-eight thousand three hundred fifty dollars ($28,350.00). This annual salary may be changed by ordinance. No ordinance changing the salary shall increase the salary by more than the average percentage of increase granted annually to all city employees.” And reenacted to read as follows: “The Mayor’s salary shall be established annually by ordinance through the budget process. No ordinance changing the salary shall increase the salary by more than the average percentage of increase granted annually to all city employees.”
Proposition No. 6
Summary: Provides for annual establishment of the Police Chief’s compensation through the budget process.
Shall the following Section 4-05(D) of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “The annual salary of the Police Chief shall be no less than twenty-two thousand six hundred eighty dollars ($22,680.00). This annual salary may be changed by ordinance. No ordinance changing the salary
shall increase the salary by more than the average percentage of increase granted annually to all city employees.” And reenacted to read as follows: “The salary of the Chief of Police shall be established annually by ordinance through the budget process. No ordinance changing the salary shall increase the salary by more than the average percentage of increase granted annually to all city employees.”
Proposition No. 7
Summary: Provides for emergency ordinances of the City Council to become law without the Mayor’s signature after 12 hours of submission.
Shall Section 2-13(B) of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be amended to add the following language after the last sentence: “If the proposed emergency ordinance is not signed or vetoed by the mayor within twelve (12) hours after receipt, it shall be considered approved.”
Proposition No. 8
Summary: Provides for elected officials to take office on July 1 following their election.
Shall the following Section 8-10 of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “Municipal elections for the officials provided for by this charter shall be held on the dates established by general state law applicable to the City. Persons elected under the provisions of this charter shall take office at noon on the first Monday in July next following their election.” And reenacted to read as follows: “Municipal elections for the officials provided for by this charter shall be held on the dates established by general state law applicable to the City. Persons elected under the provisions of this charter shall take office on July 1 following their election.” March 27, 2010 Election Parish of St. Tammany
Proposition No. 9
Summary: Provides for the deletion of the prohibition of City Council members being employed by the City within one year following the end of their term.
Shall the following Section 2-05(A) of the Slidell Home Rule Charter be deleted: “Except as otherwise provided in Sections 3-04 (Vacancies) and 3-05 (Mayor’s Absence and Disability), a council member shall not hold any other elected public office, city office or city employment during the term for which elected to the council. No former council member shall hold any compensated appointive city office or city employment until one year after the expiration of the term for which elected to the council.” And reenacted as follows: “Except as otherwise provided in Sections 3-04 (Vacancies) and 3-05 (Mayor’s Absence and Disability), a council member shall not hold any other elected public office, city office or city employment during the term for which elected to the council.”
City of Mandeville Sales Tax Proposition (1/2% Sales Tax Continuation)
Summary: 1/2% sales tax continuation for 10 years for (i) paving, improving, repairing and maintaining streets (including sidewalks and bike paths), (ii) repairing and maintaining existing bridges and (iii) constructing, acquiring and maintaining roadside drainage improvements.
Shall the City of Mandeville, State of Louisiana (the “City”), under the provisions of Article VI, Section 29 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, and other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto, be authorized to continue to levy and collect, and adopt an ordinance providing for such levy and collection, a tax of one-half of one per cent (1/2%) (the “Tax”), previously authorized at an election held on January 20, 2001, for an additional period of ten (10) years from and after July 1, 2011, upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption, and storage for use or consumption, of tangible personal property and on sales of services in the City, all as defined by law (an estimated $2,500,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the Tax for an entire year), with the proceeds of the Tax (after paying the reasonable and necessary costs and expenses of collecting and administering the Tax), to be dedicated and used for the purpose of (i) paving, improving, repairing and maintaining streets (including sidewalks and bike paths) in the City, (ii) repairing and maintaining existing bridges in the City, and (iii) constructing, acquiring and maintaining roadside drainage improvements in the City.
Fire Protection District No. 5 (located in the Folsom area)
Summary: 10 year 19.68 mills property tax for acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and/or operating fire protection facilities in and for the District, including equipment, and paying for the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, and the cost of providing services to injured or ill persons in emergency situations as permitted by law.
Shall Fire Protection District No. 5, Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana (the “District”) levy a special tax of nineteen and sixty-eight hundredths (19.68) mills on all property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $434,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of ten (10) years, beginning with the year 2010 and ending with the year 2019, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and/or operating fire protection facilities in and for the District, including equipment, and paying the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes, and the cost of providing services to injured or ill persons in emergency situations as permitted by law.
MAY 1, 2010 GENERAL ELECTION & PROPOSITIONS
Early Voting – April 17 - 24
· Run-off Elections for any races not decided on March 27
Fire Protection District No. 7 Millage Renewal
(Precincts – partial: P01, 406, 502-505; Precincts—all: 501 & 602)
Authority to levy a 10 mills tax renewal for a period of 10 years for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection and emergency medical service facilities, vehicles, and equipment, including movable and immovable property, to be used by Fire Protection District No. 7 directly or indirectly to provide fire protection and emergency medical services in this district.
Fire Protection District No. 9
NOTE: Districts No. 9 & 10 have merged.
(Precincts—partial: 409, 503-504, 601-605, 607, & 801; Precinct—all: 606)
30 years 35 mills tax for acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and operating fire protection and emergency medical service facilities, vehicles, and equipment, including movable and immovable property, to be used by Fire Protection District No. 9, including paying for the cost of obtaining water for fire protection purposes and paying charges for fire hydrant rentals and service, said tax to be in lieu of certain existing taxes.