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The Herald & Review Archives
Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
January 30, 2007
Section: News
Page: A3
Voters may get to decide on Aldermanic system
MIKE FRAZIER H&R Staff Writer
DECATUR - Supporters of changing the form of Decatur city government delivered signatures to city hall Monday in an effort to let voters decide the matter at the April 17 municipal election. Brian Burcham, vice president of All Service Contracting Corp., is leading an effort to replace the city manager and council form of government with a strong mayor and aldermanic system. The community currently elects council members who serve at-large, representing the entire community. Organizers needed to collect at least 1,553 signatures for voters to decide whether to divide the community into wards represented by aldermen. The group collected 1,806 signatures in a little more than a week, Burcham said. "I think that’s a strong statement to our city leaders," he said. Burcham said citizens would benefit from aldermanic representation. "I think they’re more in touch with the citizens and what their needs and concerns are," he said. The group also will ask the council to consider adopting an ordinance that will allow voters to decide whether to abandon the current council-city manager form of government. Abolishing the city manager form of government would cause the city to reorganize in its previous form with city commissioners. Organizers hope to allow voters to decide in April whether to abandon simultaneously the city manager and commission form of government and to adopt an aldermanic system. City Clerk Celeste Harris said she would forward the question from the signed petitions to Macon County Clerk Steve Bean if no objections are raised to the petitions. Harris said she would consult the city’s attorneys and an Illinois State Board of Elections handbook. Assistant City Manager Billy Tyus said city administrators would have no comment on the issue. Mayor Paul Osborne said organizers have not talked with him about the petition drive. "It’s a citizen initiative," Osborne said. "People have a right to do that." He said he still is running for re-election as mayor under the current form of city government. "If, down the road, voters want to change that, that’s certainly their right," Osborne said. Burcham was joined Monday by community activist Keith Anderson and businessman Stephen Daniels as he delivered petitions to the city clerk. Daniels supported the petition drive and backs a community discussion about the form of city government. Organizers plan to hold town meetings on the issue. Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.
Copyright, 2007, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL
