Comments on: Charter Review Committee Votes To Change Century’s Form Of Government http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government Local News for Molino, Bratt, McDavid, Century, Walnut Hill, Cantonment Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:26:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Taylon http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459238 Taylon Sun, 18 Jul 2021 15:22:53 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459238 Calm down people. Very last line of the article: “Unless approved by voters, none of the committee’s actions will actually be implemented.” So if this is something you think is stupid then work to make sure it’s not voted in. Or better yet be one of those that complains their butt off, but won’t get off said butt to go and vote… Also for people asking for qualifications I’m pretty sure there was a previous article about that before the committee was selected. If I remember correctly they had to ask for volunteers more than once because they didn’t have enough the first time (or I could very well be misremembering), but the point is I think the committee members just have to live in Century, be able to vote, attend the meetings, and volunteer to be on it. Calm down people. Very last line of the article:

“Unless approved by voters, none of the committee’s actions will actually be implemented.”

So if this is something you think is stupid then work to make sure it’s not voted in. Or better yet be one of those that complains their butt off, but won’t get off said butt to go and vote…

Also for people asking for qualifications I’m pretty sure there was a previous article about that before the committee was selected. If I remember correctly they had to ask for volunteers more than once because they didn’t have enough the first time (or I could very well be misremembering), but the point is I think the committee members just have to live in Century, be able to vote, attend the meetings, and volunteer to be on it.

]]> By: Bob http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459135 Bob Sat, 17 Jul 2021 13:19:38 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459135 Change Century’s Form Of Government Old: Three Ring Circus New: Four Ring Circus Shut the place down and give it to the county!!! Change Century’s Form Of Government
Old: Three Ring Circus
New: Four Ring Circus

Shut the place down and give it to the county!!!

]]> By: Rasheed Jackson http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459128 Rasheed Jackson Sat, 17 Jul 2021 12:25:16 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459128 The system is not broken and does not need to be replaced. The people running the system are the problem and they need to be replaced. This form of government has been around for generations and works just fine, when the people elected are working together as a unit to make their community a better place. Problems plaguing the town of Century are created by the individuals in office, not by the form of government. It seems that everyone wants to be in charge and not work as part of a system, doing their part to ensure the system, with its checks and balances, operates as smooth as possible. When the town was first Chartered the people that were here and worked to see it through did an outstanding job. They worked together and created a town that, until then, existed only in name. They set up a new water system, sewage system, gas system, and provided trash pick for the residents, and for a while had a police department. It is my understanding, the elected officials were instrumental in bringing in Champion Apparel, and Jim Walter Doors to the area. I personally know people who worked at these places of employment. No one got rich working at these facilities, but they were a great springboard for many young people needing experience in the work force. It is time to stop wasting our energy on what is not broken and replace the things that are broken. The people elected a mayor they thought could do the job, but he has been blocked on most every decision he has tried to make. The same people who elected the mayor also elected the individuals who are doing the grandstanding and trying to make a name for themselves and creating the mayhem we are seeing at the town councils. It is time the voting citizens said enough is enough and demand the council work with the mayor and if it proves he cannot govern then vote him out, but he deserves the opportunity to perform the duties of his office without a constant battle at every turn. Century could once again be a great little town, but it will take individuals that are concerned with making a name for Century rather than making a name for themselves. The system is not broken and does not need to be replaced. The people running the system are the problem and they need to be replaced. This form of government has been around for generations and works just fine, when the people elected are working together as a unit to make their community a better place. Problems plaguing the town of Century are created by the individuals in office, not by the form of government. It seems that everyone wants to be in charge and not work as part of a system, doing their part to ensure the system, with its checks and balances, operates as smooth as possible.
When the town was first Chartered the people that were here and worked to see it through did an outstanding job. They worked together and created a town that, until then, existed only in name. They set up a new water system, sewage system, gas system, and provided trash pick for the residents, and for a while had a police department. It is my understanding, the elected officials were instrumental in bringing in Champion Apparel, and Jim Walter Doors to the area. I personally know people who worked at these places of employment. No one got rich working at these facilities, but they were a great springboard for many young people needing experience in the work force.
It is time to stop wasting our energy on what is not broken and replace the things that are broken. The people elected a mayor they thought could do the job, but he has been blocked on most every decision he has tried to make. The same people who elected the mayor also elected the individuals who are doing the grandstanding and trying to make a name for themselves and creating the mayhem we are seeing at the town councils. It is time the voting citizens said enough is enough and demand the council work with the mayor and if it proves he cannot govern then vote him out, but he deserves the opportunity to perform the duties of his office without a constant battle at every turn.
Century could once again be a great little town, but it will take individuals that are concerned with making a name for Century rather than making a name for themselves.

]]> By: IMHO http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459071 IMHO Fri, 16 Jul 2021 19:37:29 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459071 @Northescambia What qualifications do the members of the Committee have? Anyone with experience writing a town charter? @Northescambia What qualifications do the members of the Committee have? Anyone with experience writing a town charter?

]]> By: Century Resident http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459066 Century Resident Fri, 16 Jul 2021 19:04:53 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459066 Looks like it's time to do away with the Charter Review Committee, they want to take the power of the citizens away and give it to the power hungry city council. Never give up your right to vote for a official, and that is exactly what this committee is asking the people to do. Besides if the council hires the city manager, that person will be a “yes person” for the city council. If the manager makes one council person mad on this power hungry council, all that council member has to do it get two more council members to side with them and the “yes person” that said “No” will be history. Then it starts all over, when they fire the manager the city will probably have to pay this person for several months while they waste our tax money looking for a new “yes person” that will say “Yes” to them. If you don't believe it can happen, just look at Escambia county right now, the tax payers are paying for two county administrators right now and for several months to come because the former administrator stepped on someone's toe's and they got two more commissioners to go along with firing the present administrator. I'm not saying that the former or present administrators were bad at their jobs, they are both probably pretty good at them, but apparently the former one said “No” one to many times. Keep it like it is, the Century residents have the power to remove the mayor at the polls if they don't like what he is doing. Seems like every time the mayor tries to do something good for the town this power hungry town council over rules him just to prove they can. Looks like it’s time to do away with the Charter Review Committee, they want to take the power of the citizens away and give it to the power hungry city council. Never give up your right to vote for a official, and that is exactly what this committee is asking the people to do. Besides if the council hires the city manager, that person will be a “yes person” for the city council. If the manager makes one council person mad on this power hungry council, all that council member has to do it get two more council members to side with them and the “yes person” that said “No” will be history. Then it starts all over, when they fire the manager the city will probably have to pay this person for several months while they waste our tax money looking for a new “yes person” that will say “Yes” to them. If you don’t believe it can happen, just look at Escambia county right now, the tax payers are paying for two county administrators right now and for several months to come because the former administrator stepped on someone’s toe’s and they got two more commissioners to go along with firing the present administrator. I’m not saying that the former or present administrators were bad at their jobs, they are both probably pretty good at them, but apparently the former one said “No” one to many times. Keep it like it is, the Century residents have the power to remove the mayor at the polls if they don’t like what he is doing. Seems like every time the mayor tries to do something good for the town this power hungry town council over rules him just to prove they can.

]]> By: No Surprise Here http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459065 No Surprise Here Fri, 16 Jul 2021 19:01:07 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459065 No surprise here! I made this call back when NorthEscambia first reported the acting city manager was facilitating these committee meetings. No surprise here! I made this call back when NorthEscambia first reported the acting city manager was facilitating these committee meetings.

]]> By: Dumbfounded http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459062 Dumbfounded Fri, 16 Jul 2021 18:21:27 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459062 Literally didn't think this town could outdo itself in the stupidity... Boy was I wrong. I mean, can they not give the Mayor an opportunity to do something with that place?.. I mean the current Mayor. Apparently the old Mayor wasn't an issue since he did what they wanted. The new Mayor acts as if he is doing everything he can to make Century a better place, but keeps getting shut down. Where does it end or when? Literally didn’t think this town could outdo itself in the stupidity… Boy was I wrong.

I mean, can they not give the Mayor an opportunity to do something with that place?.. I mean the current Mayor. Apparently the old Mayor wasn’t an issue since he did what they wanted. The new Mayor acts as if he is doing everything he can to make Century a better place, but keeps getting shut down. Where does it end or when?

]]> By: CJ Lewis http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459051 CJ Lewis Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:53:39 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459051 The "detailed" powers and duties of the Town Manager can be described in a Charter "or" in the Town Code of Ordinances. The advantage to doing it in the Code is that the powers and duties can very quickly be expanded "or" contracted based on how the Town Manager performs. Key issues to discuss are the Town Manager's authority with respect to all or which town employees and their hiring, suspension and termination. There is no need for the Town Council to approve the hiring, suspension and termination of "all" town employees. That is beyond ridiculous. Also, how much spending authority should the Town Manager have on their own? Because the Town Manager can be fired by the Town Council at any time for any or no reason at all, the new Town Manager should have more authority than the unaccountable Mayor who is not even subject to recall by voters. As example, the Town Manager should be able to pay the monthly telephone bill without the Town Council getting involved. If the Town Council does not trust the Town Manager, just hire a new one. The Charter's Town Manager section to be submitted to voters for approval or rejection could be a simple as: "There shall be a Town Manager who shall be a town resident, serve at the pleasure of the Town Council and exercise the powers and duties as prescribed by ordinance." In a Council-Manager form of government, the mayor is not required to be a council member but should. The new Mayor should be the presiding officer and a voting member of the Town Council. Rather than give the mayor a veto, the Charter (or Town Code) could specify that certain actions such as ordinances and resolutions require the affirmative approval of the majority of the Town Council plus one additional vote. State law (Section 166.041) mandates a minimum standard for a municipality to adopt ordinances and resolutions but does not prevent the imposition of more rigorous standards. If Century voters want term limits, they should be cumulative. As example, "No person shall serve as an elected official of the town for more than eight total years to include all prior years served in all elected offices of the town." The Town Council should probably only have five total members. Two-year terms of office are better than four years. If an incumbent elected official has to face reelection every two years, they are kept more accountable. In Century, a very small place with few voters, all council members should be elected "at-large" meaning that all Century voters get to vote in all Century elections. If you ask anyone in Century, I bet they will say that they would rather vote for "all" council members vice just one. No matter what is recommended in the Charter, the Charter Review Committee "also" needs to review the Town's Code of Ordinances to anticipate how a new Charter will affect the Code. It would be a very smart idea for the Committee to give the Town Council both a proposed new Charter "and" a proposed rewrite of the Code of Ordinances because the two documents work hand-in-glove. One voters approve the Charter, the updated Code can be adopted right away. The Century Charter Review Committee should submit a written report to explain its recommendations. In 2009, the Pensacola Charter Review Commission was required by its 2007 mandate to submit a report but refused. The current charter still contains two legal errors, a massive governance flaw and so much confusion a City Attorney has claimed that "shall" and "may" are the same. The “detailed” powers and duties of the Town Manager can be described in a Charter “or” in the Town Code of Ordinances. The advantage to doing it in the Code is that the powers and duties can very quickly be expanded “or” contracted based on how the Town Manager performs. Key issues to discuss are the Town Manager’s authority with respect to all or which town employees and their hiring, suspension and termination. There is no need for the Town Council to approve the hiring, suspension and termination of “all” town employees. That is beyond ridiculous. Also, how much spending authority should the Town Manager have on their own? Because the Town Manager can be fired by the Town Council at any time for any or no reason at all, the new Town Manager should have more authority than the unaccountable Mayor who is not even subject to recall by voters. As example, the Town Manager should be able to pay the monthly telephone bill without the Town Council getting involved. If the Town Council does not trust the Town Manager, just hire a new one. The Charter’s Town Manager section to be submitted to voters for approval or rejection could be a simple as: “There shall be a Town Manager who shall be a town resident, serve at the pleasure of the Town Council and exercise the powers and duties as prescribed by ordinance.” In a Council-Manager form of government, the mayor is not required to be a council member but should. The new Mayor should be the presiding officer and a voting member of the Town Council. Rather than give the mayor a veto, the Charter (or Town Code) could specify that certain actions such as ordinances and resolutions require the affirmative approval of the majority of the Town Council plus one additional vote. State law (Section 166.041) mandates a minimum standard for a municipality to adopt ordinances and resolutions but does not prevent the imposition of more rigorous standards. If Century voters want term limits, they should be cumulative. As example, “No person shall serve as an elected official of the town for more than eight total years to include all prior years served in all elected offices of the town.” The Town Council should probably only have five total members. Two-year terms of office are better than four years. If an incumbent elected official has to face reelection every two years, they are kept more accountable. In Century, a very small place with few voters, all council members should be elected “at-large” meaning that all Century voters get to vote in all Century elections. If you ask anyone in Century, I bet they will say that they would rather vote for “all” council members vice just one. No matter what is recommended in the Charter, the Charter Review Committee “also” needs to review the Town’s Code of Ordinances to anticipate how a new Charter will affect the Code. It would be a very smart idea for the Committee to give the Town Council both a proposed new Charter “and” a proposed rewrite of the Code of Ordinances because the two documents work hand-in-glove. One voters approve the Charter, the updated Code can be adopted right away. The Century Charter Review Committee should submit a written report to explain its recommendations. In 2009, the Pensacola Charter Review Commission was required by its 2007 mandate to submit a report but refused. The current charter still contains two legal errors, a massive governance flaw and so much confusion a City Attorney has claimed that “shall” and “may” are the same.

]]> By: Citizen http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459037 Citizen Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:30:01 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459037 keep the charter like it is and keep Prather hired. Status quo. Too much power for a person who doesn't reside here is a bad formula. A municipality can put an incredible tax burden on the residents. Keep Boutwell, Keep Prather. Council stop the power struggles. Don't change the charter. Vote no. Keep the manager as a hire position. He is enjoying the paycheck and it is working out. Later down the line, no telling who will win the seat of either the council or the Mayor. There is not much talent for running utilities but right now what we are doing is the best. If Century unincorporated ECUA and unincorporated D5 is not the best answer. If this gets on the ballot, I will vote against it. I do think the hired manager position is a godsend but do NOT increase his power. Checks and balances are appropriate even if at times it causes gridlock. We need to get the waste treatment plant upgrades and the wells upgraded. Possible sell the gas franchise, to PE now that it's viable keep the charter like it is and keep Prather hired. Status quo. Too much power for a person who doesn’t reside here is a bad formula.

A municipality can put an incredible tax burden on the residents.

Keep Boutwell, Keep Prather. Council stop the power struggles.

Don’t change the charter. Vote no.

Keep the manager as a hire position. He is enjoying the paycheck and it is working out.

Later down the line, no telling who will win the seat of either the council or the Mayor.

There is not much talent for running utilities but right now what we are doing is the best.

If Century unincorporated ECUA and unincorporated D5 is not the best answer.

If this gets on the ballot, I will vote against it.

I do think the hired manager position is a godsend but do NOT increase his power.

Checks and balances are appropriate even if at times it causes gridlock.

We need to get the waste treatment plant upgrades and the wells upgraded. Possible sell the gas franchise, to PE now that it’s viable

]]> By: Brian http://www.northescambia.com/2021/07/charter-review-committee-votes-to-change-centurys-form-of-government/comment-page-1#comment-459036 Brian Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:29:45 +0000 http://www.northescambia.com/?p=448223#comment-459036 Can Century even afford to pay for a referendum? And a powerless figurehead? Can Century even afford to pay for a referendum? And a powerless figurehead?

]]>