Ocoee appoints members to Charter Review Commission

The Charter Review Commission will be in charge of rectifying the language in the elections chapter of the charter.

By Andrea Mujica
| 5:27 p.m. May 24, 2023

West Orange Times & Observer
News

The Ocoee City Commission appointed the members of the Charter Review Commission during its Tuesday, May 16, meeting.

The Charter Review Commission will consist of five members, two alternate members and a facilitator. Those include Lou Forges (District 1), Thomas Lowrie (District 2), Derrick Chacon (District 3), Jim Sills (District 4), Adam Lovejoy (Mayor), and alternates Fannie MacTavish and Kelton Butler. The facilitator is attorney Richard Geller, and the recording secretary is Melanie Sibbitt.

The Charter Review Commission will be responsible of conducting a comprehensive study of any phrases written in the City Charter that may need revision.

After the postponing of the special election that would provide citizens the opportunity to elect a new District 4 commissioner, the commission felt compelled to call for the appointment of a Charter Review Commission for it to review the language within the residency requirements, elections and vacancies chapters of the city charter.

According to the City Charter, “The Charter Review Commission shall transmit its proposed report with Charter amendments in ordinance form to the City Commission for comment. The City Commission shall, within 45 days of receipt, review the report. If the City Commission has comments or recommendations, the City Commission will return its comments or recommendations, if any, to the Charter Review Commission within the same 45-day period.”

IN OTHER NEWS
- The commission proclaimed May 20, 2023, as Florida Emancipation day during its Tuesday, May 16, meeting.

- The commission received its annual comprehensive financial report, which showed all requirements were met during its Tuesday, May 16, meeting. The city was advised to keep an eye on its solid waste fund as it showed a negative balance toward the end of the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2022.

- The commission approved unanimously all items in the consent agenda. These include the closure of public roads in the downtown area of the city for the Ocoee High School Homecoming Parade from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, and the closure of public roads in the downtown area for the 23rd annual downtown Ocoee Car Show from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 27.

- The commission heard the first reading of ordinance to ratify the resolution to rescind the special election that was originally supposed to take place Tuesday, June 13, and postpone it for March 19, 2024. The commission will bring back this item for its second reading of ordinance Tuesday, June 6, to discuss whether the resolution should be adopted as an ordinance.

- The commission approved unanimously the annexation and rezoning of a .372-acre property included in the design for the Siri Office Building PUD land use plan during its Tuesday, May 26 meeting.

- The commission approved the appointment of the new members for the Human Relations Diversity Board.

- The commission approved the reappointment of three members of the Planning and Zoning Commission: Brad Lomnek, Joel Keller and Jason Mellen will now serve for another three-year term.

- The commission will advertise the need to hire a new law firm to conduct the proper evaluations of the firm prior to the hiring process.

author

Andrea Mujica

Staff writer Andrea Mujica covers sports, news and features. She holds both a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Central Florida. When she’s not on the sidelines, you can find Andrea coaching rowers at the Orlando Area Rowing Society in Windermere.