Power Grab?

The Great Power Grab Caper in Cooper City

That is the title of a document that I received last night in an email. Upon reading I thought it warranted and I agreed to posting it for all Cooper City voters to read. It does raise the concern, “Were the voters of Cooper City in the last ballot change to the city’s charter hoodwinked into believing that the statement on the ballot was accurate description of the actions to be taken or were they deceptive and as a result lost a “charter right”, that being the right to approve certain major financial expenditures by the city commission when it exceeded a specific amount?”

One can only assume that there may well be some truth to it and should be viewed by the current sitting commission as an egregious transgression by the previous commission. A quote from a past virulent and outspoken dissident, who has receded into the background and is rarely vocal and then only acting as a surrogate for the Mayor or Commissioner Mallozzi.

          “Unity among commissioners should never be an issue.  The issue should be five individuals bringing their own independent thoughts and ideas to the people, and doing what’s right for this city, not agreeing with each other just to have a commission group hug.  We’ve had enough so called commission(al) harmony, being nothing more than rubber stamp voting.  The people demand you represent us, NOT each other.

         Also, please don’t claim our finances are strained until a forensic audit is done, and our books are looked into in detail.  You might be surprised at what you find, or don’t find.”

[verbatim comments of Diane Sori, resident, @ citizens concerns during a Cooper City Commission meeting.]

To: Coopercityinsider@Blogspot.com

Emailed as Follows;

This is the part of the old city charter that was removed in November of 2006 which was not properly described in the ballot item and as a result can only be described as the

The Great Power Grab Caper by the

Elected Officials of Cooper City

Mayor Debbie Eisinger

November 2006

Section 5.15. Requirements for referendum.

The City of Cooper City may borrow money, contract loans and issue bonds payable from ad valorem taxes and maturing more than twelve months after issue only to finance or refinance capital projects authorized by law and only when approved by a vote of the electors of the city.

 (Added to the charter.) The city shall have full power and authority to issue  municipal bonds or to borrow funds [or municipal purposes to the extent authorized by and subject to the limitations provided in the Constitution of the State of Florida, the Municipal Home Rule Law, other applicable statutes and this charter.

(Deleted from the Cooper City Charter.)

The purchase or construction of a capital project or facility or the purchase of capital equipment, the cost of which shall exceed seven and one half percent (7.5%) of the then existing current budget as adopted for the fiscal year, and which requires the borrowing of funds by the City or the issuance of bonds to fund such expenditures shall require prior voter approval of a majority of the electors voting at an election.

The referendum requirement of the section shall not apply to capital projects within the water and sewer utility systems of the city. Nor shall it apply to expenditures mandated by federal or state governments. 

 Also removed in its entirety, the section noted below of almost 1000 words.

Section 3.13. Initiative, referendum, recall.

I leave it to you the reader to determine for yourself the following questions;

What is the significance of this?

Were we told of this?
What should be done to restore the voters charter rights?

Your comments are most welcomed.