Charter study questions on Nov. 7 ballot
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer

HOWELL - Two five-person slates are seeking to be elected to a charter study commission which would investigate different types of municipal government that could be used in Howell.

On Election Day, Nov. 7, there will be two questions on the ballot related to the Howell charter study commission. The first question will ask voters if they want to impanel a charter study commission. Residents may vote yes or no.

A second question will ask residents to elect five people to serve on the commission if a majority of voters approves the formation of a charter study commission.

One group of residents seeking to serve on a charter study commission is comprised of Sharon Carpenter-Migli-accio, William Field, Reinhard Kirchhof, John Lebrio and George Wyatt.

A second group of residents seeking to serve on a charter study commission is comprised of William Adams, Bruce Goldberg, Jeanine Raccuglia, Michael Revier and Robin Shaughnessy.

Residents do not have to vote for an entire slate of candidates - they may vote for up to five individuals. The top five vote-getters will serve on the commission if the formation of such a panel is approved.

A five-person commission would study various forms of government and review whether the current system fits Howell's needs, or whether a different form of government should be employed. The commission would have nine months to hold public meetings and come up with a recommendation that would be forwarded to the Township Council.

Any proposed change in Howell's form of government would have to be placed before voters.

At one time, Howell operated under a Township Committee form of government in which the mayor is not directly elected by residents. The municipality eventually changed to its present form of government, a council-manager format. The mayor is directly elected by residents, but serves as a voting member of the five-person Township Council. There are no voting wards in Howell and all council members are elected at large.