A petition to enact an ordinance which cuts off tax funding for Oxford Village’s cityhood effort and prohibits council taking anymore action in favor of cityhood without a prior vote of the people is being circulated by a well-known village resident.
‘It’s time to put the brakes on this runaway train and see what the people actually want before any more of our tax money is spent,? said Bill Dunn, a resident of 14 Dennison Street and township supervisor, who’s beginning to circulate the petition this week.
The proposed village ordinance imposes a ‘spending prohibition? on the village whereby ‘neither the village council nor any elected official, appointed official or employee of the village shall expend or cause the expenditure of any village funds to assist or aid in any manner any effort made or action taken toward incorporating the village into a city.?
To date, the village has spent $2,161 on the pursuit of cityhood, an effort started and chaired by council President Renee Donovan’s husband Tracy Miller.
In December 2003, council hired the $165-per-hour services of the Sylvan Lake-based attorney Thomas Ryan to aid in the village’s efforts to incorporate as a city.
‘It’s ridiculous to keep spending money on something that in the end voters could reject,? Dunn said. ‘Council’s got a 50/50 chance of cityhood being approved. I personally think that it’s a lot less.?
‘As a village resident, I don’t want the council gambling with my tax money, especially when the odds are stacked against them. Cityhood’s failed here before and could easily fail again. There’s better odds at casino.?
Dunn’s proposed ordinance would also place a ‘limitation on council action? in that ‘unless authorized to do so by a prior vote of the electors of the village, the village council shall not pass any resolutions or otherwise take any position or actions in favor of any effort made or action taken toward incorporating the village into a city.?
‘The council claims it represents village residents. Why not hear what they want through a vote before working to change the form of government they live under?? Dunn said. ‘You can’t really represent somebody until you’ve heard their wishes.?
The final portion of Dunn’s proposed ordinance requires council action in that ‘unless and until the electors of the village vote to authorize a different council position or action regarding the incorporation of the village into a city, the village council shall oppose any petition filed to incorporate the village into a city.?
‘Again, the village council needs to hear the voice of its residents before making anymore moves toward cityhood,? Dunn said. ‘As a village resident, I’m just asking our elected village representatives to listen to us and respect our wishes before they keep trying to radically change governments.?
In order for his petition to successfully initiate either a council vote on the proposed ordinance or a vote of village residents on it, Dunn must obtain signatures from ‘not less than 15 percent of the registered electors of the village,? according to Chapter 8 of the village charter.
With 2,281 registered voters in the village, Dunn’s petition will require at least 342 signatures.
‘That’s a lot of signatures and I can’t do it alone, so I’m hoping for a lot of help from my fellow village residents,? Dunn said. ‘This needs to be a grass-roots thing.?
Once the petition is found ‘sufficient and proper? by the village clerk, it must be submitted to council at its next regular meeting. Council then has 30 days to either ‘adopt the ordinance as submitted in the petition? or ‘submit the proposal to the electors of the village,? according to Chapter 8 of the village charter.
If council chooses to put it to a vote of the people, the proposal must be but on the ballot at the ‘next election held in the village for any purpose,? provided there’s one within 180 days. If there is not one, ‘council shall schedule a special election to be held within 180 days from the date said petition was found sufficient and proper.?
‘Whether a bunch of people sign the petition and the council approves it or whether it goes to a vote of the people, I’ll be happy either way because at least village residents will be heard loud and clear,? Dunn said. ‘That’s all I want ? somebody to listen to what the people want for a change.?
Anyone wishing to sign Dunn’s petition or help him circulate it can e-mail him at ranger810@yahoo.com.