Charter Review Update

I've had a chance to look at the minutes of the Charter Review Committee and the proposed draft, and with one major exception all of the changes are very minor and mostly grammatical.

The exception has to do with the Sheriff. In the current Charter, the Sheriff is given full power to hire and fire deputies. The proposed Charter asserts the County Manager's authority over the hiring and firing of all County personnel, including Sheriff's deputies. While this is true as relates strictly to entry and exit paperwork, I can't see how the CM could possibly actually decide on the merits of a sheriff's deputy.

Another, unadopted discussion would have required the Sheriff be appointed and have an advanced education degree in addition to all the State requirements. However well-intended, this is the sort of thing that can create all sorts of ill will and make entire departments feel disrespected.

There was some early discussion but there is no proposal to make Commissioner elections county-wide.

The Charter Review Committee meets again this afternoon, 4:00pm, third floor conference room, 800 Exchange.

UPDATE 5:35pm: The Committee voted to make no changes to the Charter regarding the Sheriff, his credentials or his ability to hire and fire deputies.