Council Approves Term Limits Measure

A divided City Council has approved an ordinance that would impose term limits for council members if voters approve it on Nov. 3.

The council last December approved placing the term limit measure on the ballot and letting the voters decide whether council members should serve for no more than two terms, or a total of eight years.

While this week’s action was merely a housekeeping item, opponents of the measure spoke out against it.

Council members Bob Bell and Patricia L. Bortle, who voted against the ordinance, said term limits are unnecessary in the city. Bortle said that the volunteer pool is limited, especially since the city has a growing number of younger residents with families and other commitments who don’t have the time to serve.

“We need to allow anyone to run,” she said.

Mayor Rich Freschi said he strongly favors limiting council terms because after eight years, a person is “burned out” and doesn’t have the same “fire and interest.”