HomeMy WebLinkAboutCertificate of Appointment- City Charter Revision CommissionCITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green St.NY 14850
MAYOR'S OFFICE
Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor
Offrce Phone: 607 -39 | -5862
Email: nrayorcantclmo(rr citt ol'ithaca.org
Certificate of Appointment of the Mayor of the City of Ithaca Establishing the Charter
Revision Commission and Defrning Its Scope of Work
WHEREAS, Section 36 of the Municipal Home Rule Law authorizes ama,yor to appoint a chafter
commission for the pufpose of proposing revisions to a city charter; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, as the chie f elected officer of the Ciry of khaca, is the only fuli-time
elected official chosen by the people of Ithaca to provide political leadership, articulate policy
direction, and be accountable for the performance of city government; and
WHEREAS, the Ithaca City Charter is the constitutional framework of local govemment, yet it
contains outdated provisions, duplicative and inconsistent sections, and ambiguities that obscure
accountability, weaken coordination, and leave residents uncertain about who is responsible for
decisions that affect their lives; and
WHEREAS, to meet the challenges of the present and future, the Charter must be clarified,
modernized, and reformed to strengthen democratic accounability, ensure transparency, and
promote effective governance; and
WHEREAS, in order to fulfill this charge with integrity and expertise, I have selected a
Commission of fifteen (15) residents representing diverse experiences and perspectives in public
administration, law, finance, planning, labor, housing, and civic engagement;
NOW, THEREFORE, f, Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor of the Ciry of lthaca, by the authority
vested in me under the laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish the following:
Section 1. Establishment
A Charter Revision Commission is hereby established and convened to review, modernize, and
recommend revisions to the Ithaca City Charter. The Commission shall operate pursuant to Section
36 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, and its final product shall be amendments to the Charter to be
filed in the Office of the Ciry Clerk and submitted to the voters for referendum n 2026 as provided
by law.
Section 2. Obiectives
The Commission shall be guided by the following obiectives:
1. Clariff the respective roles of the Mayor, Common Council, and City Manager to
improve coordination, transparency, and accountability.
2. Modernize the Charter to eliminate obsolete provisions, simplify ovedy technical language,
and align the Charter with State law and best practices in municipal governance.
3. Explore election reforms, including Council composition, term lengths, decennial
turflover, vacancy procedures, and the possible adoption of ranked-choice voting.
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CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850
MAYOR'S OFFICE
Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor
Offrce Phone: 607 -391-5862
Email: niayorcantehno(rilci tyollthacc.org
4. Strenghen democratic accountability so that residents cleady understand which officials
are responsible for key decisions, policies, and outcomes.
Section 3. Scope of Review
The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive review of the Charter as provided by section 36 of
the Municipal Home Rule Law, with emphasis on the following Articles and Sections:
Article I - Generd Provisions
. Remove outdated metes-and-bounds descriptions of ward boundaries; substitute language
requiring periodic redistricting of wards based on ceflsus data; examine and update language
describing municipal boundary.
. Consider number of wards.
. Simpli& incorporation language.
Article II - City Officers
. Elective officers (SC-5, $C-10): Consider appropriate number of council members; update
language to reflect multiple city fudges, update terms and language of provisions to
appropriately reflect any other proposed revisions.
. Elections and terrns of office (SC-7, $C-10): Reexamine election provisions, including the
timing of elections, term lengths, and vacancy procedures, and evaluate potential reforms
such as the adoption of ranked-choice voting and the introduction of open primaries, to
suengthen representation and accountability while ensuring compliance with state election
law.
. Mayor ($C-11): Review and clariS, the powers of the Mayor, including codilring the
Mayor's role as the City's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Elected Officer and scope of
authority for overseeing implementation of policy direction established by elected officials;
the process for nominating and, where appropriate, recommending removal of the City
Manager; the Mayor's authority to issue written policy directives and oversee City Manager
performance through established evaluation procedures; and the scope of the Mayor's
appointment and removal authority for boards, commissions, and officers, with the goal of
ensuring transParency, accountability, and effective governance. Consider whether the Mayor
should rema-in a voting member of the Common Council or exchange the voting role for a
qualified veto as chief policy of6cer.
. Council Members ($C-11.1): Review and clarify the powers and responsibilities of
individual council members to provide that members are able to effectivelv perform their
legislative and oversight role while ensuring that council members' actions are consistent
with principles of good govetnance, including safeguards against undue interference in
CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850
MAYOR'S OFFICE
Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor
Office Phone: 607 -39 I -5862
Email : nrayorcantehno(ir;citvotlthaca. org
administration and clear procedures for discipline or removal for cause (i.e. misconduct,
ineligibiiity, dereliction of dury) where appropriate.
. City Manager ($C-12): Reviev' and clarifii the qualifications, duties, and authoriry of the
City Manager, including the Manager's role as Chief Administrative Officer, in appointment
and removal of staf( and day-to-day operations, as well as the processes for selection,
accountabiliry, and removal, in order to ensure a professional and effective management
function that operates transparendy and executes administrative functions under the policy
direction of the Mayor and legislative oversight of the Council. Review procedures for
designation of an Acting City Manager in the event of absence, incapacity, or vacancy of the
City Manager.
. Appointments (SC-s, C-22,C-25rC-26): Standardize appointment procedures for
departrnent heads and board and commission members in accordance with best practices;
remove references to specific boards and commissions in the Charter and replace with
generic references ptoviding for appointment by Mayor with consent of Council unless
otherwise specified by governing local law or ordinance; change default residency
requirements to Tompkins County or contiguous counties unless otherwise specified by
governing local law or ordinance.
. Removals ($C-26.1): Empower department heads to discipline and remove all
subordinates, including deputies, in a manner consistent with procedures in state Civil
Service Law; empower City Manager to discipline and remove department heads in a manner
consistent with procedures in state Civil Service Law, subject to approval of the Mayor only
in instances of termination or unpaid suspension longer than 30 days; add default provisions
authorizing removal of appointed board, working group, and commission members for
cause (i.e. misconduct, ineligibility, dereliction of duty).
. Legal Officers (SC-13, $C-14): Consolidate City Attorney and City Prosecutor sections,
clarify appointment and removal authority, and modernize powers.
. DePartment Heads (SSC-15-22): Simpli$, and standardize provisions; empower Council
to create, consolidate, or dissolve additional departments by ordinance.
Article III - Common Council
. Update meeting and quorum des; establish Deputy Mayor role and succession in lieu of
current Acting Mayor role; provide for ordedy selection of an Acting Mayor (in lieu of
Altemate Acting Mayor role) from members of Council in the event of the absence,
incapacity, or vacancy of both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor.
. Affirm in general terms legislative supremacy of Council, clari$,ing Council's full lawmaking
authority to extent permitted by lav', while eliminating redundant and outdated language
speci$ring individual powers and limitations. Strengthen language regarding Council's
oversight and policy, as opposed to administrative, roles.
CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850
MAYOR'S OFFICE
Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor
Office Phone: 607 -391-5862
Email: nra)'orcantclmo(ri. c it)'ollthacr.org
. Grant explicit authority to Council to set and review by resolution all fees and rates charged
by the City, to extent permissible by law, to override inconsistent provisions in City Code.
. Establish transparent rules and procedure for determining salaries of elected officials.
Consider the establishment of a formal citizen-led commission to from time to time review
and recommend appropriate salaries for elected officials.
. Simpli& ordinance/resolution enactrnent and voting procedures.
Article fV - Taxation and Assessment
. Review all provisions for modemizaion and simplification; relocate detailed procedures into
the Code where l.grlly permissible and if desirable.
ArticleV-PublicWorks
. Eliminate the Board of Public Works; transfer propefty acquisition, disposition, and fee-
setting authority to Council, operations/maintenance functions to the Departrnent of Public
Works, and appeal functions to Superintendent of Public X7orks.
. Reassign sewer, water, streets, parks, and cemeteries functions to Departrnent of Public
'Works; relocate operational details into the Code.
. Include a transitional clause ensuring that all references to the Board of Public S7orks are
construed as referring to Council, the Department of Public !7orks, or the Superintendent
of Public $7orks, as appropriate, until Code is amended.
Article VI - Fire Department
. Relocate Fire Department provisions to Article II with other City departrnents.
Article VII - Miscellaneous Provisions
. Clari$ Iiability and indemnification provisions; relocate sick leave and administrative rules
into the Code.
. Revise definitions and construction rules; establish the Charter's supfemacy over
inconsistent ordinances and local laws.
o Evaluate and make recommendations around the structure andf ot realignment of city
deparrnents and functions, as appropriate.
. Provide for appropriate transitional provisions to ensure that there is no lapse in authority as
a result of Charter revisions.
Section 4. Process
1. The Commission shall meet regulady in accordance with Open Meetings Law.
CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850
MAYOR'S OFFICE
Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor
Office Phone: 607 -391-5862
Email : nrayorcantelmoticc i t)'ollthaca. org
2. Administrative, legal, and financial support shall be provided by the Office of the Mayo4
City Manager, Departrnent of Information and Community Engagement, City Attorney's
Office, and, if needed, outside consultants.
3. The Commission shall adopt its own rules of procedure for deliberations, voting, and public
participation.
4. Interim updates shall be provided to the Mayor as requested.
Section 5. Deliverables
The Commission shall submit:
. A Final Report containing draft Charter language, explanatory notes, and fiscal impacts.
. A public engagement record documenting hearings, comments, and responses.
. A final draft Charter of revisions prepared for submission to referendum to be filed with the
Ciry Clerk in accordance with State law.
Section 6. Timeline
. Orgaruzation and adoption of rules: within sixty (60) days of this certificate of appoinunent.
. Public eflgagement and issue identification: months 3-6.
. Drafting and deliberation: months 7-10.
. Final recommendations: submitted to City Clerk in time for placement on the 2026 genera)
election ballot.
Section 7. Membership
1. The Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members appointed by the Mayor.
2. The Mayor shall designate a Chat, Vice-Chair, and Secretary of the Commission.
3. Appointrnents shall reflect the diversity of the City and include residents with experience in
public administration, law, finance, planning, labot, housing, and civic engagement.
4. Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties.
Section 8. Comrnission Appointments
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Mayor by Section 36 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, the
following individuals are hereby appointed as members of the Charter Revision Commission:
1.. Billy Noseworthy, Chair flW3)
CITY OF ITHACA
108 East Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850
MAYOR'S OFFICE
Robert G. Cantelmo, Mayor
Offrce Phone: 607 -391 -5862
Email: nrayorcantelmo(il,cityoflthaca.org
2. Kris Haines-Sharp, Vice Chair flW2)
3. Clyde Lederman, Secretary (W5)
4. Cynthia Broclq Member SV1)
5. AryealJackson, Member (V2)
6. Pierre Saint-Petez, Member (W3)
7. Victor Kessler, Member fW4)
8. Kristina Thelen, Member (W1)
9. Nels Bohn, Member (.W2)
10. Deb Fisher, Member (W5)
17. Tiffany Kumar, Member flM4)
72. Trais Brooks, Member flW1)
13. George McGonigal, Member SV1)
'1. 4. lvhranda P agan, Member flW 1)
15. Donna Fleming, Member (.W3)
All appointee s shall serve until the Commission is dissolved as provided by law on the day of the
election at which the proposed new charter or charter amendments prepared by the Commission are
submitted for referendum, unless any vacancies should arise through resignation, illness, or any
commissioner being otherwise incapacitated. Any y^cancy in the membership of the Commission or
its officers shali be filled by the Mayor as provided by law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of
Ithaca to be affixed this January 23,2026.
Robert G. Cantelmo
Mayor, Citv of Ithaca