Lauderhill voters should reject one, approve three proposed changes to city charter

Lauderhill voters have the chance on Nov. 6 to vote on four changes to the city’s charter. A charter review commission meets every 10 years to determine if the charter needs to be amended, Mayor Richard Kaplan said. He calls the proposed changes “technical and non-controversial.”

The only detail that provoked debate was the length of time a resident must live in Lauderhill before taking elected office.

“Some people wanted 12 months, others 18 and some two years,” said Kaplan, who personally wanted an 18-month requirement. “But the majority wanted two years.”

The requirement now is six months.

We actually see this as a big deal and encourage voters to reject this change. It won’t serve their interests. It will serve the interests of those who want to control political power in the city.

The other three changes seem innocuous enough. Here are the questions:

Should the city require that an acting city manager be a member of the administrative staff?

“Right now, the acting city manager can be anyone on staff,” Kaplan said. “This limits it to only someone from the administration.”

Should an assistant city attorney serve as City Attorney if the City Attorney is absent?

This would let the Assistant City Attorney fill in for the City Attorney without the City Commission having to make the appointment.

Should the city require a comprehensive background check as part of the city manager’s qualifications?