City Council votes to deny Home Rule Charter ordinance revision ahead of June elections

The Vermillion City Council has decided to deny the second reading of Ordinance 15-34, which proposed changes to the city's Home Rule Charter. During the meeting on June 16, 2025, council members discussed the implications of the ordinance and the process for potential amendments to the charter.

Councilor John raised questions about the procedure for changing the charter, suggesting the formation of a charter review committee to evaluate the document and recommend changes. The committee would present any proposed amendments to the council, which would then be forwarded to voters for consideration, ideally during the June election. However, the council determined that the proposed changes did not warrant a special election due to the associated costs.

The discussion highlighted the importance of transparency, with concerns that tabling the ordinance could limit public engagement in future readings. Councilor Holland noted that if additional changes to the charter were identified during the waiting period, they could complicate the current proposal.

Ultimately, the council opted for a clean approach by moving to deny the ordinance, allowing for a fresh start after the upcoming election, which will see five new council members elected. The motion to deny passed unanimously, with council members expressing gratitude for the staff's efforts in preparing the ordinance.

This decision marks a significant step in the council's ongoing efforts to refine the governance framework of Vermillion, with future discussions anticipated following the election.