Milford council reviews multiple charter changes and approves several committee recommendations

Milford City Council considered a package of proposed charter amendments from the charter-review committee and approved multiple individual changes after discussion and roll-call votes.

Council members and committee representatives presented proposed edits to Articles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the city charter. Key items discussed included whether property owners who do not reside in the city should retain a vote, clarifying the scope of the council’s authority to exercise eminent domain consistent with Delaware law, the mayor’s role and powers language, the process for mayoral and council terms, meeting times, and qualification provisions that would make a mayor or council member ineligible if they are in arrears on city obligations.

On the question of voting by natural persons who own property in the city, council members debated whether to strike language that grants one vote to a natural person who owns property within city limits. After discussion the council voted to retain that language (motion carried). The committee also proposed adding enumerated powers language to Article 3 and an item labeled 3.01(j) was added by vote; council recorded roll-call votes on several items and multiple measures passed by roll call.

Council debated changes to the mayoral powers language. Committee members said the edits were intended to avoid confusion between the mayor’s role and the city manager’s responsibilities; the council approved the committee’s cleanup language clarifying that the mayor is the executive of city council and that certain actions require council consent.

The committee proposed changing terms for mayor and council from two years to three years on a staggered schedule beginning in 2026–2028; council approved the change as presented, with the record showing that implementation would be phased so current terms are not extended midterm. Council also approved changing the annual organization meeting time and adding language to qualification rules to make persons in arrears on city obligations ineligible to hold office; the amendment includes language about appeals and the process for declaring a seat vacant. The council voted to leave Section 5.05 (city manager appointment/department directors language) as currently drafted rather than adopting additional consent language; a majority said the existing charter language and removal process supplied sufficient checks and balances.

Council members and staff discussed the legislative next steps: approved charter changes will need a sponsor in the state legislature and must be introduced and enacted by the General Assembly and signed by the governor to take effect. The solicitor advised that the next steps would be to seek state sponsors and follow the state legislative process for charter amendments.