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Council pauses charter‑amendment push on term lengths, directs staff to coordinate with Board of Elections
Summary
After a canceled public hearing the council discussed three options — proceed with charter amendment and re‑advertise, place an advisory referendum on the ballot, or prioritize immediate Board of Elections support — and agreed to coordinate with election officials and return with recommendations and cost estimates ahead of the next council in 2027.
Takoma Park’s council used the meeting to step back from an immediate charter amendment vote on council term lengths after a public hearing was canceled by weather. Mayor Cersi presented three options: proceed with a full charter amendment (requiring re‑notification), place an advisory referendum on the ballot, or defer and prioritize funding and support for the Board of Elections and revisit term‑length changes after 2026.
Why it matters: the city clerk and board of elections have warned that any changes to the timing or structure of municipal elections could increase staffing pressure and costs for upcoming election cycles. Council members generally favored giving staff and the Board of Elections more time and directed staff to return with budget estimates and an outreach plan that addresses the board’s staffing concerns before making any charter changes.
Next steps: staff will consult the Board of Elections, develop outreach and cost estimates for any education or referendum option, and return with a recommended path for council consideration before the end of 2026 so the newly seated council in 2027 can decide whether to proceed.
