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Haverhill council adopts two ordinances, sends charter vacancy change to March 2027 ballot
Summary
The Haverhill Town Council on April 9 approved two ordinances on second reading, including a charter amendment that will appear on the March 9, 2027 ballot to allow the council to appoint successors for certain vacancies; both measures passed 4-0.
The Haverhill Town Council voted 4-0 on April 9 to adopt two ordinances on second reading, including a measure that will place a charter amendment before town voters in March 2027.
Ordinance No. 540 calls a referendum for March 9, 2027, proposing to amend Section 2.03 of the Town Charter so that if a vacancy occurs with 18 months or more left in a term and no candidate qualifies for a special election, the remaining council members may appoint a successor within 90 days to serve the remainder of the term. Town Attorney John Foster read the ordinance and the ballot language into the record before the council approved it. Council Member Dennis Withington moved for approval, Council Member Mark Uptegraph seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.
The council also adopted Ordinance No. 539, which amends the town code by adding a definition of “stabilized surfaces” and updating the residential-driveway subsection to reference that definition. Foster read Ordinance No. 539 by title; there were no public comments, and Council Member Teresa Johnson moved for adoption with Council Member Dennis Withington seconding. The motion carried 4-0.
Both measures were adopted without public comment at the meeting. The ordinance that places the charter question on the ballot cites Sections 101.161 and 166.031 of the Florida Statutes as the enabling law for the referendum process. If voters approve the charter amendment on March 9, 2027, the ordinance sets the effective date for the changes as provided in the adopted text.
Procedural votes earlier in the meeting included approval of the agenda (motion by Council Member Teresa Johnson, seconded by Council Member Dennis Withington) and approval of the consent agenda (motion by Council Member Mark Uptegraph, seconded by Council Member Withington). The consent agenda included routine items and a budgeted purchase: up to $29,500 for camera system upgrades and $2,880 for annual camera monitoring services to be performed under the town’s existing IT services agreement with Essential Net Solutions, Inc.
Next steps: the referendum question will appear on the March 9, 2027 ballot if the town follows the schedule in Ordinance No. 540; the town will publish the ballot language as required by state law.
