Proposed lifetime 8-year term limit draws mixed reaction from Montrose residents

One of the two charter amendments under consideration would replace the existing consecutive-term rules with an eight‑year lifetime cap for all council seats and remove the six‑year consecutive limit for the at‑large seat. Mayor Michael Badiacco and some proponents argued lifetime limits encourage leadership turnover and open opportunities for new candidates.

Opponents — including councilor Jay David Reid and several public commenters — questioned whether the change solves an identified problem. Reid cited city records, saying he reviewed 144 years of records and found only four instances where long tenure raised concerns, arguing the change addresses a problem that “doesn't exist.” Several residents and speakers urged the council to consider a consecutive-limit approach (with a required time away) rather than a permanent lifetime ban, and asked for legal analysis (including Colorado Supreme Court precedent) before placing the question before voters.

Speakers also raised transition issues that would affect sitting councilors, including whether appointments or partial terms would count toward the eight-year limit. Councilors and the public demanded explicit charter language to address appointments, partial terms and whether current incumbents would receive a one-time extension if the election date changes; the mayor said those provisions would need to be included in the ordinance if the council advances the amendment.

No final decision or ballot placement was made. The city attorney warned drafting the legal text will be time-consuming; councilors asked that the attorney be given clear direction on which ordinance titles to prepare for public notice.