Danielsville amends future city council terms

Danielsville council members voted unanimously Jan. 14 to implement several changes to their city’s charter, including increasing council member terms from two to four years.

Mayor Todd Higdon said he favors four-year terms because of reduced expenses to the city, pointing out that each election costs the city about $3,000. For example, he said last November’s election cost the city an average of $60 per vote by the time costs for extended voting hours were factored in.

City attorney Dale Perry said it will be a process to convert to the four-year terms, with this year’s elections being held for a three-year term, followed by 2014 elections being for four-year terms.

Other charter amendments included the following: The charter will now clearly establish that the offices of city clerk and city treasurer can be occupied by one person. Perry said this has traditionally been the case, though the original charter did not specifically allow for this.

The municipal court judge will be required to be an attorney licensed to practice law for at least three years in the state at the time of his appointment.