Earlier this month, the Village Council passed a resolution to establish a Charter Review Committee. They’ll recommend changes to our 25-year-old Village Charter. 

This review was a campaign promise of Don Horton’s and others, during the campaign in 2024. Now 14 months later, after the important village work was completed, i.e. dealing with several million dollars worth of property purchased with no exit plan; naming streets and parks, we are ready to go.

In addition to the committee itself, the council voted to have the manager provide a meeting facilitator (unnamed) for the review committee and someone at the League of Cities will be used to “tweak” the charter changes.

So now 14 months into the current term the charter review becomes a predicament with a short deadline. The hastily put together committee of seven residents must figure out what is best for the long-term benefit of our community. 

The deadline for submission of recommended changes is May 31st. In this village, it is going to have to move at the speed of sound. A rapid review process follows with readings by council at multiple public meetings. It is then submitted to the Supervisor of Elections, post haste, to get satisfactory recommendations on the November ballot.

This is warp speed for any municipality. Most communities take well over a year to do a thorough charter review.

The importance of the charter, strategic plan and comp plan has been ignored.

None of these critical documents has been energetically pursued.

Two days after the council resolution the council appointed seven residents to serve on the committee:  Ty Harris, Richard Black, Roger Young, Lori LaLonde, Susan Raffanello, Craig McBay, Joe Roth. (Heavy participation by Chamber members)

In my experience, it is always preferred to get the background on those applying for important, potentially game changing decisions. We hope they all are prepared to put in serious effort, not just interested in adding a new entry on their resume.

We find it confusing that the Village has a rather detailed application process for other citizen committees (Boards & Committees Applications | Islamorada, FL).

Astonishingly, for this critical committee, interested residents simply had to send their name to the clerk for consideration – no qualifications needed.  Do “good ol’ boy/girl” politics prevail in our village?

The first Village Charter Review Committee meeting has been scheduled for Monday, Jan 26, 2026 at 5:30 P.M.  A second meeting is scheduled for two days later, Jan 28, same time and place.

During Council discussion, there were numerous comments suggesting that the Council wants to consider amendments the public wants enacted.  The importance of public participation was frequently reiterated.

We urge the public to get fully engaged in the process.

There were 10 residents who submitted their names, but were not selected: John Cioffi, Mark Cockerham, Greg Dully, Elizabeth Jolin, Bernie LaPira, Sue Miller, Jerry O’Cathey, Lesley Rhyne, Marilyn Smith, John Lentini.

We strongly suggest that those who expressed interest and submitted their names should absolutely become involved in the process and contribute their ideas to the committee.

A Charter is often a rather humdrum document with standard language- legal description of the municipality, number of seats on council, terms, and qualifications of the council, their responsibilities, form of government (in our case council-manager.) and then “General Provisions” that can be more village specific.  

Why is this Charter so important? The charter is the town bible and can only be changed by the voters – not staff, and not by the council. The Charter is where we should put the important guidance.Provisions to protect the environment, citizens and their wallets and quality of life go here!

Prior amendments submitted for voter approval:

Height Restriction: Back in 2007 the 35’ height restriction was added to the charter after months and months of campaigning to assure voters understood this amendment would prevent a Miami Beach look along the shores of Islamorada. 

Council pay: The council cannot increase their own pay - their compensation is part of our Charter.  Voters here have rejected pay increases for Council more than once.

Issues expected to be considered by the newly appointed review committee:

• Instead of candidates running for a specific seat, the charter could be amended to declare the top five voter getters the winners

• The two-year terms should not be changed. (it has been rejected by voters previously)

• Elections could be staggered so either 2 or 3 council positions would be decided in an annual election instead of all 5 so we’d never have a council that is all new like what happened in 2020.

• Candidates could run for mayor and emphasize their qualifications. Voters should decide this position.

 

We hope the Charter Review Committee is conscientious, creative and spends time looking at other city charters around South Florida.  We did. We found some interesting provisions that could be considered in Islamorada. 

Here’s a couple:

Key West land acquisition: “Acquisition of real property for public parks, recreation, affordable housing, or civic buildings may be by a vote of a supermajority of the City Commission. Annexation, or acquisition of real property for any other purpose, may only be by a vote of the electors of the City.”

Key Colony Beach Clerk (and many other municipalities): TheClerk is a charter officer along with attorney and manager – “There shall be a City Clerk who shall be appointed by the City Commission. The City Clerk shall perform such duties as are assigned by the City Commission.”

Cutler Bay (Incorporated in 2005) Citizens Bill of Rights: “This government has been created to protect the governed, not the governing. In order to provide the public with full and accurate information, to promote efficient administration management, to make government more accountable, and to ensure to all persons fair and equitable treatment, the following rights are guaranteed.”  (14 rights of citizens spelled out )

Cutler Bay Council vacancy: “If six months or more remain in the unexpired term, a special election to fill that vacancy shall be held no later than 90 days following the occurrence of the vacancy.”

Cutler Bay Disclosure of Campaign contributions by vendors: “Any vendor who directly or through a member of the person's immediate family or through a political action committee or through any other person makes a campaign contribution to a candidate who is elected mayor, vice-mayor or council member, shall be required to disclose said contribution and if said Vendor fails to disclose he/she/it shall be barred from selling any product or service to the town for a period of two years following the swearing in of the subject.”

  

We encourage the committee members to do the hard work and remember their obligation to the residents and environment.

We will re-visit this process as it goes forward.

Participate!!

Tom Raffanello

Click here to read the Charter.