Sponsors: Ruth Briggs King

The Town of Georgetown appointed a seven (7) member charter review committee to address mainly house-keeping revisions to its charter. The Committee met twice a month over several months to review and revise its charter. The result is their re-incorporated bill. The main substantive changes are as follows: • A Preamble was added; • Territorial limits will be established by a recorded map instead of as described as “1/2 mile in every direction from the center of the Public Square”; • The Annexation procedures were removed from the Charter (other than requiring contiguity and at least a majority of property owners in favor of being annexed) and will be detailed by ordinance; • Makes it clear that the Mayor is part of the Town Council; • For purposes of qualifications to be a Council member or Mayor, the Charter defines “bone fide resident”; • The Election procedures now follow Title 15 Municipal Elections; • The Charter clarifies how vacancies on Council occur and how these vacancies may be filled including by special election instead of appointment of a majority of Council; • The Alderman section is amended to track the recently amended Dewey Beach charter (Georgetown does not currently have an alderman). • An ethical code has been adopted by the Town and the Charter references its principles and a requirement to take an ethical oath; • The Town Manager has authority to manage the water, sewer and streets; • Annual property taxes are limited to 10% of gross assessed value; • Bond issuance not by referendum of up to 5 million dollars if from federal or state issuers at zero interest with 100% forgiveness upon successful completion of the project.