Petition aims to increase number of Swansboro commissioners

SWANSBORO — A group of citizens wants to see the Swansboro Board of Commissioners expanded, and a petition drive is under way to put the issue up for a vote.

Mary Ellen Yanich, a former town commissioner and one of the organizers of the petition effort, said they are seeking a referendum on adding a fifth commissioner to the board.

The Board of Commissioners is currently comprised of the mayor and four commissioners. Effective with the most recent election, the mayor now serves a four-year term.

Yanich said the change from a two-year to four-year mayoral term had ramifications beyond how long a mayor serves. Now, she said, the voters have less chance to change the direction of government if they feel it’s needed.

Instead of voting on a majority of board seats every two years, it’s now every four years. Yanich believes that goes against the intent of the town charter.

“The intent of the charter was to make it possible for citizens to elect or re-elect a majority of officials every two years,” she said.

Adding a fifth commissioner could address that issue and bring Swansboro in line with other area communities, she said.

Yanich said Cedar Point, which is smaller than Swansboro, is the only other town in the area with a four-year mayor and only four commissioners.

Adding a commissioner seat to the board would require an amendment to the town charter.

Under state statutes, a town board can vote to amend the charter by ordinance, following a process set out by law. The board can make the ordinance subject to a vote of the people, but a referendum is not necessarily required.

In this case, citizens are initiating the proposed charter change, and they need the referendum to do it.

They’ve registered the petition with the Onslow County Board of Elections and are now seeking signatures from at least 10 percent of the town’s registered voters. That’s about 170 signatures to collect and have verified, and Yanich is optimistic they’ll reach that number by their April 1 goal.

If so, the referendum could be on the ballot during the November election.

Mayor Scott Chadwick acknowledges their right to seek a referendum, but he personally doesn’t see where an additional commissioner is necessary.

“It’s been a five-member board since the beginning and it hasn’t been a problem,” Chadwick said.

The mayor votes in the case of a tie and Chadwick questions the motive of the move, which would limit the mayor’s chance of voting.

“With five commissioners, there would be very little times when the mayor would vote,” Chadwick said.

Yanich said the petition isn’t about politics.

“We’re not trying to take power away from anybody,” she said.

Former commissioner Jim Allen is helping spearhead the petition and sees the effort as an opportunity for more input on the board.

“It’s another individual, another mind in the mix and another way of looking at things,” said Allen, who did not seek re-election in November.

Allen supported the idea of a fifth commissioner when he was on the board and believes it will mean better government.

And as they pursue another proposed charter amendment, Allen doesn’t want to repeat last year’s actions of the board, which chose not to hold a referendum on the change in the mayoral term. Allen and former Commissioner John Lister voted against the change because a referendum was not held.

He’s optimistic the petition will result in an opportunity for the people to vote on whether or not there should be an additional commissioner seat on the board.

“I don’t know how it will play out, but I’d be satisfied to have people vote on it,” Allen said.

In accordance with state law, a public hearing was held before the town charter was amended to change the mayoral term to four years. Only five people spoke, with all but one speaker expressing their support.

The majority of the board felt four-year terms, which is how long commissioners serve, give more time for long-term planning. The approval came via a 3-2 vote with the mayor breaking the tie.

Contact Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jpippin@freedomenc.com.