AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HARRINGTON RELATING TO TERM LIMITS, BANKING, BUDGET AND AUDIT DEADLINES, SUCCESSION OF AUTHORITY, AND SIGNING CHECKS.

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details on how these changes will impact city finances or operations in the long term.

Changes to Harrington City Charter

This act changes the term limits for city officials, banking rules, budget and audit deadlines, succession of authority, and check signing procedures in the City of Harrington's charter.

What This Bill Does

• Removes limitations on the number of terms that an individual may serve as Mayor or a member of the City Council.
• Allows city funds to be placed in any bank approved by the City Council, not just local banks.
• Moves the annual budget deadline from May 1st to June 1st.
• Extends the deadline for audit reports from 120 days to 150 days after the fiscal year ends.
• Changes who can sign checks when the mayor is unavailable.

Who It Names or Affects

• City officials in Harrington, including mayors and council members.
• The City Council of Harrington.

Terms To Know

Term limits

Rules that limit how long someone can hold a position.

Succession of authority

Who takes over if the mayor cannot do their job.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens to existing term limits before this change.
• It is unclear how these changes will affect city finances and operations in the long term.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HARRINGTON RELATING TO TERM LIMITS, BANKING, BUDGET AND AUDIT DEADLINES, SUCCESSION OF AUTHORITY, AND SIGNING CHECKS.
On February 18, 2025, the City of Harrington passed Resolution 25-R-02 to seek support from the General Assembly to amend the City Charter. This Act amends the City of Harrington Charter, as requested by the City Council, by doing all of the following:

1. Removing limitations on the number of terms that an individual may serve as Mayor or a member of the City Council.
2. Removing the requirement that City funds be placed in a bank located in the City and allow the funds to be placed in bank approved by the City Council.
3. Changing the annual budget deadline from May 1 to June 1.
4. Changing the deadline for the auditor of accounts to submit an audit report from within 120 days from the end of the fiscal year to within 150 days from the end of the fiscal year.
5. Removing the Clerk of Council from the succession of authority for Mayor.
6. Allowing an approved member of the City Council to sign checks in the Mayor’s absence.

This Act also makes additional requested changes, not included in Resolution 25-R-02, by doing all of the following:
1. Moving the deadline to determine the City’s revenue needs from May 1 to June 1 to match the updated budget deadline.
2. Removing the City Treasurer’s authority to approve and countersign checks or warrants for paying bills or other claims against the City, so that the checks or warrants must be approved and signed by the City Manager and the Mayor, or a Council member designated by the Mayor.

This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual, including adding language to clarify that the Vice Mayor is elected from among the City Council members instead of appointed.

This Act requires a greater than majority vote for passage because § 1 of Article IX of the Delaware Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly to amend a municipal charter.