Seven Islamorada residents serving on a newly-formed committee will spend the next few months discussing possible changes to the village charter.
On Jan. 26, the village Charter Review Committee convened at the Founders Park Community Center to begin molding potential recommendations for council consideration. The group must submit proposed changes no later than May 31 in order to give the council time to mull approval. Any change would go to the village voters at the November election.
“The charter is like our constitution,” Village Manager Ron Saunders said to begin the meeting. “It’s the guiding document.”
Saunders said the committee can discuss anything within the charter, from height limitations to village council terms. Some sections, like elections, are more limited in what can be changed since they’re bound by state law.
Committee members began by selecting Ty Harris as the chair and Susan Raffanello the vice chair. From there, each member highlighted sections within the charter for discussion in the coming weeks and months. Charter language pertaining to the village council was one of the popular areas each member wanted to discuss.
“Section 5 is the only thing people have talked to me about,” said committee member Roger Young.
The section deals with everything from terms of office to council compensation, filling vacancies and meetings and records.
When the village was incorporated, the pay for council members was $300 a month. In 2026, the monthly compensation is $1,000. Past efforts to get voters to approve pay bumps for council members beyond $1,000 have been overwhelmingly shot down.
Committee member Craig McBay said compensation for council members should be increased.
“For the amount of time council members put in, put that down to an hour wage, that’s not much,” he said.
In addition to the section related to council, member Joe Roth wanted to examine a section of the charter that deals with referendums. Member LaLonde Miller wanted to delve into responsibilities of the mayor under the village council section.
Member Richard Black said he’s been hearing from people about building height restrictions.
“(It’s) the elephant that comes up: How high can you build? People are concerned,” he said.
Raffanello wanted to examine sections pertaining to the budget and specifically the deadline to get it approved. Per the charter, the council can adopt a budget no later than Sept. 30. A new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. She said the deadline puts pressure on council since they have no leeway with the new fiscal year beginning the following day.
McBay said he’s hoping the public provides input and is eventually onboard with whatever recommendations the committee submits to the council.
“It’s one thing for us to spend a bunch of time here, but if the public doesn’t know when it comes up on a ballot and they just say ‘no’, then all of our time is wasted,” he said.
Committee members will convene on Monday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Founders Park Community Center to discuss sections related to the village council and elections.
