Lady Lake Commissioner Ruth Kussard adamantly opposes the idea of updating the town’s charter, but the process is moving forward anyway.
The Village of La Reynalda resident and Mayor Jim Richards on Monday night voted in opposition to the idea of updating the town’s charter, which has remained untouched for more than three decades.
“It has worked fine for us all these years,” said Commissioner Kussard, who in 2013 was named mayor and served in that position for three years.
She pointed to the town’s success in keeping taxes low, attracting new businesses and well-planned maintenance of roads.
However, Commissioner Tony Holden became a champion of the charter-review idea after the abrupt departure this past December of Police Chief Chris McKinstry. Holden said the town’s charter gives too much power to Town Manager Kris Kollgaard, who offered McKinstry two choices – resign or be fired. She admitted to a clash of personalities with the former chief. The charter does not require the town manager to seek the commission’s approval in making such personnel decisions, although Kollgaard gave commissioners a heads up before that fateful meeting with McKinstry.
Commissioners Paul Hannan and Dan Vincent on Monday voted with Holden to move forward with the charter review process.
Each of the five commissioners will have the opportunity to choose a representative from their respective wards. The seven-member committee also will include two representatives of the business community.