The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors endorsed two City of Springfield Charter amendments for the April 2 ballot, according to a press release.
The first measure would extend the two-year mayoral term to four years, while keeping the overall term limit at a total of eight years. If passed by a simple majority of voters, the mayoral term change would go into effect starting April 2025.
The second measure would amend the charter's conflict-of-interest language for city government employees, volunteers and elected officials, according to the release. If approved, the proposal would require the Springfield City Council to maintain and review a code of ethics related to elected officials, appointed officers, board members and employees. It would also eliminate the automatic forfeiture provision for violations as applied to employees.
The Chamber Board of Directors‘ Executive Committee initiated the review of both ballot measures in January, which spurred a meeting of the chamber's Local Issues Task Force. The task force unanimously recommended the chamber board endorse the mayoral term extension and conflict-of-interest amendment on the April 2 ballot.
“The task force recommendations were the result of significant discussion with a diversity of perspectives on how these two ballot measures, if approved by voters, will positively impact the business community,” Krystal Russell, a partner at Spectrum Accounting and chair of the Local Issues Task Force, wrote in the press release.
