The board of elected freeholders produced a very fine proposal for improving Clark County governance. The proposed charter has many features that appeal to me.
One is separating administrative from policymaking powers. It has always bothered me that Clark County commissioners both created ordinances and administered them. That is not the way it should be done in this society.
Because of reduced responsibility, it is appropriate to reduce compensation as also proposed.
Another appealing feature is increasing the size of the council to five members. Currently, with a board of three, two of them cannot consult each other as two constitutes a majority requiring a public meeting. With five councilors, any two can legally confer with each other.
Finally, and perhaps most appealing to me about the proposed charter is establishing initiative and referendum powers, so residents have a means to alter county ordinances, something not possible under the current system.
