(Atlantic) The Atlantic City Council passed with third and final reading of an ordinance changing the method of Election to Runoff Elections. City Councilwoman Grace Garrett cast the lone no vote.
Atlantic currently has a “plurality takes all” system. One only needs to get the most votes on the first and only ballot to win, so less than 50.01% of the vote is required to become the Mayor, member of the Council, and Park Board. The ordinance changes the “plurality-takes-all” system to a runoff election if the votes are scattered amongst multiple candidates; with no one receiving 50.01 percent of the vote, the top two candidates would be placed on a runoff ballot three-to-four weeks after the election. If just two people are running, or a candidate receives 50.01 percent of the vote, a run-off election won’t be necessary.
City Councilwoman Grace Garett….
City Councilman Pat McCurdy said he also took an informal poll..
City Councilwoman Kathy Somers…
In addition to Somers announcing she plans to run for Mayor, Grace Garett also mentioned that she is putting in her papers on August 23rd to run for Mayor. City Councilman Pat McCurdy has already announced his run for Mayor
In other news, the City Council held a public hearing on the sale of 101 Cedar Street. On Wednesday, June 23 the Personnel & Finance Committee agreed to sell 101 Cedar Street to Cook Sanitation. Cook Sanitation will pay the city $2,000. The property shall be sold as-is, dilapidated house included. Cook Sanitation will have the home demolished by the end of the day on December 31, 2021. Within five years, Cook Sanitation agrees to build and industrial building on the lot; the deadline being August 1, 2026. There were no written or oral comments at the meeting Wednesday evening and the sale was approved by the council.
The Council also approved an order to close 8th Street between Chestnut and Poplar Streets on Sunday, August 22 between Noon and 5:00 p.m. for the First United Methodist Church’s Back to School Block Party. They approved the Third and Final Reading changing the term for Park Board Members from six year to four years. The Council approved an order to appoint Mackenzie Bandow and Anne Quist to the Housing Committee and approved an order to re-appoint Jack Jensen and Ruth Glines to the Community Promotion Commission.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Kris Erickson told the City Council that they will be holding puppy yoga at the Atlantic Animal Shelter this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. All proceeds go to the Animal Shelter.
