The results are in from the Nov. 8 municipal election and Bradenton Beach voted for change.
Voters decided five proposed city charter amendments on the 2022 ballot, including:
Amendment 1. Forfeiture of office.
Currently the charter vests authority in three arbitrators to hold forfeiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs borne by the city. The ballot asked: Should voters revise the charter to eliminate the procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?
Voters cast 220 no votes and 222 yes votes, according to unofficial returns.
The charter change passed.
Amendment 2. Temporary at-large filling of vacancies.
The charter has required a commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. The ballot asked: Should the voters amend the charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill a ward seat for one term with an at-large commissioner if no ward resident is available?
Bradenton Beach voters approved Amendment 2 with 248 yes votes and 201 no votes, according to unofficial returns.
The commission can now appoint a temporary candidate to fill a vacant seat from any ward in an at-large capacity.
Amendment 3. Filling of vacancies by appointment.
The charter has required a special election to fill a vacancy of mayor or commissioner that results in a wait of six months or more from the next general municipal election. Voters were asked: Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission?
The electorate decided to keep the election process, with 178 yes votes and 267 no votes, according to unofficial returns.
Amendment 4: Qualifications and terms of office.
Voters were asked whether to amend the charter to remove term limits and maintain two-year terms for all elected positions with an effective date of June 16, 2022.
Amendment 4 passed with 235 votes in favor of ending term limits and 217 votes against the change.
Amendment 5: Actions requiring an ordinance.
The city charter has set forth actions requiring an ordinance. Voters were asked: Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and procedures from this section and instead require those actions be adopted in a public meeting through resolution?
Amendment 5 passed with 259 yes votes and 175 no votes.
There are 683 registered voters in Bradenton Beach.