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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAM Certifying the number of qualified registered voters signing the PetitionTOWN OF WESTLAKE To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Board of Aldermen From: Trent Petty, Town Manager Stan Lowry, Town Attorney 9 - Ginger Crosswy, Town ,:secretary Subject: Regular Board of Aldennen Meeting, October 8, 2001 Date: October 4, 2001 ITEM Consider a Resolution certifying the number of qualified registered voters signing the Petition calling a local option election for the legal sale of wine for off -premise consumption only. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval. BACKGROUND Since Westlake is located in two counties, the Town has been unable to hold a local option election to sell wine for off -premise consumption only. This year Representative Truitt introduced House Bill 1222 in the legi:;lature to allow Westlake to hold an election to authorize the selling of wine for off -premise c:}nsumption only. This bill was passed and signed by Governor Perry. There was also a bill, SB 79, introduced by Senator 'Shapiro, which limited the dates that municipal election may be l:.eld. Since House Bill 1222 did not go into effect until September 1St, the election must be helm after that date. The first uniform election date on which this election is allowed is November 6, 2001. To initiate a local option election, the Town Secretary supplies a petition to gather signatures upon receiving a written request signed by 10 registered voters. The petition must be circulated and returned to the Town within 30 days of receiving it from the Town Secretary. The petition was picked up on September 4, 2001, and returned to the Town Secretary on October 3, 2001. When the petition, signed by at least 35% of the registered voters of the Town, is presented to the Town Secretary, the signatures must be verified and presented to the Board of Aldermen. Westlake has 171 registered voters. After the signatures are verified there must be 60 valid signatures. The Town Secretary has c;:rtified that there are 75 valid signatures on this petition. The signatures exceed the 35% require;_nent. The Board then calls the election by ordinance and the election precedes from this point th+:: same as a general municipal election.