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Amending Title 2 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “City-County Consolidation,” by amending Section 2-112, entitled “City Commissioners,” to provide for a limitation on City Commissioners’ terms of office; by adding a new Section 2-114, entitled “Sheriff,” to provide for a limitation on the Sheriff’s terms in office; and providing for submission of such amendments for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot question to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election; all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 2 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 2. CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
CHAPTER 2-100. CITY-COUNTY CONSOLIDATION
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§ 2-112. City Commissioners.
(1) Composition. There shall continue to be three City Commissioners who shall continue to be elected as now provided by law, of whom not more than two shall be members of the same political party or body. The City Commissioners shall take office on the first Monday in January in the year following their election. The term of office of the City Commissioners presently in office shall continue until the expiration of the term for which they were elected. City Commissioners shall not be eligible for more than five consecutive terms that commence on or after July 1, 2020. Vacancies in the office of City Commissioner shall be filled by appointment of the Mayor with the approval of the Council for the unexpired term of the member causing the vacancy. In the event of the death of any person elected as a City Commissioner prior to his taking office, the same shall constitute a vacancy under this Section.
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§ 2-114. Sheriff.
No person elected to the Office of the Sheriff shall be eligible for election for more than five consecutive terms of office that commence on or after July 1, 2020.
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SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia for their approval or disapproval at a special election to be held on April 28, 2020, and shall not take effect unless so approved. There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered “Yes” or “No” by the qualified electors participating in the election:
Shall The Philadelphia Code be amended to provide that City Commissioners and the Sheriff shall not be eligible for election for more than five consecutive terms of office that begin on or after July 1, 2020?
SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendments to Chapter 2-100 of The Philadelphia Code, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published one time, during the three (3) weeks preceding the election on April 28, 2020, in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City and in The Legal Intelligencer, the proposed amendment to Chapter 2-100 of The Philadelphia Code, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance; and further, at such other time and in such other manner as the Clerk may consider desirable.
SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at least thirty (30) days’ notice of such election. The Clerk of Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the City, and in The Legal Intelligencer, once a week for three consecutive weeks during the period of thirty days prior to the election. One such publication may be combined with the publication of the notice required by Section 4 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SECTION 7. The Clerk of Council is directed to provide a certified copy of this Ordinance to the Philadelphia City Commissioners immediately upon its adoption into law.
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Explanation:
Italics indicate new matter added.
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