The Taylor City Council compensation saga entered its next phase.
0A petition protesting the Council’s decision to increase their own compensation seems to have collected enough signatures to put the final say in the hands of voters come May.
Terry Burris, who started the petition, revealed during the meeting Thursday, Sept. 14
that 1,345 signatures were gathered, although only 940 were needed for the referendum to be valid.
“We all really owe it to the citizens of Taylor,” Burris said.
“As late as (Wednesday) night at 10:30, people were texting me wanting to sign and be on there. Even if we had enough names, they wanted to be a part of this process.”
Now, the petition will be sent to the city clerk’s office to verify that the names are eligible voters. If the threshold is met, voters will see the referendum on their ballots during the city’s May election.
During a special meeting in August, the council voted 3-2 to increase their stipends from $25 per month to $1,000 per month and $1,500 per month for the mayor position.
While the Council’s compensation increase remains effective in the meantime, Burris says simply hearing everybody’s stories and giving them an opportunity to have their voices heard has been powerful.
“We still have things that need to be done, like the verification of signatures and then it would go to the ballot,” Burris said. “To me, it’s been worth it just to allow the citizens to feel like they had a part.”
A window of 30 days began the day the ordinance was passed. According to the city charter, a petition to protest an approved ordinance must be signed by 10% of the number of qualified voters residing in the city.
To collect enough signatures in that time frame, Burris recruited a team of about 15 people to assist his efforts. The petition team largely used social media to reach the required audience and partnered with local businesses to station signing events on their property.
Burris describes the petition process as “one of the hardest and most rewarding” things he’s ever done.
“I think it’s pretty sad that something like this is what it takes to bring the community together,” Burris said. “But, I feel right now this is the most united I have ever seen the citizens of Taylor in the almost 20 years I have been here.”
Taylor Communications Director Stacey Osborne said the city has no comment about the petition. Additionally, she said Mayor Brandt Rydell declined to comment on behalf of the Taylor City Council.
