Group Files Petition For Referendum On Mt. Pleasant Board Terms

MOUNT PLEASANT, WI — A Better Mount Pleasant said in a news release Monday it has submitted signatures that would bring the Village Board's recent decision to extend member term lengths to a wider citizen referendum.

The group, which calls itself a watchdog, said it submitted 1282 signatures after dozens of volunteers circulated the petition. The move comes after the Village Board unanimously voted in January to adopt a charter ordinance that would increase members' term lengths from two years to three years.

The village's clerk has 15 days to certify the petition, the group said.

"During a time of intense political divisiveness, residents of Mount Pleasant — of all political points-of-view, agreed they should be the ones to decide how long terms in office should be, not politicians," said Kelly Gallaher, a prominent member of the group, in the news release.

The charter ordinance that was adopted on Jan. 24 left 60 days for citizens to file a petition. Should that petition succeed, it would allow residents of Mount Pleasant to vote on a referendum on the term length increases.

Gallaher told Patch ahead of the petition's submittal her group expects it to succeed.

Members of the Village Board had claimed during the January meeting the move was concentrated on improving the efficiency and stability of the board.

Village President Dave DeGroot said during that meeting it had "nothing to do with padding our terms."

The charter ordinance would not immediately affect those currently in office. They would have to be re-elected after their current term is up, at which point they would serve for three years instead of two.

Trustee Ram Bhatia said during the January meeting the community elected the board to make decisions, and the board's decision to increase the terms would be a recommendation to the community, but if that community "feels otherwise, it has the veto power."

A Better Mount Pleasant, run in part by Kelly Gallaher, has been a critic of the village's deal with Foxconn.

SEE ALSO:

Village Attorney Files Lawsuit Against Resident, Foxconn Critic

Trustee Terms Lengths: Petition For Referendum Expected Soon

3-Year Terms For Mt. Pleasant Board Members: Charter Adopted

Meet Foxconn's Wisconsin Watchdog: 'A Better Mount Pleasant'