Study of Term Limits Requested by Council

A study looking into the possibility of City Council term limits was requested by the council this week.

Councilman Lawrence W. Smith proposed setting term limits, saying there are “a lot of good people” in the community qualified to serve on the council. “Having term limits is something that would encourage succession on the City Council,” he said.

However, any term-limit legislation approved by the council or voters would not affect a current member of the council, Smith said.

Although the council voiced general approval of term limits, Mayor Sherri M. Butterfield noted that it isn’t a hot topic among residents.

“I must say I’ve never had anyone who has encountered me in public . . . say to me, ‘We need term limits,’ ” Butterfield said.

The council asked the city staff to report on legal issues including whether term limits should be put to a public vote or decided by the council.