Pembroke Park commission directs codification of 1988 residency charter amendment

The Pembroke Park Town Commission on Feb. 16 approved Resolution No. 2026008 directing the town attorney and the town clerk to work with the codifier to add to the printed charter language previously approved by voters in 1988 that requires elected officials to be residents of the Town of Pembroke Park.

Town Attorney Horowitz told the commission that at the Nov. 8, 1988 general election voters were asked whether “Section 9 of the charter of the Town of Pembroke Park be amended to require that the electors and those holding elective office be residents of the Town of Pembroke Park,” and that the measure passed with about 85% voting in favor. "What we've come to learn in recent days is that the charter change that was approved by the voters in 1988 was never implemented into the charter," Horowitz said, explaining the resolution is intended to make the printed, codified charter reflect the change voters approved.

Horowitz and commissioners emphasized that the resolution is a housekeeping directive, not a new amendment. "This resolution does not amend the charter. Your charter has already been amended," Horowitz said, asking the commission to provide direction to the clerk and the town attorney's office to coordinate the codification.

After a call for a motion, an unnamed commissioner moved to approve Resolution No. 2026008 and another commissioner seconded. The commission then conducted a roll call vote: Acting Clerk Commissioner Morissette, Vice mayor Kashem and Clerk Commissioner Hodgkins voted yes; Mayor Jacobs and Commissioner Mohammed were recorded as absent. Vice mayor Kashem announced the motion carries.

Commissioner Hoskin commented after the vote that the issue was now "straightened out" and expressed satisfaction that the codification will proceed. The resolution assigns responsibility to town staff to make the technical change with the codifier; the motion and the vote did not change the underlying substance of the charter provision or add new residency requirements beyond what voters approved in 1988.

The commission also reviewed calendar items and corrected an apparent printed date error before adjourning. Clerk and attorney directions called for coordinating with the codifier; no effective date for the printed codification was specified in the record.