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199 <br />the <br />CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF RIDGWAY, COLORADO <br />PREFATORY SYNOPSIS <br />The Ridgway, Colorado Home Rule Charter Commission was created on November 3, <br />by the vote of the people of Ridgway, reflecting the belief that government closest to the <br />)le is the most likely to govern the best and be the most responsive to its citizens. Therefore, <br />Commission has drafted this Charter with the overriding intent to claim for the Town of <br />;way the greatest scope of home rule power and freedom from state mandates allowable <br />-r the Constitution. <br />The Commission has provided for a seven member Town Council to assume the powers <br />of t e Town with the belief that the representative form of government is the most likely to be <br />able to efficiently and effectively govern the Town in the coming years. As a result the Charter <br />has vested broad powers in the Council, but insures accountability to the people of the Town by <br />imp, sing stringent limitations on new taxes and tax increases, providing procedures for the <br />initi tive, the referendum and the recall of officers and limiting the terms of the Councilors and <br />Ma or to two years. <br />The Commission believes that the Town Manager form of government would be the most <br />e, but recognizes that current budgetary restrains would make it a financial burden to <br />e the immediate employment of a Town Manager. The Charter gives the Council <br />.y to implement the Town Manager System when feasible. <br />The Commission has tried to avoid imposing needless restrictions and "red tape" and has <br />proi ided for maximum flexibility in the administration and government of the Town to allow for <br />as e ficient an operation as reasonably possible. The Commission has not mandated wholesale <br />chat ges in existing ordinances in order to avoid unnecessary costs. <br />The Commission is aware of the pressures for growth and development currently <br />app rent in the area and has chosen to give the Town Council broad flexibility and power to <br />proy erly deal with issues related to growth and development. The Charter requires the adoption <br />and updating of a Master Plan to insure that growth and development issues are given careful <br />The Commission hopes that the Charter will meet the needs of the Town, now and well <br />into the future. The Commission believes that this Charter guarantees and vests the ultimate <br />po r of the Town in the people of the Town of Ridgway, Colorado. <br />The Charter of the Town of Rid,away 2 <br />