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ITEM: ORDINANCE NO. 2025-17 (PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO WELLINGTON’S CHARTER TO DESIGNATE THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD AS THE VILLAGE’S CANVASSING BOARD AND TO ELIMINATE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND AN ALTERNATE)
AN ORDINANCE OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA’S COUNCIL PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 9G OF WELLINGTON’S MUNICIPAL CHARTER RELATING TO THE VILLAGE CANVASSING BOARD BY AMENDING SECTION 9, SUBSECTION G, “VILLAGE CANVASSING BOARD” TO DESIGNATE THE PALM BEACH COUNTY CANVASSING BOARD AS THE VILLAGE’S CANVASSING BOARD AND TO ELIMNINATE THE REQUIREMENT TO APPOINT A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO THE CANVASSING BOARD; PROVIDING FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO THE ELECTORS OF WELLINGTON AT THE ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 10, 2026; PROVIDING FOR FILING WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
REQUEST: Approval of Ordinance No. 2025-17 proposing an amendment to Wellington’s Charter to designate the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board as the Village’s Canvassing Board and to eliminate appointment of a community member and an alternate.
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EXPLANATION: The Charter currently provides that in municipal elections, the Village Council may, by ordinance, designate the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board appointed by the Palm Beach County Commission and the Chief Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit as the Village Canvassing Board. In the event the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board is unable or unwilling to canvass a Wellington municipal election, the Village Canvassing Board shall be comprised of those members of the Village Council who are not candidates for reelection, the Village Clerk, and when necessary to avoid an even number, the Deputy Village Clerk or a member of the community and an alternate.
The Palm Beach County Canvassing Board routinely canvasses municipal elections, including Wellington’s, during uniform municipal election cycles. However, in order to do so, it requires the Village Council to adopt an ordinance in each election cycle.
The proposed amendment would designate the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board to serve as Wellington’s canvassing board during municipal elections without the need to adopt an ordinance each election cycle for that purpose while also preserving Wellington’s ability to convene its own canvassing board in those instances where the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board is unable or unwilling to canvass a Wellington municipal election.
It would also eliminate the need to appoint a community member and an alternate as members of the Village Canvassing Board. Such provision is unnecessary because Wellington has sufficient staff to ensure that its canvassing board will not be comprised of an even number.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: NO
PUBLIC HEARING: YES QUASI-JUDICIAL: NO
FIRST READING: YES SECOND READING:
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: YES
FISCAL IMPACT: Approval of the ordinance will result in a savings of staff time associated with convening a separate Wellington canvassing board.
WELLINGTON FUNDAMENTAL: Responsive Government
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of Ordinance No. 2025-17 proposing an amendment to Wellington’s Charter to designate the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board as the Village’s Canvassing Board and eliminating appointment of a community member and an alternate.