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Markell Vetoes Loosening Dismissal Criteria in New Georgetown Charter

Georgetown officials will have to go back to the drawing board to update their city charter after Governor Jack Markell vetoed their latest version.

At issue is the language that expanded the reasons for kicking elected officials out of office.

It added failures of personal conduct as grounds for dismissal.

These ranged from any intent to deceive and an unapproved outside job to displays of insubordination and horseplay.

Markell said that such vague language offers opportunity for political mischief.

Other changes in the charter would have eliminated a strict annual cap of $2 million on property tax revenue.

The town is close to reaching that limit.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that the charter committee is expected to meet in August and September to make changes inthe document.  

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.