Councilman pushes for term limits

By ANGELA J. GATES
Collegian Staff Writer

State College Borough Council members may be required to take a break after serving two terms if a new proposal by council member James Meyer is approved this spring.

Meyer is collecting signatures for a petition to amend the borough's Home Rule Charter, he said during a meeting last week.

The document, which states how the borough is to govern itself, would be changed to require borough council members take two years off serving a maximum of eight consecutive years on the council, he said.

"After eight years, people tend to lose touch," Meyer said. "A two-year break would be beneficial to everybody."

If council members have not accomplished their goals in eight years in guiding local government, it's time for them to go, he said.

Council president Jean McManis, who is serving her third term, said while she agrees members who have served on the council for a length of time can lose touch, a mixture of old and new members is essential.

"It's refreshing to have younger members on the council like Meyer and (Donald) Hahn," she said.

After eight years it's difficult to find original ideas, said council member Richard McCarl, who supports term limits. By limiting the time council members can serve, more people with different ideas and backgrounds can bring their experiences to the local government, he said.

Council member Elizabeth Goreham said she opposes term limits. Members who are on the council now and have served more than eight years are doing a good job, she said. People should not have to take a two-year break from the council if they are doing well.

Thomas Daubert and McManis are the two council members who would be required to take two years off if the proposal is approved.

Voters should decide whom they want to serve on council, Goreham said. If voters are happy with a council member, the person should be able to continue serving without taking two years off, she said.

Meyer said he has until Feb. 16 to obtain the 237 signatures needed to pose the question to voters as a referendum on the ballot in the May 18 primary elections.

As of yesterday, Meyer said he had obtained about 180 signatures. If enough voters support term limits, the new proposal would go into effect following the November 1999 general elections, he said.