Gary M. Bagliebter, a partner in Shutts & Bowen’s Fort Lauderdale Office, recently completed an 18-month term as Chair of the City of Hollywood Charter Review Committee.
In May 2008, the City Commission appointed 11 Hollywood residents to review the City Charter. Those residents selected Mr. Bagliebter as Chair of the Review Committee.
Over the next 18 months, the Committee sought charter change recommendations during 53 open meetings. Individual Committee members also reached out to neighborhood, civic, and business groups, as well as the City's "Green Team," to seek charter changes from a wide range of Hollywood residents.
On November 18, 2009, Mr. Bagliebter presented the Committee’s recommendations to the City Commission, which will determine which will be placed before Hollywood voters. Several of the major recommendations include mandating Campaign Finance Reform, Ethics in Government, Fair Campaign Practices, Term Limits and Staggered Terms for the City's mayor and commissioners, a strict protocol to be followed when Voting Conflicts arise, and Environmental Sustainability. Other recommendations addressed moving certain pension provisions from the Charter to the City's Code of Ordinances, forfeiture of and removal from elected office, the initiative, referendum and recall process, the sale, lease and purchase of City-owned real property, future Charter Review Committees, and financial impact statements related to future proposed Charter changes.
Mr. Bagliebter is an eleven year resident of the City of Hollywood, and also serves as Vice-Chair of the General Obligation Bonds Citizens Advisory Committee and was a member of the City’s Ad Hoc City Attorney Screening Committee.