Fort Worth Voters Decide on Charter Amendments

0:00It's April 4th. Welcome in. This is Dallas News today, where local news meets AI. I'm Cory with the story. Fort Worth voters are heading to the polls on May 2nd to decide on two charter amendments that would scrap public hearings for top city officials facing the acts. Propositions, H&I aimed to cut out requirements for department directors and council appointees like the city manager, attorney, and auditor to get a written notice and a council hearing before termination as long as they've been on the job at least six months. City leaders say these rules clash with how the government runs now. The city manager already has full power to fire staff without council sign-off and hearings just create extra hassle without changing outcomes. Officials note these sessions pop up rarely anyway with zero requests in the last two years. Folks like council member Lee and Guzman point out the council hires and reviews the city manager yearly so they can handle issues directly there. For appointees, terminations already need a public council vote by majority making the extra hearing step pointless under state law.

1:07These changes are part of nine total amendments up for vote, including proposition N to fix timelines for special elections, filling council vacancies, sinking them with Texas rules. Cities like Fort Worth can tweak their charter every two years to keep things efficient. Early voting kicks off April 22nd, so if you're in Fort Worth, this could reshape how top brass get let go streamlining ups are pulling back rights depending on your view ballots are set decision time looms