Naperville councilman wants to discuss term limits, wards

One Naperville city councilman is taking it upon himself to start a citywide discussion of term limits and a ward system.

Councilman James Boyajian will hold a public meeting this month to explore the two issues since the full council has declined to pursue them.

"People say they would love to discuss it but nobody takes the initiative to hold the meeting," he said. "I thought what I could do is break the surface tension and hold the first meeting and then it's up to the residents to decide if they have enough interest to form a committee."

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. June 15 at the municipal center, 400 S. Eagle St., and is open to all.

Boyajian said he's sponsoring the meeting as a private citizen, not a councilman, and he plans to pass the baton to a new leader once the ball is rolling.

He has been pushing for discussions of wards and term limits since he first ran for the council in 2003. He said the issues are not directed at any particular councilman.

"Term limits need to be in place throughout the entire country all the way through federal legislators," Boyajian said. "Part of the problem in society is people become entrenched and it becomes an entitlement and stifles creativity and new ideas."

While he doesn't have a firm position on a ward system, he feels it too merits discussion as the city nears build-out.

The city council talked about wards during a workshop in November 2008 but declined to take the talks any further. Boyajian said it isn't in incumbents' best interest to change the system.

Councilman Kenn Miller said he is open to making changes if that's what citizens want, but councilmen "didn't feel a groundswell of demand."

"I don't think in general we have a problem," Miller said. "I think in general Naperville is getting good representation. Residents can call eight councilmen and the mayor."

He and others have expressed concerns about vote trading if a ward system is imposed, especially if there are more councilmen in wards than at-large. By law, the city's ward system could either include five wards and three at-large representatives or be entirely made up of wards, according to city attorney Margo Ely.

Changing the city's system to include wards or term limits would require a referendum. The city council can place a referendum question on the ballot itself or residents can do so if they obtain enough signatures on a petition.