READING, Pa. – Reading City Council on Monday introduced several proposed ordinances to request that the Berks County Board of Elections place referendum questions for the voters of Reading on the 2026 general election ballot.
The proposed questions for referendums (see pages 66-91) include whether the city home rule charter should be amended to:
Create a Department of Public Health.
Merge the Board of Ethics with the Charter Board.
Prevent a City Council member from serving as voting members of any municipal authority.
Limit the term of the city clerk to five years and prevent the individual in the position from holding any office or position in a political party.
Limit the terms of the members of authorities, boards or commissioners to serving no more than three consecutive terms.
Prevent a city employee from serving as a voting member of an authority, board or commission.
Include a statement about equal and inclusive treatment.
Prevent taxes, fines or other amounts owed to the city from disqualifying an individual from appointments to authorities, board, or commissions when satisfactory payment arrangements have been made.
Direct the city auditor to conduct independent forensic audits of all city departments, boards and authorities during each mayoral term.
Provide orientation for new appointees on boards, authorities or commissions.
Establish a right for freedom from toxic trespass.
Include a preamble with a statement about the preservation and protection of natural resources and the rights of people to clean air, pure water and the preservation of natural resources.
When the city introduces ordinances, there must be a waiting period of 14 days prior to a vote.
City Council does not discuss the proposed ordinances at the meeting when they are introduced but will instead discuss and debate them at one of two Committee of the Whole meetings prior to the voting meetings.
The two committee meetings will take place on June 15 and June 22 at 5 p.m.