At the April 21 meeting, the Altadena Town Council considered changes to the bylaws and rules for the upcoming town council election.

The changes were proposed by an ad hoc committee of residents and councilmembers who reviewed procedures and prior committee reports in an attempt to shore up the election process following complaints about the last election.

One of the more significant changes approved was the elimination of the position of alternate councilmembers. Traditionally, the top vote-getter would get the council seat, and the next in line would serve as an alternate — which meant that losing the election wasn’t necessarily a bar to serving and voting on the council.

Two other recommendations of the committee failed in a council vote: eliminating the requirement of citizenship to vote and hold office, moving the election to a September or October date.

The council also approved Sat., June 6, as election day. Candidates must physically turn in their paperwork by May 8 to the Altadena Community Center. Candidate packages are available at the Community Center or online at the town council website.

(thanks to Alice Wessen, Gino Sund, and Bill Westphal for covering for us in our absence!)