I read with interest the article published in Tuesday’s Phoenix concerning changes to the Charter for the city of Muskogee.

The article included a question from Councilor Shawn Raper to Mayor John Tyler Hammons as to who should review the Charter and recommend subsequent changes. It is Raper’s opinion that because he was elected to his current position, that he and the remaining members of the City Council are somehow more qualified to review the Charter and recommend necessary changes than a committee consisting of five citizens.

I strongly disagree.

I would like to qualify my response by stating that I have personal knowledge of the Charter, having been employed by the city of Muskogee for over 32 years.

I was president of Muskogee Fire Fighters Local 57 for three years, a negotiator for eight years and I had numerous encounters with the city regarding the application and meaning of several articles contained within the document.

I am not the only retired employee with this knowledge. There are members of the council who have lived in Muskogee a relatively short period of time. I think I read where one moved here in 1995. I doubt that prior to the issue raised by Hammons that they have even opened a copy of it.

To understand the full impact of any change one would have to have an in-depth knowledge of the Charter and the historical issues that have occurred between the city and its employees regarding its meaning and interpretation.

There’s no doubt in my mind that there are changes that could be made to better serve the citizens. However, there are also articles contained within the Charter that were put there in order to protect city employees from over zealous politically ambitious individuals that do not have the long-term interest of its employees at heart.

Being elected to the City Council does not provide one with infinite knowledge or wisdom.

Bruce Moore

Muskogee