Reform Redux

Another Riordan pet project is a petition drive to create an independent citizens panel to study government reform. Under the mayor’s plan, members of the panel would be elected and have the power to put reform proposals directly on the ballot.

That didn’t sit well with many members of the City Council who voted to create their own panel that would be limited to simply suggesting reform ideas. The council could then rewrite, reject or put the measures on the ballot.

That set up an awkward situation this week, when City Council President John Ferraro asked the city’s elected officials to make appointments to the council-controlled panel by Oct. 1.

Under the council plan, Riordan can make three appointments. But, according to his aides, it’s unclear whether he will do so.

But Joel Wachs, Mike Feuer and Marvin Braude will, even though they voted against the council plan.

Feuer, who had unsuccessfully proposed his own version of a charter reform panel with the authority to put measures directly on the ballot, said earlier that he was unsure if he would make an appointment.

Although he still is not completely happy with the “ground rules” of the panel, he hinted Thursday that the council may act to give its panel more authority.

“I’ll just say the last word on this has not been said. Stay tuned.”