NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- After roughly four months of work, the North Olmsted Charter Review Commission recently submitted its final report, which includes five charter amendments for city council to approve before possibly going before residents to decide on the November ballot.
“We thoroughly reviewed the entire charter,” said North Olmsted Charter Review Commission Chair Jeff Sturgeon, who was joined on the committee by resident volunteers Jim Free, James Hammer, Jeffrey Haug (vice-chair), Beth Ann Roshetko, Elizabeth Supan and Mary Welch.
There’s a good sense that all five charter amendments are of the housekeeping variety. Perhaps the most notable is elimination of the North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission.
“Currently the city controls the parks and recreations,” Sturgeon said. “It’s been determined that a North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission is not needed because all decisions are and have been the responsibility of council and the administration.”
Another charter amendment requires a citation of reasons for suspension of three readings for legislation.
“This article encourages council to have three public readings on ordinances and to have an explanation in the event that three readings cannot be had,” Sturgeon said.
Two of the proposed charter amendments are tied directly from experiences this year.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, city council, boards and commissions were unable to meet face to face in council chambers,” Sturgeon said. “It was determined that electronic meetings could accomplish this goal.
“All parties were able to meet in this forum only after Gov. DeWine’s temporary decision. By placing this in the charter, this allows the city of North Olmsted to conduct meetings electronically on an emergency basis.”
The other timely proposed change has to do with the Charter Review Commission itself requiring appointment prior to January of the year taking office, as well as changing a six-month requirement to a hard date deadline.
“In an effort to be sure the final report submitted to council by June 1 meets the required deadline of six months, the Charter Review Commission determined that a start date of January would enable sufficient time for council to review articles that may be placed on the November ballot,” Sturgeon said.
“This year by the time everyone got picked (for the commission) it was the beginning of February. So we’re trying to add more time to it.”
Finally, in an effort to conform charter language with the state of Ohio, the commission proposed the removal of language regarding a vote on detachment of territory.
Items discussed that weren’t recommended to city council by the charter review commission include Councilman Chris Glassburn’s suggestion to change the finance director from an elected to appointed position, as well as reinstating partisan elections.
"A number of forward-looking proposals were passed on in this session,” Glassburn said. “As North Olmsted's needs and residents change, we need to be flexible enough to make positive changes to move forward. I expect a number of these issues to come forward again in coming years.”
That includes a proposal for redistricting reform in the city.
“North Olmsted has voted twice for eliminating gerrymandering for Ohio Congressional and State Assembly districts,” Glassburn said. “With North Olmsted's wards unnecessarily dividing almost two dozen streets, many multiple times, it's hard to argue that the current map was drawn in the best interest of the residents."
Still, Glassburn said he appreciated the effort of the commission volunteers.
“The Charter Review Commission reviewed over a dozen changes to help move North Olmsted forward,” Glassburn said. “Each of the changes approved by the commission deserve approval by the city council and the voters."
Read more news from the Sun Post Herald here.
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North Olmsted Charter Review Commission recommends five charter amendments for fall ballot - cleveland.com
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