CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE – FORM OF GOVERNMENT STUDY
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
August 10th, 2010
The Charter Review Committee – Form of Government Study Committee met at 4:00 pm on August 10th, 2010. Present were Resident Committee Members Sue Kettler and Bob Luther, Industrial Representative Committee Members Robin Novak and Gary Acton, and Councilmember, Committee Member Chris Schaefer. Jack Cameron and Phil Schneider were also in attendance.
The meeting started with a review of the material preserved from prior Charter Review-Form of Government Study Committees. The material included the notes from the last two committees and the proposal submitted to the voters, but rejected a decade ago. Also presented was a survey of the various forms of government in other communities in Ohio, the various statues governing Ohio Villages, and information from a summary of forms of government from Ohio Jurisprudence.
The Committee then discussed with Jack Cameron and Councilmember Schaefer the functioning of the Village Officials. Councilmember Schaefer noted that in the mis-1980’s the Form of Government Study Committee recommended a provision that would allow the Council, by five votes, to hire a Village Manager. That provision was also defeated by voters. Gary Acton observed that it seems that if there are good people running the government, the form it takes may not be that important.
Jack Cameron noted that the Council is required to put the matter oin the ballot if the Committee recommends it. Once the Committee makes its recommendation, the matter is put on the ballot, the Village sends each registered voter a copy prior to thr election, and the Committee’s work is complete. It is up to the public whether to support or oppose the proposal in an organized fashion.
The Committee then decided that the next step should be to interview the various village officials and departments to determine their views on operations. The following questions were stated at the meeting:
1. Are you comfortable with this form of government and the part time elected Mayor as the Chief Administrative Officer?
2. Is this form of government getting things done?
3. Does the form of government effect the service delivery?
The Committee members are to are to submit questions to Jack Cameron before the next meeting. Jack will compile the questions and sent to entire committee for review. Thereafter the final list of questions sent to Department heads prior the next meeting.
The next meeting was scheduled for September 9, 2010 at 4:30 The meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.
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Christian J. Schaefer
Committee Secretary
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