Rural water, elections among proposed amendments
Editor’s note: This article was prepared from the official minutes of the July 20 Vermilion City Council Legislative Committee meeting. The reporter did not attend the meeting, and the minutes summarize the discussion rather than provide a verbatim transcript.
VERMILION — City Council is refining a package of proposed charter amendments that could affect regional water negotiations, citizen petition requirements, write-in candidates and procedures for removing public officials.
The full council met as the Legislative Committee on July 20 to review the proposed changes.
Clerk of Council Melanie Wood said the proposed ordinances had received first readings but each would need to be amended. The city faces a 4 p.m. Aug. 5 deadline to submit proposed charter amendments for the general election ballot.
The proposal receiving the strongest support would repeal the charter’s rural-water provision.
Several council members described it as the most important amendment under consideration because of its possible economic effects.
Councilman Alec Bonawit said his understanding was that the existing provision prevents the city from negotiating with Northern Ohio Rural Water, creating a wall between the two entities.
Councilman Homer Taft said repealing the provision would remove the prohibition against the city pursuing agreements involving Northern Ohio Rural Water or other regional water arrangements. Any future agreement would still require separate action.
Council voted unanimously to add a purpose statement explaining that the amendment would provide opportunities to negotiate expansion with other authorities.
Council also advanced revised procedures for removing the mayor or a council member from office.
The combined proposal calls for public proceedings, due-process requirements and a two-thirds council vote for removal.
The procedures would provide notice of the allegations and give the accused official an opportunity to defend against the charges, present witnesses and examine evidence.
The committee approved the combined mayor and council removal proposal by a 6-1 vote, with Councilman John Gabriel opposed.
A separate amendment would establish procedures for removing members of city boards and commissions.
Under the version supported by the committee, charges could be initiated by the mayor or at least two council members. The committee approved that proposal with six members voting in favor and Councilman Drew Werley abstaining.
Members also discussed who should deliver notices connected with removal proceedings.
Some opposed involving the police chief, saying the matter would be a civil government proceeding rather than a law enforcement action. Councilman Greg Drew said having an armed person arrive at someone’s home to deliver such a notice could be unsettling.
Another proposed amendment would allow council to meet in executive session without the mayor when approved by a two-thirds vote. The committee unanimously supported the proposal.
Council also backed reducing the signature requirements residents must meet to place citizen-initiated ordinances or referendums before voters.
Members said the existing requirements can make the process difficult, especially for referendum petitions that must be completed within a limited period.
Council unanimously approved a purpose statement saying the amendment would reduce signature requirements for referendums and citizen initiatives.
Another amendment would allow write-in candidates for mayor and council.
Council President Jeff Lucas raised concerns that someone could potentially win an uncontested race with very few votes.
Other members said candidates would still have to file as write-ins before the election. They also noted that many Vermilion races have historically been uncontested and that candidates already need relatively few petition signatures to appear on the ballot.
The committee approved the write-in proposal by a 6-1 vote, with Lucas opposed.
Council members expressed less support for a proposed Parks Board amendment dealing with staggered terms and school district representation.
Several members suggested the city could address the term issue through future appointments instead of asking voters to amend the charter. Members also discussed removing school district representation from the board entirely.
No vote on the Parks Board proposal was recorded in the committee minutes.
Council unanimously supported another amendment intended to give future Charter Review commissions more time to complete their work.
Before adjourning, council voted to change the submission language in all of the proposed charter ordinances from 60 days before the election to 90 days.
The proposals must return in amended form as council works to meet the Aug. 5 filing deadline.