Proposals cover council meetings, elections, water service and petitions
VERMILION — Voters will decide four proposed changes to the city’s charter in the Nov. 3 general election, with questions affecting City Council meetings, write-in candidates, water service and residents’ ability to challenge city laws.
Because Vermilion spans Lorain and Erie counties, the amendments will appear under different issue numbers depending on where residents live. However, the proposals are identical, and voters in both counties will help determine whether each amendment passes.
The proposals were recommended by the city’s Charter Review Commission and placed on the ballot by City Council.
A city charter serves as the framework for local government, outlining how officials are elected, what powers they have and how certain decisions are made.
Each amendment is a separate ballot question, allowing voters to approve or reject the proposals individually.
Council meetings and mayor’s role
Issue 24 in Lorain County; Issue 9 in Erie County
This amendment would allow City Council to exclude the mayor from a closed-door executive session with a two-thirds vote.
Executive sessions are private portions of public meetings permitted under Ohio law for specific purposes, including certain personnel matters, legal issues and property negotiations.
Under the proposal, the mayor would retain the right to participate in executive sessions unless two-thirds of council members vote to exclude the mayor.
The amendment would not eliminate the requirement that council follow state laws governing executive sessions. Council would still have to identify a legally permitted reason for meeting behind closed doors.
A vote for the amendment would allow council to exclude the mayor under those conditions. A vote against it would leave the existing charter provisions unchanged.
Allowing write-in candidates
Issue 25 in Lorain County; Issue 10 in Erie County
This amendment would allow residents to run as write-in candidates for mayor or City Council.
Currently, the city’s charter requires candidates to qualify through nomination petitions.
The amendment would create another option, allowing candidates to file declarations of write-in candidacy under Ohio election law.
However, voters could not simply write down any person’s name and expect the vote to count. Write-in candidates would still need to file the required paperwork and meet state election requirements.
The regular nomination petition process would remain available.
A vote for the amendment would permit qualified write-in candidates. A vote against it would keep the existing nomination requirements.
Changes to rural water service
Issue 26 in Lorain County; Issue 11 in Erie County
This amendment would repeal a section of the city charter governing rural water service.
The existing provision, adopted in 1990, addresses water service involving certain properties in Ward 5 and the Erie/Huron County Rural Water Authority.
It calls for steps to include those properties in the regional water district and addresses the authority’s use of an existing pipe beneath state Route 2 near Claus and Sunnyside roads.
The proposed repeal is intended to give the city opportunities to negotiate water service expansion with other authorities.
Removing the provision would not automatically authorize a waterline expansion, change water rates or require the city to undertake a particular project.
Any future expansion or agreement would need to be considered separately.
A vote for the amendment would remove the existing rural water service provision. A vote against it would leave that provision in place.
Changing citizen petition requirements
Issue 35 in Lorain County; Issue 12 in Erie County
This amendment would establish specific signature requirements and procedures for residents seeking to propose city laws or challenge legislation approved by City Council.
There are two processes involved:
- An initiative allows residents to propose a new ordinance through a petition.
- A referendum allows residents to seek a public vote on legislation City Council has already approved.
The current charter generally relies on Ohio law to govern those processes.
Under the proposed amendment, the signature requirements would be:
- Referendums: Signatures equal to either 5% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election or 10% of the votes cast for mayor in the most recent mayoral election, whichever is less.
- Initiatives: Signatures equal to either 4% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election or 8% of the votes cast for mayor in the most recent mayoral election, whichever is less.
In each case, the lower of the two calculations would determine how many valid signatures are required.
The amendment also establishes procedures and deadlines for reviewing petitions and submitting qualifying measures to voters.
Referendum petitions generally would need to be filed within 30 days after legislation is passed and signed by the mayor, or within 30 days after council overrides a mayoral veto.
For initiatives, City Council would have 30 days after filing to adopt or reject a proposed ordinance. If council rejects a proposal with sufficient valid signatures, it would be submitted to voters according to the amendment’s election procedures.
A vote for the amendment would adopt the proposed signature requirements and procedures. A vote against it would leave the existing charter provisions in place.