Council considers charter amendment for ballot
By Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — A proposed charter amendment, which would require County Council to ask voters to weigh in on revisions or amendments recommended by the Charter Review Commission, might be on the ballot for voters in Summit County this November.
The legislation was introduced during the June 19 regular council meeting and is sponsored by council President Clair Dickinson (D-at large) and members Paul Gallagher (D-at large) and Tom Teodosio (D-District 2).
The legislation also stipulates that two members of council be appointed as nonvoting members of the commission, which would next meet in September 2008.
The legislation was a late filing that had to be approved by council to be included on the evening’s agenda. Not all council members wanted to see it there.
“I would like the opportunity to vote no” to including the legislation on the agenda, said Councilman Pete Crossland (D-District 4).
Crossland said he thought the members needed some time to consider the legislation and asked that it be held off until after council’s upcoming three-week break.
“We don’t need to debate this next Monday,” Crossland said. “The process will be better served if we do not accept this late filing.”
But Dickinson defended the proposal and the timing of placing it on the agenda.
“The [county] executive
is gathering signatures to place a similar charter amendment
on the ballot,” Dickinson said. “I have
had a discussion with the executive,
and he said he would suspend his effort if this charter
amendment [proposal] passed [County Council].”
Dickinson added that the version
in question would be more attractive to council members
because it includes the stipulation that two members
be added to the committee. He said that previous charter
commissions had been “hijacked by the executive’s
office.”
Since the adoption of the Summit
County Charter in 1979, a Charter Review Commission
has been appointed periodically to review the existing
charter and to recommend revisions or amendments to
the document. Most recently, a commission was appointed
in 1999 and 2003.
Council voted 8-3 to include
the legislation on the agenda. The proposal will be
discussed during the Rules Committee meeting June 26.
Council briefly discussed two
other issues that were late filings and concern the
county’s animal control facility.
The first resolution increased
appropriations in the amount of $65,800 for the Animal
Control Fund. According to the legislation, $45,000
of that is for salary and benefits for a veterinary
technician, while $20,800 is for a professional service
contract with a veterinarian.
Council approved the creation
of the veterinary technician position last month, but
the money to pay for the position must be appropriated
by council, according to Stephen Dyer, staff attorney
for County Executive James McCarthy’s office.
Councilman Tim Crawford (D-District
7) proposed passing the legislation on first reading
so the position could be filled soon, but Gallagher
disagreed.
“With animal control, we
don’t do anything on first reading,” Gallagher
said. “I prefer we do it after committee meetings.”
Council also heard first reading
of legislation submitted by McCarthy that calls for
the execution of a lease with Metro Parks, Serving Summit
County for nearly five acres of property at Goodyear
Heights Metro Park, at 1942 Eastwood Ave., for a new
animal control facility. The 50-year lease would be
for $1.
The land in question is in Councilman
Dan Congrove’s (D-District 6) district. Congrove’s
daughter Christine was hired this year as director of
the shelter, a move that ignited much criticism against
McCarthy.
Also during the meeting, council
adopted legislation approving a contract with Vito Gironda
for the construction of a roundabout at Ridgewood and
Hametown roads in Copley,
for an amount not to exceed $461,916.
According to Andrea Wlaszyn,
of Summit County Engineer Greg Bachman’s office,
construction of the roundabout is planned to begin in
early July so that it can be done before the start of
the new school year. She added that 90 percent of the
cost of the project is being paid for with Ohio Department
of Transportation funds, while the remaining 10 percent
was being shared by the county and Copley.
Council also approved a contract
with Kenmore Construction Co. for resurfacing of Jacoby
Road at a cost of $174,659, and with Angelo Benedetti
for resurfacing of Crystal Lake Road at a cost of $115,382.
Also at the meeting, council
approved a resolution adopting the county’s General
Land Use Development Plan as a guide for future land
use growth in the county.
Council also approved a resolution
allowing the Akron Zoo’s proposed 0.8 mill levy
to be placed before voters in November. Passage of the
levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $2 a month,
according to Akron Zoo officials.
Council also heard from Joe Chevraux,
executive director of the MAPS Air Museum in Green,
regarding the facility’s need for funding.
Chevraux told council the museum
needs $40,000 for a new fire alarm system and $5,400
to make its walkways meet the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) requirements.
“We have received letters
that if this is not done by Aug. 31 our doors will be
shut,” Chevraux said.
“$45,400 is a lot for us
to spend on a grant,” said Teodosio, who stressed
that many nonprofit groups are in need of funds.
County Council is scheduled to
meet for committee meetings June 26 at 4:30 p.m. in
council chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building,
175 S. Main St. Following committee meetings there will
be a brief council meeting so council can address current
legislation before its July break.
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