Issue Nos. 39-46 — Norton charter amendments
NORTON — On Nov. 6, Norton
voters will be asked to approve a list of proposed amendments
to the city’s charter:
• Issue No. 39 would address residency guidelines for the city’s mayor. According to Norton resident Charlotte Whipkey, who led the petition drives for Issues No. 43, 44 and 46, and was active in getting Issue No. 39 on the ballot, this amendment stems from an incident involving former Mayor Joe Kernan, who moved out of the city for a short time after separating from his wife. Whipkey and other residents claimed Kernan was using a “loophole” in the city’s charter to keep his temporary residency issue quiet. She said the amendment was put forward so that in a similar circumstance, the mayor would instead take a leave of absence and turn business over to the City Council president until residency could be re-established.
According to the proposed amendment, text would be changed to state “... continuously and physically reside within the municipality. Notwithstanding vacations, the mayor is expected to be a visible presence in the community.”
• Issue No. 40 would amend the time and place for the organizational meeting of City Council. Council now holds its organizational meetings Jan. 2.
• Issue No. 41 would add an alternate member to the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals to participate as a voting member only in the absence of one of the five regular members.
• Issue No. 42 would merge the Park and Recreational Board and Cemetery Board into a single Park and Cemetery Board. Some Council members stated hearing from the current chairperson of the Cemetery Board and others that a singular board for cemetery business wasn’t necessary.
• Issue No. 43 would establish a system of checks and balances by forcing any proposed salary increase for the mayor to be decided by voters. Council voted 4-2 during the May 14 regular meeting to raise the mayor’s salary from $11,250 to $25,000 per year with no benefits. The mayor’s position is part-time. According to Whipkey, proponents of this amendment believe the salary is excessive. Proponents of the raise have said in Council meetings the increase is necessary to attract the best possible candidates for the position.
• Issue No. 44 would require Council salary increases to be voted on by residents. Council members currently earn $7,500 per year, with the Council president earning $8,500 per year. Whipkey said the purpose of the amendment is to stay consistent and fair on the pay increases of all elected officials.
• Issue No. 45 would abolish the city’s police department Jan. 1 and require the city to provide police protection by contract with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office or other political subdivision. According to Councilman Tom Jones (D-Ward 1), who put forth the initiative, the proposed charter amendment came about as a way to save the city money. In September 2006, Jones met with Capt. Richard Roach of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office to discuss a potential service contract. In December 2006, Jones received a proposal that outlined services of 14 deputies, three vehicles and 14 radios for a total cost of $1.2 million a year.
At the time, the 2007 Norton Police Department budget, prepared by Norton Finance Director John Moss, was $2.4 million.
However, whether the city would actually save money is in question, said Councilwoman Brenda Hlas (D-at large). According to her calculations, the city would still be liable for a variety of expenditures, including unfunded pension liability and health insurance.
Moss said those costs would be tough to calculate due to the difficulty in gauging the number of laid off employees who would file, and for how long they would collect. Moss did say many of the costs associated with disbanding the police force would wipe out any potential savings, at least in the first year.
Jones said the Sheriff’s Office would have to hire 14 deputies, and that many of them could be displaced police officers, thereby mitigating some of the unemployment costs.
To read a previously published, more detailed story on the levy, visit www.akron.com and click on “West Side Leader” under “Election ’07.”
• Issue No. 46 would prohibit the mayor or any member of Council voted out of office or removed by petition from holding an appointed position and/or serving on any city board or commission, including advisory boards, for a period of two years from the date of termination. According to Whipkey, the measure is intended to create another system of checks and balances. She said the amendment respects decisions made by majority voters in choosing to remove an elected official from office.
— By Mike D’Agruma
and Kally Mavromatis
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