15
Aug
2022
Council Meeting 8/11/2022
City Council met Thursday evening for 3 committee meetings and our regular council meeting. We approved expansion of Omni Senior Living, approved several blighted property tax assessments, recognition for a retiring fire department captain, confirmed 3 charter amendments that will appear on the November ballot and the outside legal opinion related to term limits. Click below for my full notes.
12
Sep
2020
Charter Review Issues and Lawsuit
I am happy to report that the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously agreed with Stow City Council in the lawsuit filed by Law Director Syx and the Charter Review Commission. The Supreme Court did agree that Ms. Syx failed in her duty to file in a timely manner, with the intent to deprive Council time to mount an adequate defense. Thankfully, as Council President, I saw the writing on the wall when Charter Review preemptively scheduled a meeting to discuss legal action PRIOR to Council even voting on such recommendations. I took the steps that I felt was necessary to make sure Council and our rights would have adequate representation despite the administration’s attempt to block us from even obtaining outside counsel.
While the Court simply could have stopped at the point that the lawsuit was not filed timely, I was pleased to see the Court did go on to discuss the merits and issues of the case, ending the 40 year debate between Council and the Law Department. The Court agreed with Council that Charter Review’s role is to make recommendations to Council and that only Council, as the legislative authority for our City, has the ability to approve and place Charter Amendments forward to the voters. This authority is granted under the Ohio Constitution, and as such, our Charter cannot give authority to Charter Review Commission to “force” items through Council without violating the Constitution.
The full Supreme Court opinion can be read here: https://supremecourt.ohio.gov/rod/docs/pdf/0/2020/2020-ohio-4393.pdf
Click below to read my full thoughts on the Charter Review process and lawsuit.