CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 1, 2008
REGULAR
MEETING
7:00
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Fix called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, and Mr. Smith were present. No members were absent. Others present were Tim Hansley, Lynda Yartin, Phil Hartmann, Larry Jones, and others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF September 3, 2008, Regular Meeting. Mr. Sabatino moved to approve; Mr. Smith seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabatino, and Mr. Fix voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
3. SCHEDULED MATTERS:
A. Review and discussion regarding interviews for Parks and Recreation Board vacancy. Mr. Fix stated they had received a large amount of applications for the vacancy on the Parks and Recreation Board. Mr. Fix stated several of the applicants had been interviewed for past vacancies, however, several were applicants that would volunteer for Parks and Recreation Board only. Mr. Sabatino stated he thought it would be appropriate to schedule interviews with individuals that had not been interviewed in the past and then consider them along with individuals who had been interviewed in the past. After reviewing the applications, the Committee requested Mrs. Yartin schedule interviews with eight individuals. The Committee requested the interviews be scheduled for November 5th between 6:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. Mrs. Yartin stated she would schedule the interviews and provide the Committee with a list when they were complete.
B. Review and discussion regarding proposed revisions to the City Charter. Mr. Sabatino stated he did not agree with changing the number of readings on ordinances to two readings rather than three. Mr. Fix stated that should be highlighted as a topic for discussion at the work session with all Council members. Mr. Fix stated Council would hold work sessions to go through all of the proposed revisions and make changes, deletions, or whatever. Council would then appoint the Charter Review Commission and this would be provided to the Commission as Council’s recommendations. Mr. Fix clarified Council would not present this to the voters, the Charter Review Commission would. He stated all this Committee was doing was trying to set it up so that it is easier for the Charter Review Commission to do the work they need to do. He stated this Committee would do their work, they would then give it to Council at work sessions for more work, and then it would go to the Charter Review Commission who would recommend it to the voters. Mr. Sabatino questioned if the Charter Review Commission would start from scratch, and Mr. Fix stated they would be presented with the Charter and all of the revisions Rules Committee and Council is recommending and why. Mr. Hansley stated this would be a starting point for the Charter Review Commission, and Mr. Sabatino stated the Commission, however, would not have to agree to any of the recommended revisions. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt if we presented this as a starting point to the Charter Review Commission it would look like Council was directing the Commission. He stated he personally thought the Commission would have their own version of what to do and then consider these recommendations as part of the process, not that this would be their starting point. Mr. Sabatino further questioned if this would be presented as a whole document or in sections. Mr. Smith stated he felt the context this would be presented to the Charter Review Commission is that for almost a year this Committee and Council have gone through the Charter and based on their experience and the input of the law director, these would be recommendations provided as input. He stated what the Charter Review Commission does with that input is up to them because once it is formed they are an independent Commission. Mr. Fix stated he had also been asked if this would be replacing the Charter or amending it. He stated he didn’t know if there was a difference other than if it is called a Charter replacement it is all one, but if you are amending it then it could be presented in sections. Mr. Smith stated he felt that would be the decision of the Charter Review Commission. Mr. Sabatino stated the way the Charter Review Commission is seated would be germane to the issue of the Commission. Mr. Smith stated he felt all of Council needed to have discussion on the recommendations before even discussing the appointments to the Charter Review Commission. Mr. Sabatino clarified that in the past the Charter Review Commission members were appointed by Resolution by Council after advertising for members, interviews by Rules Committee, and recommendations of the Rules Committee to Council.
Mr. Smith stated he felt Section 2.05 (C) should be clarified that ordinances are effective 30 days after approval by Council, and Mr. Hartmann stated that was a good suggestion and he would re-write that.
Mr. Smith stated he felt in Section 2.05(G), regarding public notice, it would be much more available to the residents if the notices were posted on the City’s web site rather than published in the newspaper. All Committee members concurred and Mr. Hartmann stated he would make that change.
Mr. Smith stated in Section 2.05(H), he also felt it should be noted that a copy of the Codified Ordinances were located in Council chambers. Mr. Hartmann stated he would include that.
Mr. Smith stated he felt Section 2.06, Officers, should be more specific regarding when Council may decide to reorganize. Mr. Hartmann stated he had tried to add that in, but there may be a clearer way to phrase it. Mr. Fix stated he felt the phrase “replace by Council” should be defined. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt it should specify the number of Council votes needed to reorganize, and he felt it should require at least five votes of Council. Mr. Smith and Mr. Fix stated they agreed it should specify that five votes would be necessary to reorganize. Mr. Hartmann stated he would add that to the section.
Mr. Smith stated he felt the last sentence in Section 3.04, “The Mayor shall be the primary liaison between the City of Pickerington and all other political subdivisions inside and outside of Fairfield County,” should be moved from the Mayor’s section to the Manager’s section. All Committee members concurred this should be included in the duties of the City Manager. Mr. Hansley stated he would like to make sure that the title City Manager is used consistently throughout the Charter.
Mr. Fix stated he would like Mr. Hansley and Mr. Hartmann to work together to clarify the language regarding the powers and duties of the City Manager in Section 4, and bring that to the next Committee meeting. Mr. Hartmann and Mr. Hansley stated they would work on this section.
4. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Fix stated had nothing further to bring forward.
5. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.
6. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Smith moved to adjourn; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Fix voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Rules Committee adjourned at 8:07 P.M, October 1, 2008.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
________________________________