RULES
COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2004
7:00 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Riggs called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mrs. Riggs and Mr. Hackworth were present. Mr. Wright was absent. Others present were: Michael Sabatino, Lynda Yartin, and Frank Wiseman.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 3, 2003, Regular Meeting. Mrs. Riggs moved to approve; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Mr. Hackworth stated he had read the minutes, however, he did not attend that meeting as he was not a member of Council at that time. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.
3. SCHEDULED MATTERS:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending Chapter 220 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances (Administrative Code) to require abstention from voting.
B. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to enact Chapter 250 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances relative to setting forth requirements for public officials or employees on ethics.
Mrs. Riggs stated she had spoken to Mr. Mapes, the Law Director, earlier and there were some issues with the ordinance to amend Chapter 220 of the codified ordinances, and Mr. Mapes stated he would work on that. Mrs. Riggs stated further she felt that issue could be combined with the ethics ordinance rather than have two separate pieces of legislation. Mrs. Riggs stated she had also provided Mr. Mapes with a copy of legislation from the Ohio Ethics Commission. She stated she thought it would be best to have Mr. Mapes combine all of these into one ordinance for this Committee to review. Mr. Sabatino stated he did see some problems with the draft ordinance regarding abstention from voting and Mr. Hackworth stated he agreed with Mr. Sabatino and felt there would have to be some revisions to this before it was merged into the final ethics legislation. Mr. Sabatino stated he thought they had to be careful so something that would not be beneficial would not be created. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt there should also be a time frame specified and Mr. Hackworth stated he also felt some sort of monetary limit should be specified. Mrs. Riggs stated these were issues she had requested Mr. Mapes look into.
Mrs. Riggs stated if the Committee concurred, she would like to have these two items removed from the agenda and then bring it forward once the Law Director has prepared the new legislation. Mr. Hackworth stated he would concur with that.
C. Review and request for motion to authorize the Municipal Clerk to advertise for vacancies throughout 2004 as necessary. Mrs. Riggs requested Mrs. Yartin to provide some background on this request. Mrs. Yartin stated the Rules Committee must authorize the advertising for vacancies on any of the City’s Boards or Commissions, etc. She stated the policy has been to authorize her to advertise as the vacancies occur throughout the year to avoid the delay of having the Rules Committee meet and authorize each individual advertisement. Mrs. Yartin stated when notified of a vacancy due to a resignation, etc., she then notifies the Rules Committee, places the advertisement, and provides the committee with the applications for those vacancies. The Rules Committee then interviews the applicants and provides a recommendation to Council. Mrs. Riggs moved to authorize the Municipal Clerk to advertise for vacancies throughout 2004 as necessary; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.
D. Review and discussion regarding Council vacancy applicants. Mrs. Riggs stated there were 13 applicants for the vacancy created on Council when Mr. Shaver assumed the office of Mayor. She stated the policy has been to interview all applicants and she felt that should be continued. Mr. Hackworth stated he agreed all applicants should be interviewed. Mrs. Riggs stated Council has 60 days from the date of the vacancy to fill it. Mrs. Yartin stated there was also a vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals and a vacancy on the Personnel Appeals Board that need to be filled. Mrs. Riggs and Mr. Hackworth agreed they would like to begin the interview process as soon as possible. After discussion by the committee members, Mrs. Riggs asked Mrs. Yartin to schedule interviews in one-half hour increments from 4:00-6:00 P.M., on January 21, January 22, and January 28. Then, January 29 could be used as a make up day from 5:00-6:00 P.M. Mrs. Riggs stated she had provided a list of questions she felt would be helpful for the interview process and she would like any input from the committee or other council members. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt the important items were covered, and if he thought of something else he would provide it to Mrs. Riggs. Mrs. Riggs requested Mrs. Yartin begin scheduling the interviews. Mrs. Yartin stated she would provide an interview schedule to the committee and to all of Council. Mrs. Yartin further stated she would provide the questions that had been reviewed this evening to council with the interview schedule.
4. CHAIRMAN:
A. Discussion regarding pending ethics ordinance (Councilperson Riggs). Mrs. Riggs stated this could be removed from the agenda as it was covered earlier in the meeting.
5. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.
6. ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further, Mr. Hackworth moved to adjourn; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion. Mrs. Riggs and Mr. Hackworth voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 2-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:29 P.M., January 12, 2004.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk