RULES
COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004
7:00 P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Riggs called the meeting to order at 7:15 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Hackworth were present. No members were absent. Others present were: Bob Mapes, Mitch O’Brien, and Lynda Yartin.
2. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF January 12, 2004, Regular Meeting. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wright abstaining, and Mr. Hackworth and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF February 4, 2004, Special Meeting. Mr. Wright moved to approve; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wright, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF February 9, 2004, Special Meeting. Mr. Wright moved to approve; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
3. SCHEDULED MATTERS:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to enact Chapter 250 of the Pickerington Codified Ordinances relative to an ethics policy for elected officials and employees of the City. Mr. Wright stated he has reviewed this draft ordinance and he felt it would be a good idea to table it this evening to allow time to review the references to the Ohio Revised Code that are contained therein. Mr. Hackworth stated he concurred with Mr. Wright. Mr. Mapes stated this legislation is based on the ethics policy and if this is passed we will be the first in Ohio to actually put it into an ordinance. Mr. Mapes stated in order to keep the legislation from being repetitive and lengthy, sections of the Ohio Revised Code are referenced rather than being incorporated into the ordinance. Mr. Mapes stated further he felt all Council members should have a copy of the Ohio Ethics Law and he would provide that to the Clerk for distribution. He stated there is a section that deals with disclosing confidential information that is not actually a part of the ethics policy, but it is in the Ohio Revised Code and applies to all of Council and deals with confidential discussions in Executive Session. Mrs. Riggs stated what she liked in this legislation is that the key points are spelled out. Mr. Wright stated it was his understanding that Council was already obligated by the ethics policy under State Statutes, and we would just be putting in into a formalized local ordinance. Mr. Mapes stated that was correct. Mrs. Riggs stated this also contains the four positions we would request as voluntary filers that the State would not require. Mr. Mapes stated that is correct. The four positions listed are the City Manager, the Law Director, the Finance Director, and the City Engineer. He stated we currently to not have a City Engineer, but use an engineering firm, however, should the position of City Engineer ever come in house, then that employee would fall into this requirement. Mr. Mapes continued there are different levels of having to file, and he had written the legislation so the four voluntary filers would file the same level as Council and the Mayor. Mrs. Riggs stated her point was things such as source of gifts would not be included for the voluntary filers and she felt that was something that should be required. Mrs. Riggs stated she agreed that time was needed to look at this draft ordinance, but she felt we were moving in the right direction. Mr. Hackworth moved to Table; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0. (TABLED)
B. Review and request for motion to approve draft resolution appointing an individual to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Mr. Wright stated he would like to have time to review the applications of the individuals interviewed prior to making a recommendation for this appointment. Mrs. Riggs stated she would like this item carried on the agenda for next month.
C. Review and request for motion to approve draft resolution appointing an individual to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mrs. Riggs clarified that if this position was not filled immediately it would not prohibit the Commission from meeting. She stated she would like this carried on the agenda for next month as well.
4. CHAIRMAN: Mrs. Riggs stated she had nothing to bring forward.
5. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.
6. ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further, Mr. Hackworth moved to adjourn; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Hackworth voted “Aye.” Motion carried, 3-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 P.M., March 1, 2004.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
________________________________
Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk