by Kristin Casale
Associate Editor
Munroe Falls -- Munroe Falls voters will be faced with 11 proposed changes to the city's charter Nov. 6.
According to the Summit County Board of Elections, the amendments would go into effect Jan. 1, 2008, if approved by voters.
Voters will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" on each change.
The following 11 amendments, which were submitted to the Board of Elections, propose:
* That Council be required to submit approved legislation to the mayor within 14 days, instead of "promptly" as the charter currently states (Issue 26);
* That wording from a section on absences be deleted. Currently, the section says the Council president would fill in for the mayor and the Council vice president would fill in for the Council president if they are "absent from the municipality, or for any reason [are] unable to perform [their] duties." The phrase, "absent from the municipality" would be deleted if the amendment passes (Issue 27);
* That wording under a section on qualifications be changed. The charter states if a Councilmember no longer has the necessary qualifications to serve in the position they "may" be removed from office. The amendment would change "may" to "shall" (Issue 28);
* That six of Council's seven seats be voted on by newly-created wards and the other seat be voted on at-large (Issue 29);
* That a requirement for a two-year Council term be repealed. According to Law Director Jack Morrison, in 1972 the city was required to make one four-year-term Council seat a two-year-term seat temporarily due to an irregularity in that seat's election cycle.
After the two-year term expired, anyone filling that seat has been elected to a four-year term (Issue 30);
* That Council's first organizational meeting of each year be required to occur either on Jan. 2 or the following business day if Jan. 2 falls on a holiday or the weekend. The charter currently requires the organizational meeting to take place Jan. 2, regardless of whether it is a holiday or the weekend (Issue 31);
* That the Parks and Recreation Board be required to have a non-voting Council representative at all times (Issue 32);
* That the Park Board be allowed to coordinate community events (Issue 33);
* That if any actions are required by the charter to be completed under a certain deadline, then Saturdays would be excluded from the number of days. Currently, the charter does not provide for that exception (Issue 34) ;
* That language in a section related to the director of public safety be changed. The section states that if the director of public safety is removed from office, that person can appeal to Council to review "the judgment of the mayor." The amendment would replace that phrase with "the action taken; (Issue 35)" and
* That requirements for serving on the Charter Review Commission include a definition.
Currently, the charter states only qualified electors can serve in the group, but no definition of such an elector exists.
The amendment would define a qualified elector as a resident who is eligible to vote within the city (Issue 36).
E-mail: kcasale@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3917