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Update January 2008----To begin the process will require concerned citizens willing to engage the community to improve the representation for each Strongsville resident.

Early in Mr. Perciak's first year as Mayor he appointed a Charter Review Commission and named Celia McGrath as Chairperson of the Commission. The purpose for forming the commission was to review the Charter of the City of Strongsville and to recommend to the City Council changes in the Charter that upon approval by the City Council would be SUBMITTED to the voters for their consideration during the November 2004 election.
For a complete review of the minutes of the Charter Review Commission, including discussion and the decision process of the Commission, contact the Law Department of the City of Strongsville.

The Charter Review Commission requested citizen input on changes in the Charter.

Regarding the organization of the Council, Tony Zubek submitted the following recommendation:

ATTACHMENT FOR CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION CONSIDERATION SUBMITTED BY ANTHONY P. ZUBEK

FOLLOWING IS THE REVISED RECOMMENDATION FOR ARTICLE III SECTION 1.
NUMBER AND TERM.
The legislative powers of the municipality, except as otherwise provided by this Charter and the Constitution of the State of Ohio, shall be vested in a Council of (7) members; SIX (6) MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED, ONE (1) FROM EACH OF SIX WARDS (6), AND THE REMAINING ONE (1) TO BE ELECTED FROM THE MUNICIPALITY AT LARGE. All members of Council shall serve for a term of four (4) years or until their successors are elected and qualified. AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THIS AMENDMENT, THE ELECTION OF THE TWO (2) NEW WARD COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE ONE (1) MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO BE ELECTED AT LARGE will take place at the first regular municipal election in November 2005 and shall be elected for a term of four (4) years.

RESULTS OF THIS CHANGE

1.   With 6 Ward Council Members, the number of citizens represented by the Ward Council Member will drop from 10,750 to 7,166 citizens.
2.   More Ward Council Members will be focused on representing the citizens of a specific geographic area; thus improving the ability of City Government to communicate with the citizens and the citizens to communicate with City Government.
3.   The concept of maintaining a Council Member whose role is to look beyond the immediate requirements of the Wards' to the role of Council decisions on "what is best for the over-all City" will maintain the collegial nature of the Council and allow one At-Large Council Member to concentrate on an overview that will benefit all the citizens.
4.   The restructuring of the Council will not increase the cost of the operation of the Council, rather redefine the responsibility of two Council positions.
5.   The pattern of electing Council members will not change.
6.   The presently identified Ward Council Members will retain their position and Ward identification and the two new wards can be created by a North/South division of Ward 2 to create Ward 5 and the restructuring of Wards 1 and 3 to create Ward 6.

FOLLOWING IS THE REVISED RECOMMENDATION FOR ARTICLE III SECTION 2
DIVISION OF MUNICIPALITY INTO SIX (6) WARDS

Upon the adoption of the amendment of Article III, Section 1. Number and Term by the electors of the Municipality and at least 60 days prior to the filing date of nominating petitions for the terms beginning on January 1, 2006, the present Council shall divide the Municipality into six (6) wards which shall be as nearly equal in population as possible, each ward to be composed of contiguous and compact territory, bounded by natural boundaries or street lines. In the event Council shall not have fixed the division of wards herein prescribed, the Mayor shall cause such division to be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the filing date herein provided. When any particular territory is annexed to the Municipality, the Council shall be ordinance declare it a part of the adjacent ward or wards.
The Council is hereby given the authority to make future redivisions of the Municipality into wards which shall be as nearly equal in population as is possible, each ward to be composed of contiguous and compact territory bounded by natural boundaries or street lines.

RESULTS OF THE CHANGE:
1.   Bring this section into language compliance with changes made to ARTICLE III SECTION 1.

 

Council meeting July 19, 2004:( read pages 64,65,66, 67and 77 of the Council meeting minutes.)

 

The Charter Review Commission adopted a change in the election of At-Large Members supported by Mayor Perciak. (See Ordinance No. 2004-191 by Mayor Perciak and All Member of Council for details).

The Council Members voted to not allow the citizens to vote on any change to the Council  structure or Election of At-Large Council members: Ayes: Gallagher, Kaminski, Haseley; Naays: Roth, Daymut, Coyne, DeMio. Motion fails.

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