Charter Commission to meet in-person

Lorainites will get to express their desires for local government as the City Charter Commission deliberates this year.

Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave., will reopen to the public for a Charter Commission meeting Jan. 26.

It will be the first time for the Charter Commission to meet inperson and the first forum for residents to talk about what they would like to see in Lorain’s city government.

On Jan. 12, the Charter Commission held a virtual meeting for about 90 minutes, discussing topics such as finding consulting experts, a meeting location and public participation in the process of drafting a charter.

The 15 commissioners agreed on using the first floor City Council chamber for future live meetings.

The process is evolving for city residents who want to weigh in.

The commissioners batted around a number of ideas on public participation, including limiting comments to city voters, or allowing anyone to speak, one time or at any meeting.

Residents will get a chance to speak for up to three minutes per person in the Jan. 26 meeting.

But, public comment may be limited in future meetings until the commissioners have a chance to consider ideas from residents and each other, and draft city government rules on paper.

Chairwoman Terri Soto said, so far, she is “satisfied and I’m very pleased” with good attendance and participation of the 15 charter commissioners.

Soto said she hopes city residents will take advantage of the Jan. 26 meeting to voice their ideas about city government.

“We’re doing a lot to get it out to the average voter and resident in Lorain, saying come out, tell us what your concerns are, if we go to a charter, what you would like to see, and help us,” Soto said afterward.

On Jan. 12, Soto said she would not allow public speakers to attack the commissioners or “hijack” the meeting.

Although there may not be public comment at every meeting, the commissioners generally agreed they are open to hearing from citizens by phone calls, letters or emails.

Expert help

The commissioners voted 15-0 to request qualifications from a consulting expert on local government; legal counsel; an administrative assistant; and a court reporter/stenographer to record the deliberations.

Statements of qualifications are due at 11 a.m., Jan. 29.

Complete request for qualification packets are available on cityoflorain. org or by contacting Matt Kusznir, contract and prevailing wage administrator, at 440-204-2008, or matt_ kusznir@cityoflorain.org.

Legal ads

The commissioners voted 15-0 on the legal advertisement for the consulting experts.

The public notice will be published Jan. 14 and Jan. 21 in The Morning Journal.

The ads will cost $437.60.

Another resource

Commissioner Dennis Flores submitted the National Civic League’s Guide for Charter Commissions as a resource for the group’s deliberations.

Soto agreed the group would use it as a reference.

Public involvement

The Charter Commission accepted emailed suggestions and a video from city resident Garon Petty, emailed comments from utilities customer Tia Hilton and live comments from Lynne Christner, who was a Commission candidate last year.

Christner said the Commission members, who also are elected officials or city employees, must remember the citizens are their bosses.

She claimed it is a conflict of interest for those Commissioners to be setting up their own jobs and asked for representatives from other charter cities to share their insights on local government.

The Commission should open its meetings because not all residents have experience with digital meeting platforms, Christner said.

She advocated for a city manager form of government.

Where to meet

The commissioners voted 15-0 to meet at the firstfloor City Council chamber of Lorain City Hall.

Soto said she investigated other spaces, including the Shipyards event center, Rosewood Place, the Lorain Palace Theater and the Lorain Senior Center as possible meeting spaces.

The City Hall room has microphones, recording equipment, cameras and computers needed for webcasting the meetings, said Nancy Greer, council clerk.

It is handicap-accessible, can be set up for an official stenographer, restrooms are nearby and Lorain Auxiliary Police officers provide security at the door.

It also has clear plastic dividers installed and allows for social distancing needed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The main drawbacks to the space are the cost of officers for security, although Commissioner Jack Bradley, Lorain’s elected mayor, noted the Commission should have at least one security officer present, regardless of location.

Some people have argued City Hall is not a politically independent or neutral location, and currently it is closed to the public, Greer said.

Updating website

The Charter Commission meeting dates are published on cityoflorain.org.

City Information Technology Director David Comer and Deputy Clerk of Council Breanna Dull provided an overview of the Charter Commission page under construction on the city’s official website.

The Charter Commission can be found under the “Government” tab, which has a drop-down menu to “Boards, Commissions & Committees.”

Charter Commission meeting agendas and supporting documents will be published through the “City Council and other Board’s Meetings,” available under “City Council,” under the “Government” tab of cityoflorain.org.