City Council kills censure rule change

Would have applied to violations of city policy, law

Lorain City Council members say they do not want power to chastise each other for violating city policy or run-ins with police.

On July 16, Council vote 10-0 to defeat legislation that would change the board’s rules of conduct.

The proposed rule changes would have granted Council power to investigate and consider circumstances surrounding members who end up in legal trouble.

The resolution proposed that violations of the law or adopted city policies “shall be deemed a violation of Lorain City Council rules.”

Serious violations of law or city policy could result in censure, “a punitive action that serves as punishment for wrongdoing.”

There would be no fine or suspension of rights as a Council member, but the censure process would have served as punishment in itself.

Council on June 25 met in committee for lengthy discussion on the rule changes.

Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Springowski moved for passage of the rules to prompt the vote July 16 and Councilman-at-Large Joe Koziura seconded the motion.

Both said they encouraged their fellows to vote it down.

In committee discussion in June, Council members noted voters on election day have their say about the conduct of the elected representatives.

On July 16, Councilmanat-Large Mitch Fallis said if residents have concerns about the behavior of a Council member, they also have recourse to common pleas court.

“We as Council, we’re legislative, we’re not necessarily judicial,” Fallis said. “We don’t have the funds to go out and do investigations and so forth.

“I’m not trained to function as a judge and juror and try to exercise discernment. So, I will not be supporting that legislation for those two reasons.”

Ward 8 Councilman Joshua Thornsberry proposed the changes.

Thornsberry was not present for the July 16 vote due to an excused absence for paternity leave.

In the committee meeting, he argued for the rule change.

“We need to send the message that, you know, we are not above the law as elected officials,” Thornsberry said at the time. “We are basically asking ourselves to follow state, federal and local laws.

“We are asking ourselves to follow the policies of the city handbook that all the other city employees have to follow, and I don’t think it’s too much for us to ask that we follow those simple rules and we conduct ourselves accordingly.”