Vote no on two Vermilion issues

Another viewpoint is a column The Morning Journal makes available so all sides of an issue may be aired. Steve Herron is president of Vermilion Council.

The Vermilion voter has a lot to read on Election Day! Five proposed amendments are in our hands that affect our charter. Each have an impact on how our government operates. Two of them are the subject of my letter to you.

Proposed Charter Amendment Number 1 — Vote no

This proposed amendment gives the mayor of Vermilion the unqualified power to sit in all meetings, particularly executive sessions, called by the Council. Executive sessions are discussions that involve subject matter that is specified under Ohio law. The discussions of those matters are to be held in a private setting, because premature public disclosure of them could be harmful to the city.

The subject matter of executive sessions involves matters relating to supervision of public employees and investigations of charges or complaints against a public employee, consideration of purchasing public property, imminent and/or pending court action, negotiation with bargaining units and any other matters that are required to be confidential under law or related to security arrangements and emergency response protocols. Normally, the mayor is involved in such matters for the plain reason that he or she is necessary for fruitful discussion and decision-making.

Council, if it had to include the mayor’s participation “in all closed executive sessions,” would see a significantly impeded ability to discuss, investigate and further fulfill its oversight duty.

Throughout our history, we have seen four of our presidents experience the painful process of impeachment. Presidents Andrew Johnson, William Clinton and Donald Trump endured trials that, while divisive and difficult, were borne from the words of the Constitution.

None of them had the entitlement to sit in on the private and lawful meetings wherein sensitive impeachment matters were discussed. This is for good reason: simply put, the ability to fulfill the solemn duty of executive branch oversight would have been weakened.

The governor of Ohio does not have a similar power to sit in private sessions of the legislative branch.

Proposed Charter Amendment Number 2 — Vote no

This proposed amendment needlessly and specifically removes the council clerk, who has by common practice, served as the clerk for our boards and commissions.

The clerk has been working with both of these of governmental entities, saving the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. She has been working diligently during their meetings, keeping minutes and ensuring that archival duties are fulfilled.

The effort to specifically place the authority over the positions involving boards and commissions to the mayor is unnecessary and potentially very wasteful.

Steve Herron