Voters to decide amendments

Nine charter amendments to appear on November ballot

When Willoughby Hills voters go to the polls in November, they will be asked to consider nine charter amendments that supporters say will protect the city from any future lawsuits due to ambiguities.

The Lake County Elections Board on Aug. 21 officially approved putting them on the ballot following Willoughby Hills City Council’s 5-1 vote last week requesting it.

Five of the charter amendments involve clarifying the mayor’s and council’s roles in the appointments to office.

The changes would establish a protocol for the hiring and firing of city staff would include the appointment of commission members and department heads including the police and fire chiefs. The mayor would have the ability to appoint employees to fill these positions with a confirmation of council by a vote of four or more council members in favor.

“I don’t think it’s wise or prudent or proper for us to rush this through.” — Councilman Christopher Hallum

Another amendment would establish a uniform procedure for the removal or any officer, including the mayor or employee of the city, who engages in serious misconduct.

One amendment aims to provide a consistent standard for placing questions on the ballot by requiring signatures from 25 percent of the city’s registered voters.

Additionally council is seeking to amend the

charter to prohibit special elections unless the mayor and council agree a special election is necessary

There is also an amendment prohibiting the hiring of any relatives of city officials.

Council members Nancy Fellows, Laura Lenz, Janet Mijka, Laura Pizmoht, and John Plecnikall voted in favor of the ordinance that puts the amendments on the ballot while Councilmen Christopher Hallum voted against and David Fiebig was absent.

Plecnik said he feels that council owes it to the voters of Willoughby Hills to give them the chance

to vote on the charter amendments.

Hallum disagreed with the emergency nature of the ordinance since there were no public hearings on it, and he didn’t see the reason for the emergency status.

He pointed out that in the last charter review there were three public hearings and this one has had none.

“I don’t think it’s wise or prudent or proper for us to rush this through,” Hallum said during the council meeting.

He feels the residents have missed out on the opportunity to provide their input or help with the development of the proposed changes.

He also voiced concerns during the meeting that it had not been reviewed by the city law director.

Plecnik noted that it was his personal opinion that anyone who voted no to giving the voters the choice to reform their charter is voting against the Willoughby Hills residents

and doesn’t trust them.

“At the Rules (Committee) meeting I was so taken aback and surprised by this because I had no idea that this was coming,” Hallum said of the charter amendment ordinance. “I have not had the opportunity to read through this as I’m sure many or our residents didn’t also. I was unprepared to ask any questions.”

Additional comments and discussion by council members on the ordinance can be heard by listening to the audio of the Aug. 16 special council meeting.

The ordinance with the proposed amendment changes can be viewed in its entirety on The Willoughby Hills City Website.

The Willoughby Hills Charter requires that all the issues going on the ballot for election be mailed out to all registered voters in the city prior to the election.