LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS/ UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL—Highlights of September Meetings

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2008
All council members present.

Citizen comment on CRC

Eleven residents, including former councilmembers Steve Bennett, Margaret Duffy-Friedman, Susan Infeld, Win Weizer (statement read by a representative), and former Vice Mayor Jeffrey Friedman (by speaker-phone), made comments concerning the ordinance to establish a Charter Review Commission (CRC).
Duffy-Friedman had questions regarding needs assessment, data and the emergency status of the ordinance. Friedman suggested that some members of the commission be elected in order to assure a good cross-section of the community. Infeld questioned whether the process was sufficiently open. Several residents weighed in with some complaining about the openness of the process and others supporting the measure.

Council discussion of CRC proposal

Council engaged in a vigorous debate over the proposal -regarding how the members were to be selected, how the public would be informed and engaged, and why the ordinance was presented on the emergency status. Councilman Consolo, who introduced the ordinance, defended the emergency status reminding councilmembers that any CRC recommended changes would have to be placed on the ballot for a public vote and that there were time constraints for getting onto the 2009 ballot. The ordinance to establish a Charter Review Commission passed 5-2, with Bernardo and Zucker voting no and Mayor Rothschild indicating an intention to veto the ordinance. To override the mayor’s veto, the ordinance would have to be placed on the Sept. 15 council agenda and passed by five members.
As amended, the Charter Review Commission would include 11 members with each of the seven councilmembers appointing one, the mayor appointing one, and the committee of the whole appointing three. Council also passed a motion made by Consolo to immediately publicize the ordinance and invite residents interested in serving to provide resumes and letters of interest.

Assessment, abatement, demolition

Other agenda items, all of which passed unanimously included:
• Levying special assessments for providing city services in the removal of nuisance conditions at various locations throughout the city,
• Abating special assessments for the year 2008 at certain parcels at University Square, and
• Authorizing the demolition of the house at 2099 Wynn Road.

LWV Observer: Susan D. Pardee

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

Charter Review Commission

Most of the public comments addressed the Charter Review Commission (CRC). Some supported the initiative, some questioned the quick timeline, while others supported the timeline.
Council voted to override Mayor Rothschild’s veto of the ordinance to establish the CRC, with only Vice-Mayor Zucker voting no.

Moral claims

Council awarded the maximum allowed compensation of $300 to two residents presenting moral claims—one for damage to a home due to a sewer main blockage and another for damage to a car from a pothole. A third claim for damage to a water meter from a recent water main break was tabled pending documentation. Councilman Murphy noted that his committee would be submitting a resolution to end moral claims payments.

Nuisance legislation

Three ordinances reducing the number of days upon which the city can take action on hedge and shrubbery nuisances, noxious weeds, and pest nuisances were presented on first reading.

Branch Manager Maureen Weisblatt

Council postponed a resolution honoring Maureen Weisblatt, branch manager of the University Heights Library, on the event of her retirement, until the reception being held in her honor.

University Parkway roadway reconstruction

Council passed a resolution seeking financial assistance from the Ohio Public Works Commission State Public Works Program to fund the University Parkway roadway reconstruction. If awarded the funding would enable the city to replace the entire street and drains.

City Watch

Fire Chief Pitchler announced that the CityWatch system had been activated, providing emergency communication to all residents of the city.

LWV observer: Wendy Deuring

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of meetings of the University Heights City Council and are not an official statement by the League of Women Voters. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.
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