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<br />MINUTES OF THE RULES & ORDINANCES COMMITTEE <br />June 17, 2019 <br />East Conference Room <br />Present: <br />Councilmembers George & Rader <br />Also Present: <br />Councilmember Anderson, Law Director Butler, 11 members of the public <br />Call to Order: <br />6:04 p.m. <br />ORDINANCE 15-19–AN ORDINANCE to take effect at the earliest period allowed by law <br />repealing Chapter 503, Abortions. <br />Councilmember George took public comment on this item: <br />Anna Malefatto –2142Glenbury Ave. –Ms.Malefatto expressed disappointment that Chapter <br />503 is in the Code. Sheasked Councilto repeal the Codeand show residents that it cares about <br />the health and well being of residents. Ms. Malefatto works at Preterm and stated that 100 <br />Lakewood residents have sought abortions at Preterm. <br />Jamie Miracle –Executive Directorof NARALOhio–Ms. Miracle stated that her organization <br />has 1,100 members from Lakewood. As part of a largerprepared statement, she highlighted that <br />abortion is one of the most common medical procedures and also very safe. She criticized <br />Chapter503 as beingstigmatizing and inaccurate about abortion and fetal development. She <br />argued that the Code is unnecessary and pointed to the numerous state health codes that regulate <br />abortion. She requested that Council follow through to repealit. <br />Hannah Servedio –12206 Clifton Blvd.–Ms.Servedio spoke from the perspective of a <br />Lakewood resident and NARAL staff member. She stated that language has an impact on <br />abortion accessand expressed disappointmentthat this language existswithin Code. <br />Jennifer Jakeric –1614 Ridgewood Ave.–Ms.Jakeric spoke from the perspective of a <br />Lakewood resident and NARALboard member. She applauded council for addressing this <br />section of the Code which she characterized as disrespectful and repetitive. She stated that the <br />ordinance is not in line with the Community Vision. <br />Councilmember George expressed that it is her understanding thatstate and federal laws already <br />regulate abortions. She asked Director Butler to elaborate on this. <br />Director Butler remarked on the extent of his legal research into Chapter 503 and related <br />abortioncodes at thestate and federal level. Director Butler identified 18 other northeast Ohio <br />municipalitiesthat had enacted localcode chapters on abortion between 1973-1981. This was <br />presumably in response to the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973. Among these 18 <br />municipalities,Lakewood’s Code on abortion is the most extensive. Aside from these 18 <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />