10/19/2010 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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~N* Council Minutes of 10-19-2010 Council President Limpert announced that the next Council meeting will be Wednesday, November 3, 2010. The meeting is moved to Wednesday because Tuesday, November 2 is Election Day. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane spoke regarding the Charter amendments. He said he believes there are some people on Council that may or may not understand what the Charter Review Commission is and what their duties and responsibilities are. He gave a brief history of the Charter Review Commission and Council's role in this. Lambert said in 2003, Councilman Michael Gareau introduced legislation that changed the Charter that made the Charter Review Commission advisory and shifted all the power to Council. He believes the Charter changes should have gone to a local government committee instead of a Committee of the Whole meeting. He doesn't feel the Charter amendments were properly put on the ballot. Gareau said if any members of Council wish to get legal advice with respect to propriety of their actions, performance of their duties or the process used for the Charter Amendments, he would be happy to take their questions. Gareau said he disagrees with Lambert and will not engage in a debate at this meeting. He believes they have fully complied with to the requirements of law, and the actions of Council up to this date satisfy the Charter and laws of the state of Ohio. Lambert said in 1995 Michael Gareau, Sr. was the Law Director and he advised Council that they did not have to put the amendments on the ballot. It was ruled by Jim Dubelko in 2002 that they did have to go on the ballot because the Charter says so. Councilwoman Williamson said Council had a Committee of the Whole meeting and the Charter Amendments were discussed publicly. Gareau said the committee meeting was in compliance with the Rules of Council. Terry Groden, 25211 Chase Drive commented on the commercial property tax re- evaluations. This is a major concern for the schools because any property tax re- evaluations that are favorable to the commercial property owner will impact tax collections going forward and compel the schools to repay some of the money already collected on those taxes. Gareau said the school district has petitioned for an increase as well, and they have an attorney that will appear before the Board of Revision to make sure those cases are fully litigated. Charles Dial, 27959 Gardenia said leaves that land in his yard are his responsibility no matter whose tree they came from. Gareau agreed. Dial said there is a resident of Ward 1 that is blowing leaves back into the neighbor's yard since they came from the neighbor's tree. He wanted to know if there are any Ordinances that deal with this. Gareau said he would suggest contacting the police dept. LEGISLATION 5