07/17/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 7/17101 be placed on the ballot that would allow the voters of North Olmsted to decide if they want to have the Charter amended to allow for non-partisan elections. This issue is not about politics; it's not going to abolish or diminish the importance of our political parties. It will not take away from the ability to educate, advocate and endorse the cause as a candidate, nor will it transform voters and candidates into independents. This issue is about giving the voters full access to the democratic process and will allow voters, regardless of their party, to vote for the candidate of their choice and for independent voters to have the ability to actually vote for candidates in the primaries. It will ensure that we have access to every mind this community has to offer, including those working as federal employees. A majority of Council members have repeatedly rejected the recommendation of the Charter Review Commission to place non-partisan elections on the ballot. The same majority has now voted to keep in committee an ordinance sponsored by Mayor Musial and Councilmen O'Grady, Limpert and Dailey that asks that Council allow the people to decide this issue. This issue has been kept out of the voters' hands for 20 years. Therefore, the committee will be gathering petition signatures, according to the Charter provisions, to allow this issue to be placed on the ballot. She asked that the Law Director or Assistant Law Director tell the committee what procedures need to be followed in the petition process so that they aze complied with and the issue can go before the voters. Assistant Law Director Dubelko said he would look into it. President Saringer commented that she has seen four Charter Review Commissions. When she was first elected, she was in the minority as a Democrat. The majority party at that time did the same thing-it's no different. She has worked with five different Mayors and has had no problems. Mr. McKay noted that the initiative petition process had been used in the past. He does not think that any Council member would say they did not want the citizens to put this on the ballot. It is their privilege. Mr. Miller asked Mrs. Hoff-Smith if the petition proposes changing terms of office, and she said it did not. Mr. Miller said he wanted to speak on behalf of the many people he has talked to about this issue. Quite a few people want to see party affiliation on the ballot when they vote-they do not want that hidden from them. Mr. O'Grady said it seems that Council continues to debate the pros and cons of non-partisan elections. That is not the question, the question is simply whether or not Council will allow the people of North Olmsted to make the decision. Vote it up or vote it down, but give the people a choice. John Pangrac, 23470 Sharon Drive, said he had recently walked Shazon Drive to West 231 Street to Lorain Road to Claque Road and down Claque to Sharon Drive. The sidewalks are in shambles, and in some cases impassable. In some areas, elevation changes from one slab to the other are anywhere from four to six inches. There is debris at the intersection of Claque and Lorain near Cuppachino's. On the sidewalk in front of Cuppachino's there is a water shut off with no cover. Somebody could get really injured there, and he would like to know why these conditions exist. Don't we have inspectors that are supposed to go around looking at these things and requiring business owners and homeowners to keep their sidewalks in a state of repay? Presidem Sazinger said the inspectors do not routinely inspect areas-it is done on a complaint basis. Mr. Dailey said he would talk to Service Director Bohlmann about sending inspectors to the area. President Saringer asked Mayor Musial about the status of the sidewalk inspection program. Mayor Musial said there is one in existence, and they are taking a street at a 8