08/16/2005 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 8/16/2005 candidates for the office and to determine whether a particular candidate has the "right stuff' to serve as Mayor in the absence of the Mayor or in the event a vacancy occurs in the office of the Mayor. It's an important consideration for the people in casting their vote for an independently elected President of Council. If a person elected by the people to the office of President of Council turns out not to have "the right stuff," then, with an independently elected President of Council, the people retain their right and power to directly make a change at the next election. That, in fact, is the right and power that the people of North Olmsted will exercise this November when they choose for themselves whether Mayor O'Grady, whom they directly elected to be President of Council, and whom has since filled the vacancy left by the departure of Mayor Musial, has exhibited, in their judgment, "the right stuff' to continue to serve as Mayor. Sixth. The third function or duty of the President of Council under the Charter is to break tie votes. Elimination of the independently elected office of President of Council will also eliminate this not often used, but nonetheless important and beneficial, mechanism for the City Council to make decisions and move forward when Council, due to the absence of a member from a meeting, a vacancy in office, or other reason, such as a conflict of interest on an issue, finds itself deadlocked 3-3 on an important City issue. Seventh. A President of Council elected by a majority of Council, rather than by the people, will, by definition, serve the majority of Council, and will likely continue to serve in the position of President only for so long as he or she enjoys the support of a majority of Council. Thus, rather than being an independent force on Council whose primary function it to facilitate open and robust discussion on issues, the primary function of a President selected by Council will be to serve the majority of Council who elected him or her. With this being the primary function of the President of Council, the danger will always exist, whether it is ever actually realized or not, and whether a President consciously or unconsciously so acts, for a tyranny of the majority- where minority viewpoints on the floor of Council are either not tolerated or at best are not given the same and as equal opportunity and treatment as those of the majority. Given the excellent service to the City government by the many past Presidents of City Council, who is to say that the independent office hasn't in fact protected and promoted minority rights and viewpoints over the years here in North Olmsted. Equally, who is to say that, if the independently elected office is eliminated, that the City of North Olmsted will not be taking a step backwards in insuring that every elected voice on Council that wishes to be heard on an issue is fully and fairly heard, and that decisions are made on the merits of issues rather than on the strength of alliances. Ei th. Where the President of Council is elected by a majority of Council, the people lose their right to determine directly who will serve as Mayor when the Mayor is absent or when a vacancy occurs in the Mayor's office. This is obvious, but there is also a corollary to this that should be considered. If the City's Charter is changed to provide for Council to select the President of Council, then will the people thereafter view candidates for Ward Council or Council at Large differently than they have in the past, considering and casting votes, to some degree, for candidates who have strong qualifications to serve as Mayor and in an administrator's role, rather than necessarily simply to serve on Council and in a legislator's role? By making every candidate for every City Council office a potential President of Council, and thereby a potential Mayor, the people will at least have to consider administrative talents, as well as legislative talents, when they cast votes for members of Council. He does not believe that this result would 7