Bay Village's charter is under review

The city of Bay Village embarked on the decennial review of its charter last month with the establishment of a volunteer commission. Appointed by Mayor Paul Koomar, and confirmed by City Council, the Charter Review Commission includes nine electors – Bay Village residents who are registered voters and have lived in the city for more than one year – from various walks of life. Three of the members have previously served on City Council; there are also local business owners, parents of students in the Bay Schools, retirees, and volunteers from civic organizations. Several also served on the 2012 Charter Review Commission.
 
The city is required by its charter to empanel a commission every 10 years to review the document and recommend to City Council any “alterations, revisions, and amendments” deemed desirable by the majority. Council must then place those proposed amendments on the November ballot.
 
Unlike the city’s codified ordinances, which are a set of regulations that may be enacted and modified by City Council legislation, the charter entails broader procedures for governance. As Law Director Mark Barbour explained during the Commission’s organizational meeting on Feb. 21, “the charter is our ‘constitution,’ establishing how the city is organized and the procedures that the city is governed by.” Changes to the charter must be approved by a majority vote of the electorate.
 
Members of City Council, the administration and the general public may propose suggestions for the Charter Review Commission to consider. Meetings are open to the public and are currently scheduled for the first and third Mondays of each month at 5 p.m. in the conference room at City Hall. The first meeting will be March 7.
 
The full text of the charter may be viewed by clicking on the Government tab on the city’s website, cityofbayvillage.com.

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Volume 14, Issue 5, Posted 10:35 AM, 03.01.2022