North Royalton Residents please make sure you vote all the way down your ballots. Because there are four Charter Amendments Issue #23, Issue #24, Issue #25, and Issue #26 on the November 3, 2020 General Election Ballot that could have direct impact on your daily lives, your families safety, how your taxpayer dollars are spent, and the future of North Royalton.
What are the Proposed Charter Amendments your Voting On?
ISSUE # 23
Proposed Charter Amendment
City of North Royalton
A majority affirmative vote is required for passage.
Shall Article III, Section (f) of the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to provide that in the event of a declared emergency that encompasses the City of North Royalton, Council retains the authority to meet remotely or suspend or postpone its meetings until practicable?
YES
Or
NO
Source: County Board of Elections Ballot Issues List pgs 9-10 https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/pdf_boe/en-US/2020/Nov2020/Nov2020IssuesList.pdf )
ISSUE # 24
Proposed Charter Amendment
City of North Royalton
A majority affirmative vote is required for passage.
Shall the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to repeal and replace Article VII to create a new Department of Public Safety, which shall include the Divisions of Police and Fire?
YES
Or
NO
Source: County Board of Elections Ballot Issues List pgs 9-10 https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/pdf_boe/en-US/2020/Nov2020/Nov2020IssuesList.pdf )
ISSUE # 25
Proposed Charter Amendment
City of North Royalton
A majority affirmative vote is required for passage.
Shall Article X of the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to authorize the Director of Municipal Parks, Properties, Cemeteries and Recreation be responsible for the administration of the Municipal Cemetery?
YES
Or
NO
Source: County Board of Elections Ballot Issues List pgs 9-10 https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/pdf_boe/en-US/2020/Nov2020/Nov2020IssuesList.pdf )
ISSUE # 26
Proposed Charter Amendment
City of North Royalton
A majority affirmative vote is required for passage.
Shall Article XVI, Section (h) of the Charter of the City of North Royalton be amended to authorize Council in the instance of an emergency that significantly affects the duties and obligations of the municipality, to waive the requirement of public bidding and where public bidding is employed, to allow Council to choose the lowest and/or best bidder where appropriate?
YES
Or
NO
Source: County Board of Elections Ballot Issues List pgs 9-10 https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/pdf_boe/en-US/2020/Nov2020/Nov2020IssuesList.pdf )
Proposed Charter Amendments Explained
Issue #23 Makes the following changes below to the City Charter:
“ARTICLE III THE COUNCIL
(f) MEETINGS.
The Council shall meet at the Municipal Building of the Municipality at such time as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution, but and shall meet at least twice each month, except that the Council may designate one month in the summer season for vacation. Meetings of the Council shall be open to the public in accordance with State law, with the exception of Executive Sessions, which shall only be permitted in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Codified Ordinances of the City of North Royalton, or in the laws of the State of Ohio. In the event of a declared emergency that encompasses the City of North Royalton, Council retains the authority to meet remotely or suspend or postpone its meetings until practicable.
Public Hearings conducted by Council, and notice for same, shall be handled in such manner as Council may by Ordinance provide.”
Source: Ordinance 20-91 http://www.northroyalton.org/pdf_northroyalton/en-US/CouncilOffice/Legislation/2020Legislation/20-091.pdf
Issue #24 Makes the following changes below to the City Charter:
ARTICLE VII POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
(a) COMPOSITION
There shall be a Police Department, which shall be composed of the Chief of Police and such other officers, policemen and deputies as may from time to time be provided by ordinance of the Council, and a Fire Department, which shall be composed of the Chief of the Fire Department and such other officers and firemen, on a full or part-time basis, as may from time to time be provided by ordinance of the Council.
(b) CHIEFS; APPOINTMENT; VACANCY.
The Chief of Police and the Chief of the Fire Department shall be appointed by the Mayor from the ranks of the respective departments, in the manner hereinafter provided. When either office shall for any reason become vacant a suitable examination shall be given by and under the direction of the Civil Service Commission, to such members of the department who have obtained the rank of sergeant or higher, and desire to be considered therefor. The Mayor shall make the appointment from among the two persons receiving the highest grade on the examination and certified as such by the Civil Service Commission. Such appointment to be subject to confirmation by the majority vote of the members elected to Council. Such appointee shall serve during good behavior, as is hereafter provided. (11-7- 67)
(c) CHIEFS; REMOVAL.
The Council may remove the Chief of Police or the Chief of the Fire Department for gross misconduct or malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in or disqualification for office or conviction while in office of a crime involving moral turpitude; provided, however, that such removal shall not take place without the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected to Council. In addition thereto, the Council may remove the Chief of Police or the Chief of the Fire Department from office for any cause deemed by it sufficient upon the concurrence of three-fourths (3/4) of the members elected to Council. In the event removal of the Chief of Police or the Chief of the Fire Department is sought for any cause, such official shall be notified in writing of the charge against him or her at least ten (10) days in advance of any hearing upon such charge and he or she or his or her counsel shall be given an opportunity to be heard, present evidence and examine any witnesses appearing in support of such charge. The resolution removing such official shall set forth in full reasons therefor. (11-4- 97)
(d) EXISTING CHIEFS.
The persons holding the offices of Chief of Police and Chief of the Fire Department at the time of the taking effect of this Charter shall not be required to be reappointed hereunder, but shall continue to hold such offices, subject to all provisions and terms herein: but further provided, that until such time as the Council shall by ordinance provide and establish a Fire Department having a full-time Chief, the Chief of the Fire Department shall be appointed by the Mayor with the concurrence of a majority of the members elected to Council and may be removed by the Mayor at any time for any cause with the concurrence of two-thirds (2/3) of the members elected to Council.
(e) APPOINTMENTS, FULL-TIME, FIRE DEPARTMENT.
When the Council, pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Article, establishes one or more full-time positions in the Fire Department, original appointments to such full-time positions as are initially established by the Council and to any additional full-time positions created within 730 days following the establishment of the initial full-time positions together with appointment to any vacancy occurring in any such position occurring within 730 days following the establishment of the initial full-time positions, shall be made pursuant to competitive Civil Service examinations among the then members of the Volunteer Fire Department of the Municipality without limitation as to the age of the applicant; except that the first original appointments to full-time positions shall be appointments to the full-time positions of Chief and subordinate officers and during such 730 day period appointments to the positions of Chief and subordinate officers shall be made directly by majority vote of the members of Council from among the then members of the Volunteer Fire Department without competitive examination and without limitation as to the age of the appointee. Such examinations shall be administered and graded in the manner provided in Article XI of this Charter. The eligibility list resulting from the examinations shall remain in force until all applicants receiving a passing grade have received or declined appointments or until the expiration of said 730 days, whichever occurs first.
If the eligibility list resulting from examinations under this paragraph (e) is exhausted prior to the expiration of said 730 days, a subsequent eligibility list may be established in the manner provided for the original eligibility list. If no eligibility list results from examinations given pursuant to this paragraph, then such appointments in the Fire Department shall be made pursuant to Article XI. Following the expiration of said 730 days, appointments to full-time positions shall be made pursuant to Article XI.
Appointments to full-time positions in the Fire Department shall be original appointments and shall not be considered promotions from Volunteer Fireman. To the extent possible, officers of the Fire Department shall be full-time firemen. (11-8- 60)
(f) APPOINTMENTS; PAID CALL FIREFIGHTER.Appointments to the position of Paid Call Firefighter shall be made in the manner prescribed by ordinance of Council, and shall not be subject to Civil Service. (11-3- 81; 11-4- 97)
ARTICLE VII DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
(a) DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
The Mayor may appoint a Director of Public Safety subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of City Council. The Director of Public Safety shall have charge of the Department of Public Safety. The Director of Public Safety shall supervise both the Division of Fire and the Division of Police, shall approve of and is responsible for the enforcement all necessary rules and regulations for the governance of the Department. The Director of Public Safety shall perform such other duties as may be required by this Charter, by ordinance or as directed by the Mayor. In the absence of a Director all such duties and obligations of Safety Director shall be the responsibility of the Mayor.
(b)DIVISIONS.
The Department of Public Safety shall consist of the following Divisions:
(i) The Division of Fire
(ii) The Division of Police
(c) DIVISION OF FIRE.
The Division of Fire shall be headed by a Fire Chief who shall have active charge of and responsibility for organization and operation of said Division. All appointments to the Division, except the Chief, shall be made in accord with the Civil Service Rules and Regulations of the City of North Royalton.
(d) DIVISION OF POLICE.
The Division of Police shall be headed by a Police Chief who shall have active charge of and responsibility for organization and operation of said Division. All appointments to the Division, except the Chief, shall be made in accord with the Civil Service Rules and Regulations of the City of North Royalton.
(e) APPOINTMENT OF FIRE CHIEF AND POLICE CHIEF.
The Fire Chief and the Police Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor from among those qualified candidates who apply. Such appointment is subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of City Council. Such appointee shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Mayor may select a chief from within or without the Division of Fire or Division of Police, respectively. Any candidate selected must have had at least ten (10) years of experience in the profession. A candidate selected from within the Division may choose, upon removal, to be reinstated to that individual’s former rank with full benefits within fourteen (14) days of removal. In the event of a vacancy in the office of chief said position shall be filled in the same manner as provided for original appointment.
*Ordinance 20-92 http://www.northroyalton.org/pdf_northroyalton/en-US/CouncilOffice/Legislation/2020Legislation/20-092.pdf
Issue #25 Makes the following changes below to the City Charter:
ARTICLE X MUNICIPAL CEMETERY
The Council shall have the power by ordinance to provide, expand and establish fees and costs to maintain lands for a Municipal Cemetery. The Director of Public Service Director of Municipal Parks, Properties, Cemeteries and Recreation shall be responsible for the administration of the Municipal Cemetery.
Source: Ordinance 20-93 http://www.northroyalton.org/pdf_northroyalton/en-US/CouncilOffice/Legislation/2020Legislation/20-093.pdf
Issue #26 Makes the following changes below to the City Charter:
ARTICLE XVI FINANCE
(h) PUBLIC BIDDING
The Council may authorize, in specific cases, expenditures of the funds of the Municipality without public biddings: in the instance of an emergency that significantly affects the duties and obligations of the municipality, for the acquisition of real estate, for the discharge of noncontractual claims against the Municipality, for personal services, for the joint use of facilities or exercise of power with other political subdivisions, or for the product or services of public utilities (including those Municipally operated). But No other expenditures in excess of the amount allowed by Section 733.22, 735.05 and 737.03 and other pertinent sections of the Ohio Revised Code shall be made except pursuant to contracts made with the lowest and/or best bidder after public advertising and receipt of bids in the manner provided by ordinance. Nothing herein shall be construed to require Council to accept any bid.
Source: Ordinance 20-94 http://www.northroyalton.org/pdf_northroyalton/en-US/CouncilOffice/Legislation/2020Legislation/20-094.pdf