March 2, 2006

By Robert Mihalek

Village Council members said during their meeting Feb. 21 that they would like to appoint local residents who are familiar with governance issues and the Village Charter to serve on a committee to review the Charter.

In addition, Council members said they would like to appoint five people to the Charter Review Committee, which will propose updates and changes to the Charter.

To apply for a seat on the committee, send a letter of interest to the clerk of Council, Deborah Benning, debenning@yso.com or the Bryan Community Center, 100 Dayton Street.

For more information, call Benning at 767-9126.

Revisions to the Charter must be approved by voters.

Council wants to place the Charter revisions on the November 2007 ballot.

The Charter, which was last revised in 1990, gives the Village its governing authority.

Among other things, the Charter explains the duties and responsibilities of the Village manager treasurer and solicitor, Village Council and the Yellow Springs mayor; describes the process by which Council approves legislation; and dictates electoral processes for Council and the mayor.

Earlier in February, Benning submitted to Council a memo outlining the purpose of the Charter committee.

The memo stated that the committee would:

• “inquire into the operation of the Village government under the Charter and determine whether any provisions require revisions”

• “propose any recommendations it deems desirable to ensure compliance with the Charter by the government”

• “propose amendments to the Charter to improve the effective applications to current conditions”

• “report its findings and present recommendations, if any, to the Village Council.”

Council members have said they want the Charter committee to primarily focus on weeding out deficiencies and inconsistencies in the Charter, not on major shifts in governance issues.

During last week’s meeting, Council member Bruce Rickenbach said that, since the committee would focus on bringing the Charter into legal compliance rather than changing policy, Council should seek committee members familiar with government processes and the Charter itself.

Council president Jocelyn Hardman said she hopes the committee will include one or more lawyers, and that she has talked to a couple of attorneys about joining the committee.

Village Manager Eric Swansen said the Village Solicitor John Chambers has started a legal review of the Charter.

In 1949, Yellow Springs voters approved a proposal to create a 15-member Charter Commission to write a charter.

A year later, voters approved the Charter and in 1951 elected the first modern-day Council.

Contact: rmihalek@ysnews.com