Columbus City Council will host a public hearing Tuesday night over potential changes to its charter recommended by the Columbus Charter Review Commission.
Activists welcome changes to citizen-led ballot initiatives, but say the meetings overall lacked enough public input.
Citizen-led ballot initiatives could be extended from one to two years, and give petitioners 10 extra days to gather signatures after the deadline passes.
Other changes will prohibit citizens from placing ballot initiatives that would create monopolies, oligopolies, cartels, or the city from being a stakeholder, raising money, or loaning credit to for-profit businesses.
“That was the only citizen win for this charter review charade," said Joe Motil with the Clintonville Area Commission. Motil took issue with meetings starting at 3:00 p.m. and said they lacked public input on recommended changes.
"They didn't allow for any public input in terms of the changes they wanted to make," he said.
In a statement from Columbus City Council spokesperson Nya Hairston, Hairston said, "all gatherings of the Commission...we're open and accessible by the public. There is a website that contains all of the materials discussed by the Commission, and a public comment portal that residents could use to submit written comments, questions, or suggestions."
Hairston adds that outreach materials were disseminated in press releases, community organizations, and social media. The chair of the committee also called for more public input.
More changes could remove a competitive test score requirement to fill classified city employee jobs. It also broadens who can fill in as acting mayor if the current mayor is temporarily absent from the city or unable to discharge the duties of the office.
A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
July 25 is the last day for the city council to pass an ordinance to place potential charter changes on the November ballot.
