Charter Review Commission Considers a Dozen Changes

The Brecksville Charter Review Commission is considering 12 changes to the city's most important document.

Most of the proposed changes (attached at the right) are housekeeping items, such as hiring practices.

One of the measures looks at changing the city's spending limit — without city council approval — from $3,000 to $7,500.

Another examines "some classifications of commercial zoning to be removed from mandatory referral and decisions relating to them from city council."

The charter review process takes place every 10 years. The nine members, plus an alternate, are private citizens who are not currently involved in the government. The members are appointed by the mayor and approved by council.

The members discuss all aspects of the city’s charter, which is like its constitution. They also have time to talk with council and the administration and find out what’s working and what’s not. They will then make recommendations, which council has to put on the November 2013 ballot for voters to decide. Each potential change gets voted on individually. 

The meetings are open to the public. To learn more about the members of the commission or to see the agenda, visit the city’s website.

The commission's final meeting is slated for 7 p.m. May 29. Like all the other meetings, it is open to the public.