Highland Heights Charter Review Commission Finalizing Language of Proposals

Charter Review Commission Chairman Dan Dombeck said there's still time for additional discussion or changes, but commission members have focused on four proposals they would like on the fall ballot.

The commission met Wednesday to work on the wording of those issues and will meet at least one more time before submitting its recommendations to council, which must then forward them to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Council cannot reject charter amendments proposed by the commission.

A charter change being discussed by the commission would change council terms from two years to four, with terms staggered. Four-year terms would start without the 2013 election of at-large council members and the 2015 election for the four ward seats.

Other changes likely to head to the ballot would eliminate the words "full time" to mandate that the mayor and council members have no other city employment. That would require separate charter issues for the mayor and council.

The final proposed change would clarify that the finance director is appointed by the mayor, subject to the approval of council, as is the case with all other director positions. Commission members said sections of the charter appear to be in conflict and on part suggests that council has no oversight on the finance director appointment.

Although voters on five occasions rejected amendments regarding a change in council terms, commission members likely the idea of staggering terms to ensure that there isn't an entirely new council. Dombeck said times change and the city has added residents, so it made sense to try again.