5 Charter Amendments on Strongsville Ballot This Fall

Strongsville voters will see five proposed changes to the city charter on the November general election ballot.

The changes were recommended by a special committee put together to review the city's charter for updates.

The changes would:

• Allow the mayor to appoint a police chief from officers who rank sergeant or higher and a fire chief from firefighters who rank lieutenant or higher. Former Councilman Ray Haseley, who co-chaired the commission, said the change aims to increase the pool of candidates.

• Clarify the status of council clerks at city employees. The clerks would still serve at the pleasure of council, but would also be subject to the policies and rules that govern other Strongsville employees.

• Update the requirements to serve as law director, including requiring that he or she have practiced law for 10 years and have at least five years of experience in municipal law.

• Eliminate a requirement that employees live within 25 miles of the city, in accordance with an Ohio Supreme Court ruling.

• Allow City Council to make certain emergency purchases without public bidding with a three-fourths majority vote, instead of a unanimous vote.