Put proposed charter changes on ballot, panel says

YOUNGSTOWN -- The city charter review commission recommended Thursday that council place six proposed charter changes before voters in November.
William M. Carter, the commission chairman, said he did not think the proposals would be viewed as controversial.
The move gives the commission more time to study more "meaty" issues, such as the police review committee, Carter said. The city had created a committee in 1992 that can only make recommendations to the mayor.
The proposed changes are:
URequire the mayor to be a resident and an elector for the past five years. The charter now says the mayor "shall have been an elector for five years." Carter said the charter "doesn't say 'continuous,' it doesn't say 'resident.'"
ULower the minimum age of councilmen from 25 to 21.
USwitch the pay for the mayor, law director and finance director from once a month to biweekly.
UAllow council committees to meet in executive session as allowed by state law.
UAdd gender references in the charter for women instead of only references for men.
URemove language about property at Lake Milton the city no longer owns.