WARREN Debate rages over charter

Voters may see the issue on November's ballot if council members vote by then.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Even if it comes to a vote in time for the November ballot, the likelihood of passage of an ordinance to allow voters to decide about a city charter appears uncertain.
The ordinance to place on the November ballot the question of whether to form a charter commission was set for a vote at a council meeting last month, but the meeting was canceled because of a tornado warning, and council members have been recessed for August. Formation of a commission is the first step to a charter form of government.
If created, that group would have a year to develop a recommended document, and voters would decide the document's fate.
Councilmen Alford L. Novak, D-2nd, and John Homlitas, D-3rd, legislation sponsors, and Robert A. Marchese, D-at large, support the legislation that would put the question of whether to form a charter commission before voters in November.
Community opinion
Novak said he hopes a special meeting is set for next month. A charter could allow laws to be designed according to the city.
It would mean that the laws were framed by people in the area rather than people in Columbus, Homlitas said.
"The most progressive cities in this state have a charter," he said.
It allows communities to take the best of what's available and to modify it to best suit the local area, Homlitas said.
"In this day and age, it's important that people have a say in the rules they're governed by," he said.
Marchese believes it's up to voters.
"I think residents should have the chance to say yay or nay to doing it," Marchese said.
Opposition
Councilman Robert Holmes III, D-4th, is opposed.
"It's a crap shoot, and it could wind up costing the city $50,000 to $60,000 when it's over with," he said.
Holmes was referring to the cost of hiring staff to work with the commission and to send copies of the proposed charter document to all city voters.
Holmes also points out that there were only two meetings conducted to explain to residents the differences between charter and statutory forms of government. One meeting brought no members of the public. Two residents attended a second one.
"There's no outcry from the public," Holmes said. "Show me the outcry."
Undecided
Councilwoman Virginia Bufano, D-1st, and Councilman Daniel E. Polivka, D-at large, said they are undecided.
"I think the current form of government is a pretty good form of government," Polivka said. "Some things with a charter you can do differently. I'm just not sure I'm totally sold on it."
Councilman Gary Fonce, D-at large, said he isn't opposed to putting the question before voters, but he doesn't understand the hurry to get the issue on the November ballot. Why can't it wait until the May ballot, Fonce questioned.
"For 150 years we've had this form of government, and I don't know why everyone is rushing to do this right now," he said.
Town meetings should be conducted to allow citizens to voice their opinions about whether they want a charter commission, Fonce said.
"Youngstown is a charter city -- are they any better off than we are?" Fonce said. "Is Newton Falls any better off than we are?"
Mayor's persuasion
Mayor Hank Angelo has been advocating a charter government.
Fonce and Holmes question why the mayor didn't push for a change earlier rather than waiting until there's only few months left in his term. Angelo didn't seek re-election to a third term.
"It seems like some people are afraid of who's going to be elected, or they just want to get rid of the police chief," Fonce said.
Angelo disputes that.
"I've been an advocate of the charter form of government from the day I took office," he said.
A charter form of government could include a city manager in charge of day-to-day operations of the city. That person would work for city council.
"Why would some people on council be against something that gives them more control, more power and more authority than they currently have?" he said. "They can fire a city manager."
Having a city manager would enable decisions to be made by someone with credentials -- not by a politician who wins a popularity contest, Angelo said, adding that he wasn't referring to a particular individual.
Angelo also argues that it's never been his intent to get rid of someone working for the city.
"It's disappointing to hear this from a Vindicator reporter as opposed to hearing it from these two gentlemen themselves," he said.
denise.dick@vindy.com