Wednesday, July 21, 2004
What has changed since November 1987 when Youngstown residents decided that two consecutive four-year terms -- eight years, that is -- would be enough time for a mayor to accomplish most, if not all, of the items on his or her agenda?
What has changed since November 1993 when the voters approved an amendment to the Youngstown Home Rule Charter giving members of council four-year terms, but limiting the tenure to two consecutive terms?
Those are the questions lawmakers must answer before they embrace a recommendation from the Youngstown Charter Review Commission to place before the voters in November charter amendments that would abolish the term limits for mayor and council.
Indeed, the explanation from commission member Arlette Gatewood for seeking the abolishment prompts this question: Have the voters of the city become more intelligent in the past 11 years or more? We ask it because of what Gatewood said last month: "I think the voters are intelligent enough to either keep someone in office or vote them out of office if they're not performing the job that they should. And I think that term limits hinder a good representative from continuing to serve."
The elimination of term limits would go into effect in 2007.
Postponement
City council is scheduled to take up the commission's proposals this evening, but seeing as how there are other suggested amendments lawmakers will be considering during a meeting Aug. 18, we would urge a postponement of today's action.
The delay would allow council to hold public hearings so residents of the city have a chance to react to what the charter review commission is recommending. This is not to demean the work of the panel or the sincerity of the members who believe that eliminating term limits would enable good elected officials to continue serving.
Mayor George M. McKelvey is the second chief executive to be term limited. He will leave office in December 2005. His predecessor, Patrick J. Ungaro, served three two-year terms and then two four-year terms before being forced to step down in December 1997.
An objective evaluation of both Ungaro's and McKelvey's tenures would suggest that a city such as Youngstown, with its economic and demographic challenges, needs an infusion of fresh ideas in the mayor's office. With all the pressures on the chief executive, even the most enthusiastic, well-intentioned individual could easily become disillusioned and lose the sense of urgency to get things done.
Also on tap at today's meeting of council is a proposal to abolish the position of council aides and raise council members' salaries. Lawmakers' salaries are now set by charter, with ward representatives receiving $600 a year and the council president getting $900. The proposed amendment would result in the council president's salary jumping to $28,100; the other seven members of council would receive $27,800 a year.
Spouses
Council aides currently earn $27,800. The positions, which have traditionally been filled by lawmakers' spouses or other family members, were created to get around the charter salary caps.
Given the Sept. 3 deadline by which city council must submit to the Mahoning County Board of Elections the charter questions that would appear on the November ballot, there is no reason for legislators to rush to judgment. They should take the time to consider all the arguments put forth by the charter review commission and to hear from the residents of the city.
It is unfortunate that commission was unable to generate much public interest in its work.