Activist's addendum to lawsuit alleges city charter is invalid

The city contends it has home rule powers.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Maggy Lorenzi, a community activist and a failed 2005 mayoral candidate, filed an addendum to a lawsuit filed by the city of Youngstown against the state to challenge Ohio's new law to eliminate residency requirements for public employees.
The city filed the lawsuit Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court as the state's law on lifting residency requirements went into effect. The city wants a judge to rule that the law infringes on the city's home rule powers and violates the state constitution.
In an addendum filed Wednesday with the court, Lorenzi contends Youngstown doesn't have home rule power because its city charter is invalid.
What's behind this
The charter states that recommended changes to the document must be made by a group of 15 people elected by voters to a commission, Lorenzi said. Voters are to then vote on the recommended charter changes. The city has created charter commissions in the past, but its members were appointed by city officials and not elected by voters, she said.
Because of that, Lorenzi said the city's charter isn't valid, and she urged Judge Jack Durkin, assigned to this case, not to permit Youngstown to use the document in its lawsuit against the state.
City Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello couldn't be reached Wednesday to comment on Lorenzi's court filing.
Youngstown voters approved a residency requirement for all employees, elected officials and appointees to city's boards and commissions in 1986. The state law lifts that rule.