Lawrence County panel shouldn’t just disappear

In November 2007, the voters of Lawrence County said they wanted an independent commission to study county government and determine whether there’s a better way of conducting the people’s business. The ballot initiative not only created the panel but resulted in the election of the 11 members, including six write-ins.

The first meeting of the Lawrence County Government Study Commission was in January 2008. But now, it appears the panel is coming to an ignominious end. The problem, it seems, is that some of the members are in disagreement with the decision to recommend to the voters approval of a home-rule charter to facilitate the creation of a council-manager form of government. It would replace the current three-member board of commissioners and other elective administrative positions.

With only 10 of the 11 original members of the commission still around, there is an even split over the issue. And, because of the impasse, the commission chairman, David Kennaday, has been unable to schedule a meeting since October. Kannaday can’t get a quorum.

The chairman recently talked about the possibility of the commission’s disbanding.

But, before that final step is taken, the voters deserve to be heard. Indeed, the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners that initially approved a resolution to put the question of the government study commission on the ballot should have a say.

Voters league

Likewise, the Lawrence County League of Women Voters, which provided the impetus for the study on county government, must have input.

After all, the government study commission isn’t an ordinary grass-roots entity that has no standing. It was created by the voters, which does give it legal status.

The individuals who sought election knew that they had a responsibility to the county to be diligent in answering the question that was the basis of this whole exercise: Is there a better way than the current form of government to not only give taxpayers the biggest for their buck, but to ensure accountability and transparency in the conduct of public business?

That question isn’t only being asked in Lawrence County.

In Mahoning and Trumbull counties, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber has embraced the concept of change and will be working on a government reorganization plan that would be put before the voters in November.

The chamber is pushing for a major overhaul that envisions replacing the three-member board of county commissioners with an elected county executive and a large policy-making council.

At the core of the debate about government at all levels is this simple truth: The cost of maintaining the status quo, whether at the state or local levels, cannot be sustained.

Consolidation, reduction and even elimination (as in the case of school districts) are no longer abstract concepts.

With most of the operating budgets in the private sector going for employee salaries and benefits, taxpayers are demanding change.

In Lawrence County, the voters said clearly that they wanted a commission to study alternative forms of government.

The lack of quorum is no excuse for letting the government study commission die.