Youngstown council rejects final three charter amendment recommendations

YOUNGSTOWN — City council rejected three final recommendations tonight from the charter review commission to put before voters on Nov. 8 for consideration.

Among the recommendations council rejected was one requiring its members to redistrict its seven wards no later than 90 days after a decennial census if it shows at least a 7 percent difference in population between the largest and smallest wards.

However, council agreed to redistrict no more than 180 days after a census if it shows at least a 10 percent difference between its least- and most-populous wards.

Council will take formal action at its Aug. 17 meeting on what its members would put on the ballot for city voters to consider.

Council member agreed last Thursday to three “housekeeping” proposals from the charter review commission for the ballot.

But tonight, council rejected two other proposals from the commission.

One would have deleted outdated language requiring city employees to live in the city, as state law already bans, and allow the mayor to appoint nonresidents to city commissions with the approval of city council.

Council also said no to a proposal requiring its members to be a resident and elector of the ward from which he or she is elected for at least a year before the general election in which the person is a candidate.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com