Struthers law director affirms no violationof open meetings law for supervisor raise

STRUTHERS

Struthers Mayor Terry Stocker suggested during caucus that city council could not legally vote to override a salary ordinance during a meeting Wednesday.

But neither Ohio law nor Struthers city ordinances seem to support that claim.

Stocker, saying he is not a lawyer, warned council they risked violating Ohio open-meetings law if they took action on the override at the regular meeting that night.

He urged them to “wait” for legal clarity before taking legislative action. Wednesday’s meeting was the last meeting scheduled before council’s two-month summer recess, though council can convene special meetings while on recess.

Councilwoman Carol Crytzer said it would be unfair not to override the mayor’s veto, saying it would leave the street supervisor and his family in limbo until council reconvened Sept. 14. Stocker had vetoed an ordinance setting 2016 salaries for department heads, including a $5,200 raise only for the street supervisor, saying he believed all department heads should get raises.

The law director issued a news release Thursday, reaffirming the opinion he gave Wednesday and stating unequivocally that no Sunshine law violation took place at any stage of the salary ordinance’s 7-0 passage.

Read more about the matter in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.