City Council introduced legislation at their June 6 meeting that would place the question of extending the terms of each Ward Council Representative from the current two years, to four years. The measure was introduced by Ward 1 Council Rep John Nickell, Ward 2 Council Rep Linda Barath, Ward 3 Council Rep Joanne Krejci, Ward 4 Council Rep Jeremy Dietrich, Ward 5 Council Rep Heidi Webber and Ward 6 Council Rep Mike Wos.
Council initially began discussions on the possibility of extending the number of terms City Council members can serve and also staggering the Council terms at the Council Rules and Ordinances Committee meeting earlier this year. The measure was placed on that committee’s agenda by Ward 3 Council Rep Joanne Krejci. Since the introduction in the Rules and Ordinance Committee, Council had discussed the various options regarding both issues, as well as a possible staggered term for the Council President and Mayor. A consensus was taken of Council and the legislation was introduced to extend the term only. All but Marnecheck was in favor. He stated that the matter should be one for the Charter Review Commission to discuss if they felt an amendment should be placed on the ballot.
Currently, the North Royalton City Charter states that “each Ward Councilperson is to serve for a term of two (2) years commencing with the November election of 1979 and every two (2) years thereafter. No person elected Ward Councilperson shall hold the office for a period longer than six (6) consecutive terms or more than twelve (12) consecutive years, unless one (1) full term or more has elapsed since that person last held the position of Ward Councilperson.” If the measure is placed on the November 7 ballot and is adopted, the new North Royalton would read as follows: “WARDS.
Beginning with the November general election of 2025, each Ward Councilperson shall serve for a term of four (4) years commencing January 1, 2026 and every four (4) years thereafter. No person elected Ward Councilperson shall hold the office for more than three (3) consecutive terms. Council service prior to January 1, 2026 shall not be counted for purposes of these term limits. Existing Charter provisions shall apply through December 31, 2025.”
According to the legislation, the proposed charter amendment will read as follows on the November 7 ballot:
“SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NORTH ROYALTON BE AMENDED TO LIMIT THE TERMS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE III SUBSECTION© TO READ IN PART:
BEGINNING WITH THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION OF 2025, EACH PERSON ELECTED WARD COUNCILPERSON SHALL, COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2026, HOLD THE OFFICE OF WARD COUNCILPERSON FOR A PERIOD OF 4 YEARS; NO PERSON ELECTED WARD COUNCILPERSON SHALL HOLD THE OFFICE FOR MORE THAN THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE TERMS. COUNCIL SERVICE PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2026 SHALL NOT BE COUNTED FOR PURPOSES OF THESE TERM LIMITS. EXISTING CHARTER PROVISIONS SHALL APPLY THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2025.”
The measure was placed on second reading. The deadline for the placing an issue on the November 7 ballot is in September.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer