A resolution was introduced at the September 3 City Council meeting to establish a Charter Review Commission. Every four years, the Mayor and City Council appoint a committee of nine qualified voters in the City to review the City’s charter. That committee, along with the City’s Law Director, review the current charter and make recommendations to Council, for any additions, deletions or amendments that may ultimately be placed on the ballot of the next regularly scheduled election. The City’s department heads also can offer recommendations of items to be considered. Those recommendations must then be passed by the voters to become a part of the newly formulated charter.
According to the North Royalton Charter, “the Mayor shall appoint five (5) members to the Charter Review Commission and Council, by majority vote, shall appoint four (4) members to the Charter review Commission. Each member appointed by the Mayor or Council shall have been a resident and qualified elector of the municipality for at least three (3) continuous years immediately prior to his/her appointment, and shall continue to be a resident throughout his/her term of office. No elected official or employee of the municipality shall be eligible to serve on the Charter Review Commission.”
The last time the Charter Review Commission was formed, in 2020, resulting in the recommendation of four charter amendments, as follows:
SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NORTH ROYALTON, ARTICLE III, THE COUNCIL, SECTION (f) MEETINGS BE AMENDED TO ALLOW COUNCIL TO MEET REMOTELY OR SUSPEND OR POSTPONE MEETINGS DURING DECLARED EMERGENCIES THAT ENCOMPASS THE CITY OF NORTH ROYALTON? This issue passed.
SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NORTH ROYALTON BE AMENDED TO REPEAL ARTICLE VII, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND ADOPT NEW ARTICLE VII, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. This issue failed.
SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NORTH ROYALTON, ARTICLE X MUNICIPAL CEMETERY BE AMENDED TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPAL PARKS, PROPERTIES, CEMETERIES AND RECREATION SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MUNICIPAL CEMETERY? This issue passed.
SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF NORTH ROYALTON, ARTICLE XVI FINANCE (h) PUBLIC BIDDING BE AMENDED TO AUTHORIZE CITY COUNCIL IN EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES TO WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT OF PUBLIC BIDDING TO RESPOND RAPIDLY TO THAT EMERGENCY AND, WHERE PUBLIC BIDDING IS EMPLOYED, TO ALLOW CITY COUNCIL TO CHOOSE THE LOWEST AND/OR BEST BID WHERE APPROPRIATE?
This issue failed.
The measure was placed on second reading and referred to the Rules and Ordinances Committee to discuss how Council will determine who their choices will be to serve on the Charter Review Commission.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer