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WARREN -- City council members and residents are asking for more informational sessions on the proposed charter issue on the May 2 primary ballot, including hearing from the 28 residents seeking to serve on the charter commission.
Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold, D-6th Ward, said at a special council meeting Wednesday attended by more than 15 residents that officials and residents have questions about the charter and the charter commission. She said Law Director Enzo Cantalamessa was able to answer many questions, but she wants to hear from representatives of the Ohio Municipal League and also from the people seeking a commission seat.
"There are pros and cons to a charter form of government. I think it is important that the citizens get to come and ask questions and also meet the people who want to serve on the commission and ask them why. I would also like to have experts from the Ohio Municipal League to answer our questions on why other communities have done it. They may be the only ones to answer those questions," Saffold said.
Councilman Andrew Herman, D-2nd Ward, said he agrees an open forum with the 28 candidates would help residents know who the candidates are before they vote.
"There are still questions. I need Charter 101 and explained to me why we need a charter. I am not saying it is not a good idea but for me to vote on it I don't know the difference between a charter and statutory governments. How will it be different from what we have now," resident Shirley Brady said.
Brady asked if someone on the commission decides to resign or dies while serving, how will they be replaced. Cantalamessa said the commission would be able to able to select someone to fill a vacancy.
A community group, Warren Deserves Better, obtained enough signatures from registered Warren city voters to get the charter issue on the primary ballot. The 28 residents also circulated petitions to be nonpartisan candidates on the May ballot and filed with the Trumbull County Board of Elections. The top 15 vote getters will be on the commission.
Cantalamessa said if the voters approve the charter commission being formed, then the 15 members will have one year to write and prepare a proposed city charter and its rules that also need to be voted on in 2024.
"The commission will have one year to get the charter done before it is placed on the ballot," he said.
Cantalamessa said if a charter commission is approved and established, the city will have a law firm familiar with municipal law assist the commission to do its job. He said this could cost the city between $200,000 to $400,000.
Councilman-at-Large Ken MacPherson said he spoke to the municipal league and they informed him all legal and related questions on the charter must go through the city law director.
Other communities with charters include Cortland, Newton Falls and Youngstown. Some residents questioned why Warren has taken so long to make an attempt at having a charter government.
Saffold said there are cities that were charter and reverted to noncharter.
"We and the residents need more time to understand the process of a charter and get questions answered," said Councilwoman-at-Large Helen Rucker.
"This whole thing is crazy. I don't know why we need to change what we have in place for decades. Why do we want to change something that works? This process will be damaging and not what we need in Warren. The government we have in Warren is not broken. Look at all the problems in Newton Falls," said Councilman-at-Large Gary Steinbeck.