Norton Charter Amendment Questions, 3 (November 2012)

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Three Norton Charter Amendment questions were on the November 6, 2012 election ballot in Summit County, which is in Ohio. These questions are on the ballot through Petition, where they were approved.

The first question amended the Norton City Charter to establish that a City Council Member vacancy will be filled by a special election by the voters of the city if the remainder of the term of the vacant office is greater than nine months and that if the remaining term is less than nine months the vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the City Council members.

The second question amended the Norton City Charter to establish that all meetings, work sessions, and workshops of the City Council be publicly aired and televised and that copies of the recorded Council meetings be made available at minimum cost to the public upon request.

The third question amended the Norton City Charter to establish that any contract involving expenditure of over $15,000 dollars be approved by a 2/3 supermajority of the City Council.

Election results

Norton City Charter Amendment 1
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		2,875	52.28%
No		2,624	47.72%

Norton City Charter Amendment 2
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		3,002	53.91%
No		2,567	46.09%

Norton City Charter Amendment 3
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		2,846	52.62%
No		2,563	47.38%

Election results from Summit County, Election Results, December 7, 2012

Text of measure

Language on the ballot for the first question:

“

A proposal to amend Article III Section 3.06 of the Charter of the City of Norton, Ohio to read as follows: SECTION 3.06 VACANCIES. Whenever the office of a Councilperson shall become vacant for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a majority vote of the members elected and appointed to Council of all remaining members of the Council after the effective date of the vacancy. If the vacancy is in an office of a Councilperson representing a ward, such vacancy must be filled from that ward. If the vacancy occurs in the office of a Council-at-large, such vacancy can be filled from any ward within the Municipality. (Amended on November 8, 2011). and the unexpired term of office of the vacant Councilperson shall be greater than or equal to nine calendar months, the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a special municipal election. The special election required under this section shall be called for by the Council and otherwise administered at the nearest available time. The Council shall remain vacant until the result of the special election shall be certified by the Summit County Board of Elections. Whenever the office of a Councilperson shall become vacant for any reason, and the unexpired term of office of the vacant Councilperson shall be less than nine calendar months, the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a majority vote of the members elected and appointed to Council of all remaining members of the Council after the effective date of the vacancy. If the vacancy is in an office of a Councilperson representing a ward, such vacancy must be filled from that ward. If the vacancy occurs in the office of a Council-at-large, such vacancy can be filled from any ward within the Municipality. If the office of President becomes vacant because of the succession of the President of Council to the office of Mayor or for any other reason, the Vice-President of Council shall become President of Council and Council shall elect by a majority vote of the members elected and appointed to Council a new Vice-President from its members. If the President of Council declines to serve as Mayor, he or she may remain as President of Council and Council shall then appoint one of its remaining members to the office of Mayor. In the event Council should fail to fill a vacancy in the office of Councilperson, or in the office of President or Vice-President, within thirty days from the date such vacancy occurs, then the power of Council to do so shall lapse and the Mayor shall fill it by appointment. The person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy on the Council shall have the qualifications for the particular office specified in Section 3.03 of this Charter. (11-8-94) Shall the proposed charter amendment be adopted?

”

Language on the ballot for the second question:

“

A proposal to amend Article III of the Charter of the City of Norton, Ohio to read as follows: Section 3.20 Televised Meetings Effective upon passage by the electors, the Administration and Council shall have up to sixty days to arrange for and commence public airings of all Council meetings, work sessions, and workshops. All aforementioned Council meetings shall be televised “live”, in their entirety, without censorship and/or editing. Such televised broadcasts shall further be offered twice weekly during repeat airings for public accessibility. Additionally, Council shall arrange for copies of the recorded Council meetings to be available at minimum cost to the public upon request or at no cost to citizens supplying their own suitable medium for recording. Shall the proposed charter amendment be adopted?

”

Language on the ballot for the third question:

“

A proposal to amend Article V Section 5.03 of the Charter of the City of Norton, Ohio to read as follows: SECTION 5.03 BOARD OF CONTROL. A. COMPOSITION AND DUTIES. The Mayor, President of Council, Vice-President of Council, Director of Finance and Administrative Officer shall constitute the Board of Control of the Municipality. Each member shall have a vote. The Mayor shall be the presiding officer. B. APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS. No contract involving an expenditure in excess of the amount set by the Ohio Revised Code above which competitive bidding is required fifteen thousand dollars shall be awarded without the approval of the Board of Control. (Amended November 8, 2011) and the approval of not less than two thirds of the elected and appointed members of Council. C. INVESTMENTS. The Board of Control shall direct the Director of Finance on the institution of the investments of the City. Shall the proposed charter amendment be adopted?

”

See also

• November 6, 2012 ballot measures in Ohio
• Summit County, Ohio ballot measures

Footnotes

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City governance, Ohio, 2012