Webb calls for changes to the City Charter
This in via e-mail from the office of District 6 Toledo Councilwoman Lindsay Webb:
Statement Issued by Councilwoman Webb calls for Charter Changes
If we want to restore the balance of power in Toledo City Government, some changes to the structure of government are necessary. “It is time that serious Charter discussions take place and necessary changes are made to restore balance and confidence,” said Webb.
Last Spring, the Charter Review Committee was prepared to take the discussion of the size of Council to the people; it is time for this discussion to occur. It is my belief that there are too many competing interests on Council which has impeded the ability of City Council to effectively counter-balance the Administration. A leaner Council, in my opinion, would lead to a more accountable and cohesive government. Therefore, I am calling on the Charter Review Committee to hold public meetings on the size of Council and other Charter changes too.
Although, I personally support Councilman Waniewski’s call for 6 Districts and 3 Super-Districts, I recognized that there are many issues that should be discussed in a public forum. I support this idea because I have analyzed the numbers and the structure of Council since the inception of the strong mayor form of government, and I know there is an under-representation of at-large members from Council Districts 4 and 6. However, I am perfectly willing to consider any idea that will reduce the size of Council to an odd number.
Additionally, I believe that we need to take the idea of a City Solicitor to the voters. We need an elected City Attorney to give an independent legal opinion. For years this idea has floated around City Hall, only to be sunk by party politics. The fact of the matter is that the citizens of the City of Toledo are the clients of the Law Department but who is their master: City Council or the Mayor? It is unclear. Therefore, by electing a City Attorney, we will ensure that there is no debate.
Any Charter change is a serious undertaking and will require the support and signatures of 10 % of the electors (about 8,000 people) or a two-thirds vote of Council. I am open to public feedback and welcome your comments. Please call me at 419.245.1050 or lindsay.webb@toledo.oh.gov.
Admin addition: Councilwoman Webb will be on Brian Wilson’s show on WSPD today around 3:30 p.m.
reduce to 9 – each a district council representative – mayor does not cast vote on ties.
council should be considered part-time and paid as such – more money instead should be directed at professional legislative research staff under the clerk of council.
February 13th, 2009 at 5:51 pmCouncil is considered part time and is paid less than the staff that work full time. Council members earn 27,500 and the full time legislative aides earn from $45,289 to $47,282.
That said, not many council members work 20 hours a week…most work more than 40.
February 13th, 2009 at 6:05 pmColumbus, a much larger city than Toledo, has only seven Council members. We don’t need 12 on ours. Get rid of the at-large council members and keep the district members.
February 14th, 2009 at 4:33 pmThat’s the opposite of Columbus – Link:
Columbus’ seven council members serve the city at large. Columbus is not divided into districts. Each Council member chairs one or more standing committees. Each standing committee works with one or more city departments. Questions can be directed to the Council member who chairs the committee dealing with your specific concern or area of interest.
How much are Council members paid?
February 14th, 2009 at 4:41 pmEffective with a new or appointed term each member receives $37,710 yearly. The President receives $45,365 yearly. In addition to their salary, each member has the option to receive comprehensive medical, prescription drug, vision, dental, and term life insurance. Councilmembers can also be reimbursed for travel expenses when it relates to City business.
Absolutely Webb is right on the money. If the city were chartered to 6 or 7 at large councilman it would eliminate many of the problems that keep the council largely stagnant and gridlocked at time.
If they want to have a charter discussion, I would also suggest the following agenda items, 1. remove ALL purchasing authority from the Mayor. He’s proven beyond the shadow of a doubt he’ll abuse it. He has over and over again and 2. charter the city to go back to a city manager form of Mayor.
February 14th, 2009 at 6:35 pmReducing the number of council members will save money. That’s what I was implying. Toledo just doesn’t need 12 council members any more, no matter whether they are in districts or at-large members.
February 14th, 2009 at 7:45 pmThis is the classic solution without a problem.
I wish that my Councilwoman was front and center on the foreclosure crisis. There are literally thousands of homes that are now bank-owned in District 6 and no end in sight.
Last week, record snowfall and rain caused continued home flooding in District 6 because our storm system still can’t handle the load.
There was a prominent story in last Sunday’s Blade about the imminent flight of the middle class from once very stable neighborhoods like Library Village, which, after Point Place, is the other core neighborhood of District 6. This is scary for the homeowners of the neighborhood and worth discussing.
Nobody is asking Councilwoman Webb to solve these problems. But, when she spends her time on Council navel-gazing about the number of Districts that could be, she seems to be forgetting about the one District that already is.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:48 pmI just think Councilwoman Webb is addressing the inarguable fact that our local government is so dysfunctional that it needs to be addressed.
And I agree with her.
February 15th, 2009 at 4:51 pmi understand council members work many hours and believe that is often part of the problem. council should be working on legislative proposals NOT doing community advocacy or ombudsman work. they spend so much of their time doing non-legislative work which, in reality, equates to campaigning. by mixing these two un-related activities we harm the results of what government gives us. i want to judge a legislator based on legislation and not because they forced a road crew to get to a pothole right away. a government liaison office should take calls for potholes and other citizens complants and logically assign crews rather than each councilman seeking action for the electorate or at least their slice of the electorate.
reduce their pay, time expectation, and scope of work so you help ensure they have their other foot in the real world. don’t allow their other job to be a government job which often provides conflicts of interest or, depending on their boss, a lack of attention to their primary position.
if you have “at-large” representation, west toledo will be over-served and relatively low income areas (central, north, east) of the city will be underserved – “district” seats are more progressive.
February 16th, 2009 at 2:35 pm