CONNEAUT —
Six amendments to the city’s charter will be coming before voters in November’s general election, City Council members agreed Monday.
The proposed changes would give council a say in the removal of the municipal law director and finance director, saying those officeholders can’t be released without the “advice and consent” of the members. Another amendment would exempt those two positions from having to live within the city.
Another amendment would allow a simple majority of council to remove the city manager. As now written, only council members elected to their job can vote to yank the manager.
This group of charter changes are a follow-up to a number of amendments proposed by a special committee last year. Some of the changes were approved by voters last year, while the balance will be on November’s ballot.
In other business, council:
• Authorized City Manager Tim Eggleston to appoint a committee of volunteers who will help the city look for government grants. The panel will be well-versed in grant writing. Several people have already stepped forward, Eggleston has said.
• Authorized Eggleston to seek quotes for the culvert needed to repair the long-closed Dorman Road bridge. The work could be completed this summer.
• Agreed to boost the pay of the Conneaut Recreation Board clerk to $200 a month, a $75 increase, retroactive to the start of the year. Last month council was told the clerk hadn’t had a raise in 12 years.
Elsewhere, Ward 4 Councilman Thomas Kozesky said Conneaut will cease providing emergency medical service to Monroe Township at the end of the month. Last month a majority of township trustees agreed to go with Kingsville Township for ambulance service, citing spotty service from Conneaut. In a related matter, Conneaut will stop dispatching Monroe emergency calls at the end of May because of possible problems in relaying 911 calls to Kingsville, Kozesky said. There is a liability concern, he said.
For many years, Conneaut ambulance crews had been responsible for calls in Monroe north of Hilldom Road, while Pierpont Township picked up the balance of the township.
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