Residents interested in learning more about potential changes to the Oxford Village charter are invited to attend a special meeting/workshop scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the community room at 22 W. Burdick St.
The subject of the meeting will be the duties of the village president, council, manager and clerk.
‘This is probably the most important issue (in the charter) ? the assignment and the allocation of duties and responsibilities,? said village attorney Bob Davis.
Back in October, Davis informed council that he planned to review the village charter and compile a list of proposed amendments designed to bring it up to date. He said the charter, which has an effective date of 1978, has not been significantly reviewed or amended since then.
‘I’m just about done with the analysis of what provisions must be in the charter as a matter of law and which ones we have to delete,? he told council. ‘I’m, also, almost done with the minor changes that need to be made (to ensure the charter complies with current legal requirements).?
Because the duties of the president, council, manager and clerk are the ‘central? part of the charter, Davis felt an entire workshop discussion ought to be dedicated to them.
‘Those are the only entities that have assigned duties in your charter,? he said.
The attorney told council he wants them to review the existing duties, which he outlined in a memo, and think about whether the current language reflects how the village functions in reality and ‘is this the way we want it to work.?
For example, although the village president is not a police officer, the charter gives him or her the ability to ‘exercise within the village the powers conferred upon sheriffs to suppress disorder.?
He or she is granted ‘the power to command the assistance of all able-bodied citizens to aid in the enforcement of the ordinances? and ‘to suppress riot and disorderly conduct.?
The charter also makes the president ‘the executive head of the village? and calls for he or she to ‘preside over council meetings.?
But the president has an ‘equal voice and vote? at council meetings and ‘no veto power.?
Councilman Tom Kennis inquired as to why the duties need to be discussed at a public meeting if the council is just ‘kicking around ideas.?
‘You have an attorney who always favors public meetings,? Davis replied. ‘I think anything you’re doing with your charter . . . should be at a public meeting.?
‘I don’t think we’ll be making decisions at that meeting, but I think it should be open to the public,? he noted.
Council can propose charter amendments, but in order for them to take effect, they must be approved by village voters.
Before that can happen, the proposed amendments must be ‘published and remain on the table for 30 days before any action is taken,? according to Davis.
After that, amendments must be approved by a two-thirds vote of council and submitted to the governor for approval before they can appear on the ballot.