Fair Housing Board Organizational Meeting - April 14, 2026
Fair Housing Board Organizational Meeting - April 14, 2026
An organizational meeting of the City of Gahanna Fair Housing Board was held on April 14, 2026 (agenda listed April 9, 2026 – discrepancy noted). The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Laurie Jadwin with roll call: Kylie Cooper Cyrus absent, Evan Ecos present, Sheila Vitale present. The board elected officers, approved prior minutes, and received annual training from the city attorney. The meeting adjourned at 6:09 PM.
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
- Chair: Sheila Vitale was nominated by Evan Ecos, seconded by herself, and elected by unanimous vote (2-0).
- Vice Chair: Evan Ecos was nominated by Sheila Vitale, seconded by himself, and elected by unanimous vote (2-0).
Approval of Minutes
- The minutes from the January 30, 2026 meeting (agenda item 2026-0067) were moved, seconded, and approved unanimously (2-0) as published.
Annual Training (New Business)
- The city attorney (filling in for Assistant City Attorney Roth, the fair housing officer) provided an overview of the board’s role in due process. The Fair Housing Board serves as the first appellate level for complaints under Gahanna’s non-discrimination ordinance, which supplements state/federal law by covering gender identity, sexual orientation, and source of income.
- The complaint process: informal complaint → housing officer assessment → landlord response (20 days) → investigation → mediation → formal hearing before board if mediation fails. A $1,500 civil penalty can be assessed, appealable to common pleas court.
- The board was informed that three complaints have been initiated to date; all were resolved without a formal hearing (two via mediation, one by a phone call resulting in lease extension).
Key Outcomes
- Elected officers: Sheila Vitale as Chair, Evan Ecos as Vice Chair for 2026.
- Approved minutes from January 30, 2026.
- Received annual training on fair housing procedures and the board’s role.
- No further business; meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the organizational meeting for the 2026 Fair Housing Board. I am Mayor Laurie Jadwin. Uh, thank you for joining us this evening. Uh our first order of business, actually, we're gonna call the meeting to order. So at 6 o'clock. And if everyone would please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, uh, led by Miss Sheila Vitaly. I've heard of the United States of America and Republic for which it stands. One nation under God in the school with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, everyone. May be seated. Uh, Mr. Clerk, please call the roll. Um, Cooper Cyrus is absent, ECUS present and vitality. Present. All right. So we have with us uh two members of the board tonight, Mr. Evan Ecos, uh, who was sworn in on March 9th of this year uh for an unexploded unexpired term ending 1231 of 27. Who is a returning member? I don't think your term expires for another year or two, if I remember correctly. All right. So uh our first order of business is election of chair. Uh so I will now open the floor uh to nominations for chair of the fair housing board for 2026. Do I hear a nomination? I have such a nomination. Yes, Mr. Ecos. I nominate Miss Ballat Ballatali. Balatale for uh as chair. Ms. Vitale, do you accept that nomination? Yes, I do. Are there any other nominations? Hearing none, I will close the nomination. So now I need a motion to elect Sheila Vitale as chair of the 2026 Fair Housing Board. I move to elect Ms. Ballotali as chair of the board. Thank you, Mr. Ecos. Moved by Mr. Eco, seconded by second. Second by Ms. Vitale. Mr. Clerk, please call the roll. Uh I Vitaly. Yes. All right. Motion passes. Congratulations, Ms. Vitale on your election as chair, and I will now turn this meeting over to you.
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