Gahanna Charter Review Commission Meeting - May 21, 2026

The Gahanna Charter Review Commission met on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Chair Ethan Barnhardt with 6 members present and one absent (Edward A. Hill Jr.). The Commission reviewed draft charter amendment proposals prepared by the City Attorney, discussed public comments, and provided direction for revisions. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the May 7, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously (6-0, with Hill absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jim McGregor (180 Academy Court, former Mayor 1983-2001) spoke about the importance of the Charter as a founding document, cautioning against cluttering it with trivial items. He specifically opposed the proposal to change ward boundary metrics from registered voters to census data, stating the current system is working and that the Charter should be free of political intrigue. He also recounted past successful Charter battles, such as merit selection for police chief.
• Michael Schnetzer (104 Academy Woods Drive, Councilmember) thanked the Commission and raised concerns about extending the Charter Review Commission interval from 5 to 10 years, citing unintended consequences (e.g., the mayoral primary issue). He focused on Article 4, proposing to change ward boundary metric from registered voters to residents. He argued that census data (especially 2020) has measurement issues and warned against mid-cycle redraws. He offered three options: leave current language, change to residents without guidance, or define the metric with source data, effective date tied to 2030 census, and a disparity threshold. He recommended the third option as best practice.

Discussion Items

• 3.01 - Election and Term of Mayor: The Commission discussed the draft language eliminating the mayoral primary. Members agreed to add reasoning citing "associated significant expense" (over $300,000 saved) and alignment with the Ohio Revised Code. A grammatical correction was noted.
• 3.04 - Executive Administrative Powers: This proposal embeds strategic planning requirements. Chair Barnhardt supported the flexible language, noting it requires a strategic plan and annual report but allows updates as needed. Vice Chair Wester and Mr. Mularski agreed. Ms. Belisle expressed concern about including strategic planning in the Charter, fearing future administrations might be bound to recreate plans. The Commission generally favored the current draft but noted it would be subject to appropriations and collaboration.
• Qualifications for Mayor, Council, Department of Law: The draft aligns conflict-of-interest prohibitions across all three offices. Mr. Mularski appreciated the streamlining. Members noted that residency requirement changes were struck last meeting. Ms. Belisle supported the language. City Attorney Tamilarasan explained ballot presentation options.
• 4.02 - Composition and Term (Ward Boundaries): Vice Chair Wester presented a detailed analysis. She noted that of five Franklin County suburbs using wards, Gahanna is the only one using registered voters as the metric. She proposed changing to "population" as determined by the federal decennial census, beginning with the 2030 census, and requiring a 20% disparity between largest and smallest wards to trigger boundary changes. She also suggested an effective date tied to the 2030 census and a 60-day ordinance deadline before petition filing. Chair Barnhardt and others supported the revised language, which aligns with values of inclusivity and data-driven decisions. The Commission agreed to amend the draft accordingly.
• 4.12 - Legislative Procedure: The proposal removed a Robert's Rules carryover clause about quorum and aligned abstention consequences with due process (Section 4.07). After discussion, the Commission decided to retain the quorum adjournment language (first part) as it allows a legal way to adjourn when quorum is lacking. The second part (abstention) was supported.
• 4.11 - Special Meetings: The proposal adds the City Attorney to the list of officials who may call special meetings. Vice Chair Wester noted that no other Franklin County suburb charter includes this authority. The Commission agreed the language was acceptable but questioned its necessity. No action to advance was taken.
• Administrative Departments: The amendment eliminates specific department requirements and focuses on governmental functions (finance, HR, IT, public safety, etc.). Members supported the flexibility but noted that the term "department directors" could cause confusion. The Commission agreed that the amendment streamlines the Charter, and a concise summary for voters would be needed.
• Article X - Department of Law: City Attorney Tamilarasan reviewed changes: fixing vacancy appointment dates, adding language for vacancies occurring after petition deadlines, changing annual report from first meeting to last meeting of the year, changing "prepare" to "prepare or review" legal documents, and standardizing "on behalf" language. The Commission supported the changes, but Vice Chair Wester requested historical research on the provision regarding defending police officers vs. other employees. The City Attorney agreed to provide background.
• Article XI - Planning Commission Attendance: The Commission agreed to remove the fixed percentage-based attendance standard and instead allow the Planning Commission to establish its own rules of operation, including attendance requirements. The City Attorney will revise language accordingly.
• Article XI - Planning Commission Powers and Duties / Repeal of Board of Zoning and Building Appeals: The Commission supported transferring BZBA jurisdiction to the Planning Commission and repealing Article XII. Members emphasized that the rationale should clearly state that appeal rights are not eliminated but transferred. The amendment is intended for operational efficiency and cost savings.
• Article XXII - Charter Review Commission: The proposal changes the convening cycle from 5 to 10 years. The Commission discussed adding explanatory language to clarify the purpose (e.g., "to preserve the integrity of the Charter") and avoid perception of reduced public participation.
• Article XXIII - Non-Discrimination Clause: The amendment expands protected categories to align with the city's EEO statement. Ms. Belisle raised concerns about increased litigation exposure given recent First Amendment cases. The City Attorney will verify compliance with EEOC guidelines. The Commission agreed to reinstate the phrase "in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws" as a safeguard. The City Attorney will report back at the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on advancing amendments to the ballot; the Commission will refine language based on feedback and vote at a future meeting.
• The City Attorney will revise the following draft amendments based on Commission direction: 3.01 (add cost savings to reasoning), 4.02 (adopt Wester's proposed language), 4.12 (remove first part, keep second), Article XI attendance (defer to commission rules), and Article XXIII (add compliance language and await EEOC guidance).
• The Commission will review revised language at the next meeting.
• The City Attorney will research the historical origin of the police officer defense provision in Article X and the EEOC compliance of the non-discrimination clause.