Charter Review Commission Meeting – June 10, 2026

Note: The agenda, minutes, and transcript indicate the meeting was held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The user-provided date of June 10, 2026, is used here as instructed, but the official record reflects June 4.

The Gahanna Charter Review Commission met to continue refining draft charter amendment language, with the goal of finalizing revisions and positioning the commission to take formal action at its next meeting. The meeting lasted from 6:31 p.m. to 7:33 p.m. Six members were present (Ethan Barnhardt, Jamie Belisle, Edward A. Hill Jr., Richard Maxwell, Raymond J. Mularski, Karen Reynolds); Vice Chair Carrin Wester was absent.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: The minutes from the May 14, 2026 special meeting and the May 21, 2026 regular meeting were approved unanimously (6-0, with one absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• None.

Discussion Items

• Ward Composition and Registered Voters: City Attorney Tamilarasan reviewed proposed language shifting ward boundary equalization from a registered voter basis to a resident population basis using federal decennial (10-year) census data. Commissioners debated whether to retain the phrase “registered voters” in parentheses; the consensus was to remove it to avoid ambiguity and align with other jurisdictions. The rationale was revised to state: “The purpose of the change is to adjust the ward boundary equalization process from a registered voter basis to a resident population basis by utilizing federal 10-year census data and establishing criteria for when ward boundaries may need to be balanced.”
• Legislative Procedure: The only remaining redline was the addition of due process language on page 14; the explanation was updated to reflect the commission’s prior decisions. Chair Barnhardt expressed satisfaction with the language.
• Planning Commission: The commission removed the proposed 75% attendance requirement, deferring attendance rules to the Planning Commission. The rationale was revised to state that the change removes the fixed numbered absence threshold. After discussion, the phrase “including attendance requirements” was struck as unnecessary. The rationale for the consolidation of the Board of Zoning and Building Appeals into the Planning Commission was rewritten to clearly state that the Board is repealed and its powers transferred, with appeals continuing through the Planning Commission or courts. The rationale also mentions reducing administrative costs.
• Charter Review Commission Convening Interval: The rationale was revised to extend the convening cycle from five to ten years, using language: “The purpose of the change is to amend the mandatory Charter Review Commission convening cycle by extending the interval from five years to ten years in order to reduce the frequency of charter revisions and promote long-term stability in the City’s foundational governing document (also known as the charter).” The phrase “preserve the integrity of the charter” was also considered.
• Non-Discrimination Statement and Protected Classes: The commission consolidated two separate paragraphs into a single provision. The revised language reads: “In accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, in the discharge of their official duties, no appointed or elected official, nor any classified or unclassified employee of the City of Gahanna, shall discriminate against any person, nor use as a basis to limit the use or availability of any public resource, any of the following protected statuses: [list] or any other status protected by applicable law.” The city attorney will refine the grammatical placement of “in the discharge of their official duties.”
• City Attorney Section: The commission discussed striking language requiring the City Attorney to receive Council authorization by resolution or ordinance before defending certain individuals. The city attorney explained that the existing language creates internal inconsistency and could cause complications during disagreements between Council and the administration. She noted that other cities (Columbus, Reynoldsburg) do not have such charter language. Commissioners Mularski and Hill supported striking the language, and the chair agreed. The city attorney stated that the change would not materially affect her duties.

Key Outcomes

• Language Finalization: The commission finalized revisions for most proposed amendments, with the city attorney to incorporate the agreed-upon changes and distribute revised language to all commissioners.
• Additional Meeting Scheduled: Because several commissioners will be absent on the originally scheduled June 18, 2026 meeting, the commission scheduled a special meeting for Monday, June 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers to take final votes on the proposed amendments. Vice Chair Wester accepted the meeting invitation during the discussion.
• Next Steps: After the June 8 vote, Chair Barnhardt will present the commission’s recommendations to City Council at the July 6, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting. The city attorney will prepare draft ballot measures and a memo summarizing the process.
• Vote Requirement: A majority affirmative vote is required for an amendment to pass; a tie (3-3) would result in failure. Commissioners absent from the final meeting were asked to submit their thoughts in advance.

Note on Ballot Fatigue: Commissioner Mularski noted that consolidating related amendments would still leave approximately 14 ballot issues, and he urged commissioners to consider whether each amendment is necessary for the ballot.