Sandusky charter review committee finalizes language on 11 proposed changes, schedules June 26 vote

The Sandusky Charter Review Committee on Thursday reviewed and refined language for 11 proposed changes to the city charter, including gender‑neutral wording, a hybrid ward and at‑large City Commission structure, a reduction in the recall signature threshold and revisions to competitive‑bidding language, and set a final committee vote for June 26.

The proposals would change how commissioners are elected, adjust the rules for recalls and bidding thresholds, and alter advisory‑board residency priorities; the committee agreed to forward the proposals to the City Commission for consideration and possible placement on a voter ballot. "We put words to what you voted on in the previous meetings, to try to give in words what you asked for," said Mister Hastings, a staff member who summarized the draft language for the committee.

Why it matters: Changes to the charter affect how local officials are chosen and how citizens can remove them, and they set limits and procedures for city procurement and advisory boards. Several committee members said the ward/at‑large hybrid and the reduced recall threshold are among the most consequential proposals for governance and public engagement.

Most important details and committee discussion

The committee discussed a proposed hybrid election system that would combine ward and at‑large seats and set the commission size at seven members. The draft includes a two‑year delay before the new system would take effect so current commissioners can finish their terms. Committee members debated whether alternating elections should elect only ward members or only at‑large members and whether a staggered mix might be preferable in future cycles; no numeric change to the seven‑member proposal was adopted at the meeting.

The panel also reviewed procurement and bidding language. Committee members removed a fixed dollar amount from a competitive‑bidding clause so the city commission would set the amount within the limits established by state law. Committee discussion cited the current state threshold figure discussed in the meeting as $77,250 (the committee noted that the exact figure can change and is not fixed in the proposed charter language). The committee retained a separate provision that would raise a smaller quote threshold from $1,000 to $5,000 in the draft.

On recalls, the committee reviewed language that would lower the signature threshold required to qualify a recall election from 15 percent to 10 percent of the relevant electorate; one committee speaker called that "a major policy change." The committee did not adopt a final decision to place or withhold any single amendment from the packet but agreed the recall revision is a substantial change voters and the City Commission should consider.

Other changes under discussion included alignments with Ohio ethics requirements, a provision giving priority for advisory‑board appointments to city residents, and edits to civil service and notice sections. The draft also removes or revises several paragraphs throughout the charter to avoid fixed dollar amounts and to follow state law where appropriate.

Process, next steps and public information

Committee members emphasized that the Charter Review Committee is advisory: the City Commission will decide which items, if any, go to voters. The committee set a final vote on the draft language for June 26. If the commission places one or more amendments on the ballot, the board of elections will verify petition signatures and the city will follow statutory procedures for ballot language and voter notices. The committee discussed producing redline versions and explanatory material for the public; Kathy, a staff member, and other staff will prepare those materials and distribute them to committee members and to the City Commission as part of the packet.

The committee also discussed outreach and the cost of mailing explanatory material to registered voters; members noted voters receive explanatory materials from elections officials and that holding the charter amendments during a general election would spread costs across jurisdictions.

Quotation highlights

"We put words to what you voted on in the previous meetings, to try to give in words what you asked for," Mister Hastings, staff member, said while presenting the draft changes.

"I think this is a pretty dramatic change. It makes recall elections significantly easier, lowering the amount from 15% to 10%. That is a major policy change," said a committee member during the recall discussion.

Ending

The committee did not take final votes on any individual charter amendment at the meeting. Committee members agreed to consider prioritizing the items before the June 26 final meeting and to provide staff with any additional edits; the packet will then be sent to the City Commission for its review and potential action to place measures before Sandusky voters.