The Milford law director on Tuesday laid out a package of proposed changes to the city charter and council agreed to hold two public hearings this summer to solicit comment.

Law Director (Mister) Pacheco told council the redlined proposals — posted on the city's website and provided to council — include a mix of operational clarifications and procedural changes, such as lengthening council candidacy residency from 90 days to one year, removing residency requirements for the city manager and city clerk, tying competitive-bidding thresholds to current Ohio statutory thresholds and adjusting the council members’ term start date to reduce lame‑duck time.

Why it matters: Pacheco said the changes are intended to increase administrative efficiency and align municipal practice with other Ohio charters. He recommended tying the city’s bidding threshold to whatever the state’s statutory minimum is (he cited the current general threshold of about $78,000 as an example) and removing an internal rule that requires council to pass ordinances only after committee recommendations — a change he said would reduce duplicate meetings and speed routine operations.

Pacheco said the proposals also clarify that the city manager is the appointing authority for department heads and related removal authority, reflecting the manager form of government the charter already envisions. He said the city could place changes on the ballot if council chooses and noted a July 16 deadline to submit materials to the local elections board if council wants the revisions included in an upcoming election.

Council agreed to schedule two public hearings — June 17 and July 15 at 7:00 p.m. — to gather public input. City Manager Benjamin Gunderson said the hearings can be held during regular council meetings to make participation easier; Gunderson moved the motion and a second was recorded, and the motion carried unanimously.

Ending: Staff will publish the proposed redlines on the city website and add the public-hearing notices; Pacheco said additional public engagement and edits are possible after those hearings before any charter amendment is finalized for the ballot.