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Council member urges broader public outreach in Stow City charter review
Summary
Kyle Herman, a city council member attending as a resident, urged the commission to hold town halls and open its meetings to public comment. The commission agreed to add a public-comment agenda item and work with city staff on outreach.
Kyle Herman, a member of the Stow City Council who attended the commission meeting as a citizen, urged the Charter Review Commission to use the review process to expand civic engagement and public input.
"I see the Charter Review Commission as a potential avenue to do that," Herman said during public comment, describing examples other charter review bodies use: public comment periods at meetings, town halls to solicit ideas, and preliminary public recommendations for feedback. Herman said he has advised other charter review commissions and recommended inclusive outreach to strengthen local democratic participation.
Commissioners responded favorably. Members said the city posts meeting information on the website and agreed to ask the parks department, which handles public relations, to begin regular social-media notices and other outreach. Commissioners also discussed holding town halls in the council chamber to accommodate larger crowds and adding a standing public-comment item to future agendas. One commissioner said they already report commission activity during council meetings and would continue doing so.
The commission did not adopt a formal public-engagement plan at the meeting but directed staff to add a public-comment section to the agenda and to coordinate outreach; commissioners said they would consider town halls and additional promotion as they refine draft amendments.
