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Gahanna resolution would appoint successor trustees for NCA; council asks for resident-preference language
Summary
City Attorney Tamela Larson proposed a resolution to select successor trustees for the Gahanna NCA by appointment rather than election, citing ORC authority; council members asked staff to add language prioritizing resident trustees and set a target to adopt by March 17 to meet a one-year requirement.
City Attorney Tamela Larson introduced a resolution on Feb. 24 to determine the projected total population and selection method for successor trustees of the recently formed Gahanna NCA. Larson said the prior resolution that established the NCA required the council to choose a successor-selection method within one year.
Larson told council that, after consultation with Jacqueline from Bricker Gradin (counsel for the NCA), staff proposes successor trustees be appointed rather than elected because the election process for an NCA would resemble an HOA-style election and would be cumbersome. Larson said appointment is an alternative selection method authorized under the Ohio Revised Code.
Councilmembers asked whether surrounding communities use appointments; Larson said it was her understanding that surrounding communities use appointment rather than elections. Councilmember MacGregor asked whether trustees must be residents of the NCA; Larson said resident service is best practice but not a legal requirement of the alternative selection method and that council could adopt selection criteria. Several councilmembers expressed support for codifying a preference for resident trustees and asked Larson to prepare a redline with that language. Larson said she would confer with Jacqueline from Bricker Gradin and circulate a new redline for committee and then council review.
Larson noted the one-year requirement stems from the earlier resolution passed on March 18 and said the resolution must be adopted by March 17 to meet the deadline. Council agreed to return the item to committee and to anticipate the March 17 council meeting for final action.
