Charter review timeline set: Commission schedules 2nd and 4th Tuesdays with August filing deadline in mind

The Sunbury Charter Review Commission approved a meeting schedule intended to complete substantive work in time for council to prepare ballot language for the November 2025 election. Commissioners voted to meet at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, with an agreed exception for the fourth Tuesday in March.

Rebecca (Becky) Princehorn, the commission’s outside consultant from the law firm Bricker & Grama, told members: “The election in November of 2025 is November 4, and the date by which council would have to have the approving or revising language to the Board of Elections is August 6th.” She and staff advised the commission to finish drafting and reach decisions well before that filing deadline; Rebecca later noted July 1 is the “absolute deadline under the charter.”

Commissioners discussed meeting cadence options and staffing needs. Caitlin Graf Miller, assistant city administrator, said staff will circulate calendar invitations and follow up about commission email addresses. Commissioners agreed staff should front-load meetings early in the calendar year and aim to complete the bulk of work by late June to allow council time to review recommended amendments.

Members also discussed meeting length and public notice. David Bridal, Sunbury law director, reviewed open-meeting requirements and public-records implications, warning commissioners that emails and texts about public business become public records. Commissioners agreed agendas and summary materials will be posted publicly; staff said agendas will likely be distributed the Friday before a Tuesday meeting.

The schedule motion passed by voice vote; commissioners did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.