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London City Council approves mayoral slate for committees, 4-2; members debate role of Income Tax Review Board
Summary
The London City Council voted 4-2 to approve seven appointments the mayor submitted to advisory boards and commissions. Council members asked for clarification about the Income Tax Review Board’s function; city staff read the relevant codified ordinance explaining the board hears appeals of income-tax rulings.
The London City Council voted 4-2 to approve a slate of seven appointments the mayor sent to the council, after members debated one nominee and requested clarification about the Income Tax Review Board’s role.
Council President Peters was absent. The appointments the mayor submitted and the council approved were: Todd Beathard for the Board of Zoning Appeals; Angie Harris for the Historic District Review Board; John Stahl for the Tree Commission; Sarah Mars for the Parks and Recreation Commission; Steve Lalonic for the Income Tax Review Board; David Mars and Shannon Treanor for the Historic Downtown Revitalization Committee. Council action came after a voice-then-roll-call vote that produced four ayes and two nays.
The vote matters because the Income Tax Review Board is the local venue for appeals of decisions made under the city’s income-tax chapter. Councilman Norman asked how the Income Tax Review Board operates and whether the appointing process and membership give the board appropriate capacity to handle issues tied to tax increment financing and other tax matters.
City official Mr. Castle read the city’s codified ordinance language on the board (cited in the meeting as section 880.14). He said the ordinance allows “any person dissatisfied with any ruling or decision of the director” to appeal in writing to the board within 30 days and that the board must schedule a hearing within 45 calendar days of receiving an appeal. Castle identified the board as an appeal body that acts only when an aggrieved party files an appeal; it does not proactively set tax policy.
Council members debated one nominee, Steve Lalonic, with at least one member saying they had concerns about his decision-making in a previous matter. That line of discussion occurred before the formal roll-call vote; the council then chose to act on the full slate rather than vote on individual names.
By roll call the council recorded the following votes on the slate: Councilman Hayes — yes; Councilwoman Treanor — yes; Councilman Stahl — yes; Councilman Eads — yes; Councilman McDaniels — no; Councilman Norman — no. Two members (Council President Peters and Councilman Hitt) were not present.
The council set no additional conditions on the appointments at the meeting. The matter of the Income Tax Review Board’s meeting schedule and membership was clarified by staff as largely reactive — the board meets when appeals are filed — but council members said they may seek further information about the board’s schedule and membership responsibilities at a later date.
Council members also noted the slate will be publicly noticed and the appointed members’ terms begin immediately per the mayor’s request.
The council continued with other business following the vote, leaving any additional review of the Income Tax Review Board and the newly appointed members to future committee or council discussions.
