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Xenia council lays groundwork for Charter Review Commission, seeks public applicants
Summary
Law Director Deb Fischer recommended advertising for a Charter Review Commission to revisit five outstanding charter sections and suggested appointing a 5–11 member commission with a majority of residents; council discussed interview and selection procedures and plans to appoint after the November election.
Law Director Deb Fischer told council Oct. 9 that the city is preparing to form a Charter Review Commission under section 8.06 of the Xenia city charter and distributed a handout summarizing outstanding items and timelines.
Fischer said the commission must have an odd number of members (five to 11), no more than two elected officials, and should have a majority of residents. She recommended the council advertise openings, accept letters of interest and consider including one or two former commission members to provide institutional memory about prior recommendations.
Council members discussed whether to constrain new members by prior recommendations and generally agreed the commission should be free to review any charter section, while the council can provide historical context. Fischer said staff will advertise and return to council after the Nov. election to appoint members.
Fischer noted that the last comprehensive charter review began in February 2019 and that some sections have not been amended since 1998; the previous review presented amendments to voters in segments in 2022 after pandemic‑era delays. Council indicated a preference to appoint members in November and to allow the commission to meet with staff advisers without voting authority.
