Council debates appointment authority as mayor names ad hoc 'chicken committee' and recommends planning commission members

Mayor Burke made several appointment announcements on Feb. 19, recommending Lisa Feder for the Board of Zoning Appeals and proposing Linda Allen and Sharon Carmack as representatives/alternate to the Warren County Regional Planning Commission. The mayor also appointed an ad hoc animal-ordinance committee — informally called the “chicken committee” — naming Sharon Carmack as chair, Lisa Feder as vice chair and David Smith as a member; appointees accepted.

Several council members questioned whether mayoral appointments require council approval under the city charter, citing section language and guidance from Ohio Municipal League training. Council members asked for the specific ordinance or resolution that authorized the mayor’s appointment practice and requested staff research. Law Director Chase Kirby told the council he would look into the charter and report back, and staff agreed to treat the mayor’s selections as recommendations for council discussion if formal approval is required.

In a separate exchange, council members pressed the mayor about the use of a former administration building for public works and whether council had previously voted on that change. The mayor said a lease allowed the city to take back the building and that staff and the attorney had advised the step; he also said he had offered space for the historical society and had reached out to the Warren County Foundation to seek support for the society. Council requested the relevant ordinance or resolution be located and presented for review.

Next steps: Law Director Chase Kirby will research the charter language and any relevant resolutions or ordinances and report at a subsequent meeting. Council requested the resolution/ordinance that recorded the building decision be identified and made available for review.