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Turner urges resident input on filling Davis' seat; law director cites statute if precinct committee lacks quorum
Summary
Councilwoman Turner said council should not choose a replacement for Councilman Davis and urged involvement of precinct committee people and voters; Councilman Ray and the law director said state law (referenced as '7 31 47') gives council appointment authority if precinct committees lack quorum after 45 days.
Councilwoman Turner told Youngstown City Council on Jan. 21 she objects to the council selecting a replacement for Councilman Davis' vacant seat and urged that precinct committee people and the board of elections be used to ensure ward residents can pick their representative.
"I do not believe that it is our place as legislators to pick the representation for the people of the ward," Turner said on the council floor, urging that the Democratic Party precinct committee people and the board of elections be engaged so residents can make their choice.
Councilman Ray responded that, if precinct committee people lack a quorum within the statutory 45‑day window, state law can direct the appointment authority to the council. "By state law, that would come to this body if that happens at the expiration of the 45 day window," Ray said, adding that the council will need to meet as a committee of the whole to decide its internal process should the appointment authority come to them.
The law director explained the statutory basis for the explanation, referring on the record to the Revised Code (spoken in the meeting as "7 31 47") and saying that the statute addresses who has the authority to appoint when precinct committee people do not have a quorum. "If the precinct committee does not have a quorum, then this body has the authority to appoint that person, and it is up to this body to determine the process by which it will go about appointing that person," the law director said.
Councilmembers did not take a formal vote on a process; the discussion closed with the suggestion that the council meet as a committee of the whole if the vacancy comes to them for appointment.
