Toledoans will evaluate 2 strong-mayor versions

I went to the Main Library to research why we went from the city manager form of government to a strong mayor. I got a notebook full of clippings. Here are some:

The Toledo Blade, June 30, 1992
by James Drew

"Tom Palmer opposed the move to a strong-mayor form of government in 1988."

"But he supports the issue this year."

"Cities attract jobs and save them when businesses and government work together, Mr. Palmer said."

"When business leaders speak with a united voice, they need city hall to speak with a united voice, too."

" 'In 1988, a number of people in the business community felt the case had not been made [for a strong mayor], ' he explained. 'I have recognized [that] for us to really have effective leadership, we need to make a structural change and create an opportunity for people to provide strong leadership.' "

"Mr. Palmer, a partner with Marshall & Melhorn who is active in several civic groups, was among 75 community leaders who delivered that message at a rally yesterday at One Maritime Plaza."

"The topic: replacing Toledo's present council-manager form of government with a strong-mayor system and electing city council members both from geographic districts and at large."

"In the next few months, citizens will have two versions of a proposed charter amendment to evaluate. Only one, however, is expected to be on the Nov. 3 ballot."

"Leaders of the Lucas County Democratic and Republican parties have developed a plan and are circulating it to business, labor, and neighborhood groups for review and comments."

"The proposal calls for:
>A mayor elected to a four-year term with adminstrative powers. The mayor would be restricted to two consecutive four-year terms.

>An 11-member city council, with 6 members elected at-large and 5 from districts. They would serve four-year, staggered terms and be limited to two consecutive four-year terms.

>A mayor with veto power over ordinances adopted by council. Council could override with eight votes.

>Department heads appointed by the mayor would be subject to confirmation by a majority of council.

>Voters would elect a city auditor with a four-year term (the mayor currently appoints the auditor).

"Council members Carty Finkbeiner, Jack Ford, and Larry Kaczala also have proposed a strong-mayor-district election plan."

"Their version, unlike the one developed by the two major political parties, calls for increasing the mayor's salary from $36,900 to $58,500 and council salaries from $7,500 to $19,500. It calls for electing council members in the same year."

"Party leaders say they expect to combine their proposed charter amendment with the one prepared by the three council members."

"Yesterday's rally attracted a wide spectrum of community leaders, including Ron Skeddle, chief executive officer of Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.; Roy Ocheske, president of the Aluminum, Brick, and Glass Workers Local 9;Frederick A. 'Rick' Deal, chairman and chief executive of Society Bank & Trust Co.; Dennis Harmon, director of Neighbors in Action; Bob Maxwell, president of the Lathrop Co., and Lorraine Kwiatkowski, an elementary school teacher and North Toledo activist."

"The city charter says the mayor is the official head of the city for ceremonial purposes and the city manager is the administrative head. But in practice, sometimes both and sometimes neither is in charge."

" 'I want a mayor to get down and produce, and if the mayor doesn't produce we'll look for someone else to produce,' said Jesse Mitchell, a civil-rights activist."

" 'For the city of Toledo to have any type of influence in northwest Ohio, it needs to change its form of government from city manager to strong mayor,' said George Ray Medlin, Jr., secretary-treasurer and business manager of the Northwest Ohio District Council of Carpenters."

" 'I have observed that communities with a strong-mayor are better able to adapt to changes in economics and demographics of its region,' Mr. Medlin said."

"Council could place a charter amendment on the ballot by passing a resolution with at least six of the nine members in favor."

"The deadline is Sept.4, which is 60 days before the Nov. 3 election, said Larry Brewer, clerk of council. Council's last regular meeting before the deadline is Sept. 1."

"For a charter amendment to be placed on the ballot through a petition drive this year, signature of at least 9,280 registered voters would have to be collected, checked by the clerk of council, and submitted to the council board of elections by Sept. 4."