By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Galion’s current and former law directors once opposed each other on the ballot and did so again Tuesday night in Council Chambers. Their next confrontation may be in court.
The ballot issue calling for an audit of the city’s electric funds in search of a consumer refund won’t be heading to the polls without a fight. Galion City Council approved hiring attorney Donald McTigue for outside counsel Tuesday night.
Prior to voting on the measure Galion City Director of Law Thomas Palmer asked Galion City Council to vote in favor of the measure to allow McTigue to be used as outside counsel to battle the audit and refund issue in court.
RELATED STORY: Push to put refund on ballot in Galion gets started
In a written statement Palmer noted that he had filed a protest against the petition of the proposed ordinance filed with the city on the grounds: “That the proposed ordinance may not be submitted to the voters under the general initiative provisions in state law due to the special provisions of the Ohio Constitution governing the municipal operation of public utilities, the proposed ordinance may not be submitted to the voters due to Ohio’s overriding laws governing a fiscal emergency, and the proposed ordinance, if adopted, would constitute an unlawful delegation of legislate authority.”
Roberta Wade, one of the audit’s supporters and petition organizers as well as a former council member and law director, spoke in opposition to the hiring of McTigue.
“I caution you to think for yourselves and not representing the mayor, but the citizens. It was the citizens who proposed it,” Wade said. “To think about taking public funds to hire an attorney to battle the issue is unethical.”
McTigue’s fees will range from $300 per hour for attorney fees to $50 for legal assistant fees.
A first reading on a proposal that would raise the price of an electric meter base and hub from $30 to $50, but would also allow Galion citizens to purchase meter bases and hubs elsewhere than the city, had a rocky start. The first reading passed Council with a 4-3 vote. Galion City Council President Carl Watt cast the final vote in favor of the proposal.
An ordinance that would allow restaurants and businesses to have outdoor trade areas in the Uptowne District was approved. The new ordinance also eliminates a zoning ordinance which called for businesses to apply for permits in order to have outside business, and could not be done within 500 feet of a residence.
Galion City Council approved appropriating $180,000 in Issue I projects fund to the Street Fund. The money will go towards the Church Street project.
Galion City Council approved updating the Codified Ordinances in order to conform to current state law as required by the Ohio Constitution.