By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary turned to a familiar face to fill the president’s seat for Galion City Council at its meeting on Tuesday evening. Newly elected Ward 4 council member Carl Watt was named by O’Leary to fill the vacancy created by last week’s resignation of Don Faulds.
“It was, for me, the obvious choice – the only person I talked to when the vacancy was created. He is as deliberate as I am impulsive so it’s a good match. Clearly the best choice,” O’Leary said. “While he would have been an excellent council member, I think the city will benefit from his experience.”
Both O’Leary and Watt are former Crawford County Commissioners.
To assume the new role, Watt had to resign his Ward 4 seat. That vacancy will be tended to in the coming weeks by City Council and the office of the mayor to see that Watt is suitably replaced.
Watt had a message for the people of Galion, one of gratitude for the honor to serve and of a commitment to improve the tone of the public discourse that has been prevalent lately. Watt mentioned that he has been coming to council meetings since August (when he decided to run), and much of what he has seen has left him wanting.
“I’ve been embarrassed,” Watt said.
Watt added that he is of the opinion that the citizens of Galion have been let down too. “The citizens want more than what’s been offered.”
But the tone of Watt’s message was not only one of admonition, but also contained in it the recognition of the need to move forward.
“I’m asking for your support to move Galion ahead,” Watt said, “We have to be the leaders and change the attitude. It has to start here.”
The other piece of business to clean up from last week’s dust up in the city administration involved passing an ordinance to establish the pay and responsibilities of the city clerk. Julie Bell has been reinstated in the position, and without the ratification of this ordinance she would not have official duties and not been able to receive compensation. Council held an executive session of just over an hour to discuss this issue, and reconvened for a vote.
Before the vote was held some concerns were heard. Former Law Director Roberta Wade voiced a concern about the ordinance’s allowing for the Clerk to assist in preparing agendas and ordinances. In her opinion this was not a “safe posture” for the City, having the office of someone who may sue the City aligned with the law office.
“I strongly urge you not to shift law office duties to the clerk,” Wade said.
Current Law Director Thomas Palmer agreed that Wade’s concerns were not completely unfounded, but that as Law Director, he did have the final say on ordinances and agendas. The assistance of the office of the Clerk is primarily for expediency’s sake, and would concern the more minor and routine ordinances.
During the expression of her concerns, Wade reportedly referred to Bell as a, “public employee trying to chill public records.”
This prompted a response from O’Leary, who questioned how someone who had held been held in such high esteem could have fallen from grace so quickly. He further defended by Bell by calling her, “an employee who has spent a week being publicly defamed.”
Despite the objections voiced, the ordinance was passed and Bell is set to resume her duties.