Law Director, David Maistros Distributes Different Charter to the Charter Review Commission at March 3, 2014 Meeting
The March 3, 2014 meeting of the Twinsburg Charter Review Commission video(s) are available at www.activecitizensoftwinsburg.com .
It was an interesting meeting in which the Law Director (attending for the first time in a month) provided the commission members with an updated Charter indicating that the Charter they had used for a month was not the correct one. It reminded me of the old TV game show: Will the Real Twinsburg Charter, please stand up! Then the Law Director began finger pointing at the codifier of the City Charter & Ordinances,Walter H. Drane and the past City Clerk's of Council. Doesn't finger pointing seem childish? I could be mistaken but I thought it was the Law Director's responsibility to protect our Charter or was that the Mayor and Council? Perhaps, it is time the City had some new leadership that will stand up and assume responsibility for their actions? Wouldn't that be a refreshing change?
The commission members asked if they had wasted their time over the past month? The Law Director informed them that it was something like a section or so, I guess, because I arrived only five minutes before the meeting. Best watch the videos and decide for yourself.
With the Mayor and Law Director on the Diaz, what chance does a citizen have with the five minutes offered us in the beginning and end of the meetings? In my opinion, this Charter Commission is quickly turning into the definition of a mockery, fiasco, or farce, if I ever saw it in my more than 22 years in government service.
I caution the citizens of Twinsburg to be on your guard, as it appears that the Law Director, after the City has lost multiple times in court for refusing the voters the right to vote on zoning issue(s) protected under the Charter Section 7A.01 (visit the website of www.activecitizensoftwinsburg.com to review all the court cases championed by Sally Gaydosh on behalf of the citizens of Twinsburg) has been requested to prepare changes to this troublesome Charter section 7A.01 which will undoubtedly lean toward dismantling an important Charter section that provides a checks and balances on our elected representatives. Without Section 7A.01 in our Charter, the potential for 'abuse of government power' in our City and neighborhoods could become a reality none of us wants I am sure? Just for the record; Losing in Court doesn't mean the Charter is wrong or outdated, it means the City hasn't the leadership or ability to follow the marching orders of the citizens of Twinsburg clearly provided in our Charter!
The news media has been totally absent from the meetings, so if you have friends or groups on Facebook or other social media you know, get the word out, and forward this to everyone you know. Come see your government in action, you might just have your eyes opened to a great many things!
When our City leaders cannot keep track of our Charter with only 24 pages; how can we honestly trust them when spending $44 million of our tax dollars each year to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of our loved ones and families? It is my opinion, that for far too many years the Twinsburg voters have been satisfied and content to setback and listen to the Mayor, City Council Members, and their uninformed minions tell everyone how great they are, that we should be so proud to have them in charge, and just 'trust me', that it amazes me. It takes more than demagoguery to keep Twinsburg the community we all love; it takes honesty, truth, transparency, and accountability!
The Charter Review Commission meets only every five (5) years and based upon the past practices of the current City leadership in 2009-2012, let's hope they can get it right the first time around in 2014!