Election 2012: Avon Lake's Issue 6 is Contentious, 5 Receives Support

Avon Lake voters will either approve or deny Issues 5 and 6, two issues concerning the Municipal Utilities (the city's water department).

Issue 5 allows the Board of Municipal Utilities to hold executive sessions, much like other branches of the government. It allows the board to discuss matters that should not be conducted in open session such as personnel and legal discussions.  Council supports this charter change unanimously.

The more contentious Issue 6, forcing the municipal utilities to change it’s monthly meeting date from Monday, when city council meets, to another date, has the support of council but not the Municipal Utilities.

Council president Martin O’Donnell spoke in favor of having a different meeting date for Avon Lake Municipal Utilities last month, saying council “feels strongly that the meeting dates should be separate so residents have the opportunity to go to the different meetings” and would have access to the utilities director and the board.”

He added that it was an issue during last year’s spring flooding.

Municipal Utilities Chief Utilities Executive Todd Danielson disagreed with the need to move the date and said the board had a right to select its meeting dates.

board members, said the board has been meeting on the first and third Mondays of each month since 1932.

“The Avon Lake City Council, which traces its beginnings to 1961, has had its regularly scheduled meetings on the second and fourth Mondays, to coordinate with Utilities.”

 Since 1998, however, City Council has added non-binding “Collected Committee Meetings” on the first and third Mondays also.

All five board members urge a “no” vote on Issue 6.

If either issue fails, voters can expect them to return to the ballot on the Nov. 6 General Election.