Issue 64, The Lakewood Hospital Charter Amendment

What is it and what does it mean?

There is a lot of disinformation about the proposed charter amendment, issue 64.  Here is the language as approved by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State:

A majority affirmative vote is required for passage. 

Shall the Second Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood be amended to create an automatic referendum requiring an affirmative vote by a majority vote of the electors of the City of Lakewood at a general or special election for passage, on any ordinance adopted by council that would cause Lakewood Hospital to no longer be a full-time and full-service hospital and medical facility providing, without limitation, inpatient diagnostic, medical, surgical, and psychiatric care for a continuous period longer than twenty-four hours?

The amendment does not require the City to have a hospital.

The amendment does not save Lakewood Hospital.

The amendment does not make the City responsible for health care in Lakewood.

The amendment does not prohibit the closure of the Hospital.

The amendment does not require a majority of registered voters to approve the closure of the Hospital.

The amendment simply allows for an automatic referendum IF the City Council VOTES to close the Hospital. The current City Charter allows for referendums on issues such as the closure of the Hospital. Making the referendum automatic will simply make the process quicker and more transparent.

If the amendment passes, any decision by Council to close the Hospital will require the approval of a majority of those voting in the automatic referendum.

That’s it.

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Volume 11, Issue 20, Posted 11:35 AM, 09.29.2015