Let's get ready to- LEGISLATE!
Council must organize itself before it can legislate. The Lakewood City Charter prescribes the procedure.
Article III Section 4. Meetings "at 7:30 P.M. on the first Monday in January following each regular municipal election, at which time the Council shall elect its officers for the next two years- The member of Council present who has the longest consecutive tenure of office shall preside..."
Meeting those qualifications was council member Robert Seelie (ward 3) who called the meeting to order. He instructed the clerk to call the roll. Responding to her first roll call was the newest member, Nickie Antonio (at large). She had been formally sworn in at a ceremony in front of dozens of well-wishers several days earlier. Seelie then asked for nominations for council president.
Usually, when council considers proposals the debate and negotiation is public in the committee meetings or on the floor of council.
This is not the case with the election of council leadership. Discussions between the seven members are generally private and only occasionally can some of the deliberations and reasoning be reported either first hand or by attribution.
In a small legislative body of seven some of the criteria for president might be length of service, past performance, party affiliation, and simple matters of friendship and respect. By their nature, politicians are ambitious. A member may want to be considered for leadership but other political aspirations might preclude the responsibilities of a leadership position. Occasionally, quirks of circumstances make for an unexpected president. Such was the case back in the 1950's and 1960's when six of seven members were Republicans who couldn't get along with each other. Hence, they elected Thomas Ward (ward 3) as president even though he was the lone Democrat. (The Merl neighborhood park was dedicated in his honor in 2000).
In this case Robert Seelie was reelected council president by a vote of 6 to 1 with council member Ryan Demro (ward 2) voting against and Michael Dever (at large) was unanimously elected to council vice president. There were no comments on the floor regarding the candidacies. After the meeting in corridor comments (an exclusive Lakewood Observer feature) Demro was asked why he voted against Seelie for president of council.
Demro, who is the lone Republican on council, said his vote had nothing to do with partisanship but rather he was disappointed with "lackluster leadership of Seelie as past president and a lack of strategic planning." He added that "this needs to be a council of all of us and I would have voted for Dever for president." Demro stated that his support of Dever who is a Democrat demonstrates his non-partisan approach in this matter.
The beginning of the year also marks the date when many terms on boards and commissions expire. Council and the Mayor find it particularly fitting to acknowledge the service of citizen/volunteer members of these bodies. One reason for this recognition is the fact that the citizen boards and commissions shoulder a lot of the work of city government. Council may pass an ordinance regulating signs, but ultimately the Architectural Board of Review must make a final decision on a sign application. Similarly, a property owner might request a zoning variance but that decision on granting a variance falls to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The Planning Commission devotes many hours of service to near term and long range planning for the city and presents council with recommendations which then can become policy. All but a handful of city employees are hired under rules of civil service. The Civil Service Commission objectively reviews prospective employee applications and administers civil service promotion exams. And, the Heritage Advisory Board establishes guidelines to help preserve historic and authentic structures in Lakewood.
Mayor Thomas George and Council passed resolutions of commendation to William Trentel as a member of the Architectural Board of Review. Planning Director Thomas Jordan expressed his personal appreciation for Trentel's work which directly involves the Planning Department. Trentel's three children kibitzed in the audience as Dad was accepting the resolution.
Chris Keim was recognized for service on the Board of Zoning Appeals and in absentia received high praise from the Mayor.
Next, Paul Wingenfeld was congratulated by the Mayor and Council along with Jordan for his chairing of the Planning Commission.
Judy Riley was next in line for recognition for her service on the Civil Service Commission. She has been a member through the terms of four mayors and has been continually impressed by the high caliber of applicants who want to work for Lakewood. Proud husband Bob and their daughter were in the audience.
Paula Reed was recognized for her service on the Heritage Advisory Board with Mayor George, who hinted that he was going to call upon her for continuing help with city projects.
Newly reelected council president Seelie adjourned the meeting at 8:07.
Reported by Stan Austin, Lakewood Observer City Council Reporter
Article III Section 4. Meetings "at 7:30 P.M. on the first Monday in January following each regular municipal election, at which time the Council shall elect its officers for the next two years- The member of Council present who has the longest consecutive tenure of office shall preside..."
Meeting those qualifications was council member Robert Seelie (ward 3) who called the meeting to order. He instructed the clerk to call the roll. Responding to her first roll call was the newest member, Nickie Antonio (at large). She had been formally sworn in at a ceremony in front of dozens of well-wishers several days earlier. Seelie then asked for nominations for council president.
Usually, when council considers proposals the debate and negotiation is public in the committee meetings or on the floor of council.
This is not the case with the election of council leadership. Discussions between the seven members are generally private and only occasionally can some of the deliberations and reasoning be reported either first hand or by attribution.
In a small legislative body of seven some of the criteria for president might be length of service, past performance, party affiliation, and simple matters of friendship and respect. By their nature, politicians are ambitious. A member may want to be considered for leadership but other political aspirations might preclude the responsibilities of a leadership position. Occasionally, quirks of circumstances make for an unexpected president. Such was the case back in the 1950's and 1960's when six of seven members were Republicans who couldn't get along with each other. Hence, they elected Thomas Ward (ward 3) as president even though he was the lone Democrat. (The Merl neighborhood park was dedicated in his honor in 2000).
In this case Robert Seelie was reelected council president by a vote of 6 to 1 with council member Ryan Demro (ward 2) voting against and Michael Dever (at large) was unanimously elected to council vice president. There were no comments on the floor regarding the candidacies. After the meeting in corridor comments (an exclusive Lakewood Observer feature) Demro was asked why he voted against Seelie for president of council.
Demro, who is the lone Republican on council, said his vote had nothing to do with partisanship but rather he was disappointed with "lackluster leadership of Seelie as past president and a lack of strategic planning." He added that "this needs to be a council of all of us and I would have voted for Dever for president." Demro stated that his support of Dever who is a Democrat demonstrates his non-partisan approach in this matter.
The beginning of the year also marks the date when many terms on boards and commissions expire. Council and the Mayor find it particularly fitting to acknowledge the service of citizen/volunteer members of these bodies. One reason for this recognition is the fact that the citizen boards and commissions shoulder a lot of the work of city government. Council may pass an ordinance regulating signs, but ultimately the Architectural Board of Review must make a final decision on a sign application. Similarly, a property owner might request a zoning variance but that decision on granting a variance falls to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The Planning Commission devotes many hours of service to near term and long range planning for the city and presents council with recommendations which then can become policy. All but a handful of city employees are hired under rules of civil service. The Civil Service Commission objectively reviews prospective employee applications and administers civil service promotion exams. And, the Heritage Advisory Board establishes guidelines to help preserve historic and authentic structures in Lakewood.
Mayor Thomas George and Council passed resolutions of commendation to William Trentel as a member of the Architectural Board of Review. Planning Director Thomas Jordan expressed his personal appreciation for Trentel's work which directly involves the Planning Department. Trentel's three children kibitzed in the audience as Dad was accepting the resolution.
Chris Keim was recognized for service on the Board of Zoning Appeals and in absentia received high praise from the Mayor.
Next, Paul Wingenfeld was congratulated by the Mayor and Council along with Jordan for his chairing of the Planning Commission.
Judy Riley was next in line for recognition for her service on the Civil Service Commission. She has been a member through the terms of four mayors and has been continually impressed by the high caliber of applicants who want to work for Lakewood. Proud husband Bob and their daughter were in the audience.
Paula Reed was recognized for her service on the Heritage Advisory Board with Mayor George, who hinted that he was going to call upon her for continuing help with city projects.
Newly reelected council president Seelie adjourned the meeting at 8:07.
Reported by Stan Austin, Lakewood Observer City Council Reporter
Volume 2, Issue 1, Posted 07.25 PM / 09th January 2006.