Highland Heights Charter Group Urged to Keep 2-Year Council Terms

The Highland Heights Charter Review Commission sought public opinion and was told not to increase terms for city council members from two to four years.

At the commission meeting Wednesday, former Mayor Thomas Hughes and resident Amy Feran both urged members not to submit a charter amendment to voters regarding length of council terms. Commission members had indicated support for a switch to four-year terms.

Voters have considered such an amendment before and rejected it in 1982, 1983, 1984, 2000 and 2005. Feran told commission members to remember those results when considering whether to try again.

"Residents like having their council people accountable to them," she said. Feran added that she would campaign against an amendment to go to four-year terms. She also said she understands why council members might not like two-year terms.

"It's a real pain if you're a council person, I totally agree," she said.

Hughes said he had served a four-year term and it created a disconnect from the public. He added that the fact that other communities have four-year terms should not be a deciding factor.

"A lot of other communities have higher taxes also," he said.

Other charter changes discussed by the commission included clarifying wording regarding the finance director – sections conflict as to whether appointments have to be approved by council and members said that approval should be required as it is for other mayoral appointments.

Also under consideration is wording to prohibit elected officials from holding any other employment with the city. The charter only states that they cannot be full-time employees.

The commission's next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 25.