June 9, 2011
Voters will see charter issues on ballot By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
It appears Bexley voters will cast ballots on four separate charter issues when they go to the polls in November. As a result of discussions at a May 31 special city council meeting, members agreed to present a series of four changes to the city charter individually instead of lumping them together as a single issue. Those proposed changes will include:
If the city should abandon its prac A package of revisions, including surrounding that issue could unnecestice of having an elected auditor in favor situations when the mayor is out of sarily jeopardize the other issues recof a finance director who would town and permitting the ap- ommended by the Charter Review Comreport directly to the mayor. pointment of a temporary city mission. Changing the citywide council replacement when The other major issue facing Bexley ban on drive-through restaua member is unable to serve voters, a potential city tax increase, is rants to permitting drivefor an extended period of still being formulated. Council memthrough only on a portion time. bers have agreed that they need to make of Livingston Avenue, west Council members agreed cuts and increase revenues to avoid proof College Avenue. that the decision to separate jected multi-million-dollar budget Changing language within the issues needed to be made be- deficits over the next five years. the charter that defines the term “pub- cause of the city auditor issue. They As part of that process, city council lic vody.” were concerned that the controversy held a public hearing attended by more
than 100 residents on May 24 at the Bexley Public Library. The city is also seeking resident input via an online survey. “The response to the online survey has been good,” said Ben Kessler, chairman of the finance and judiciary committee. “We’ve received over 60 survey results, and we will be discussing the results and analyzing them.” Kessler said council will discuss the See BALLOT, page A3
Speed limit signs posted at Montrose Elementary By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Photos by Dave Yunker/ThisWeek
(Above) Bexley High School senior class president Evan Stoll delivers the class response at Bexley High School on June 5. (At right) Jacob Block gets a high-five from some fellow graduates. (Below left) Caleb Fechtor uses a hand-held fan to keep cool during the commencement ceremony. (Below right) Helene Cweren, left, takes a picture of her daughter, Leah Goldstein, right, and her friend Jasmine Chen.
Bexley bids farewell to Class of 2011 Eric Fingerhut, former Ohio chancellor of higher education and member of the U.S House of Representatives, gave the commencement address June 5 as 192 seniors celebrated graduation from Bexley High School. “Growing up here is a great gift given to you by your parents and by fate,” he said. “You’’re not going to be great at everything, but everyone is great at something,” Fingerhut told the BHS Class of 2011.
Fingerhut noted that in the future, “people all over the world will be turning to you for help … you will want to partner with others who are good at what they do.” He said the seniors should strive to be great at what they do, so that their contributions to the world will be more useful. The BHS Vocal Ensemble performed the John Lennon tune, “Imagine” and led the crowd in the school’s alma mater during the ceremony.
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Senior class president Evan Soll addressed the crowd as well, exclaiming, “Wow! What an incredible journey we’ve been on together.” Looking out at the crowd, he said he saw many familiar faces, but “totally different people. “All right, everyone, let’s show the world what we’ve got,” he concluded. “This ceremony effectively marks the end of childhood, but not the end of learning,” said Harley Williams, principal of secondary schools.
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After months of discussion and legal research, new 20-mile per-hour speed limit signs have been erected at Montrose Elementary School. Bexley public service director Bill Harvey said the signs — which do not include flashing lights but do declare the area a school zone with a 20 mph speed limit — were erected Friday. Bexley City Council’s safety committee has spent months discussing pedestrian safety concerns with Montrose parents since plans were approved for the new Piada Restaurant next door to the school on Main Street. Safety committee chairman Mark Masser suggested a joint meeting be held between city council, members of the Bexley school board and parents to discus concerns about student safety. At the request of Mayor John Brennan, however, a decision was made to hold that meeting after Piada opened its doors in May. Harvey said he doesn’t think any meetings have been scheduled and added he doesn’t think it makes sense to revisit the issue until the 2011-12 school year begins this fall. “I don’t think there have been any meetings scheduled with the schools to talk about those issues,” Harvey said. “Quite frankly, it’s my perception, and I don’t know this for a fact, that the schools don’t really think there is a safety problem there. I haven’t gotten any comments from the schools saying this is an issue. Comments have come from a few residents who make a big deal out of it.” At the request of those residents, Masser had city staff look into adding signage at the school
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We got two signs that say 20 mile per hour speed limit when students are present. They were supposed to go up this afternoon (June 3). I was out there with the police and we marked the location.”
BILL HARVEY
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— public service director
in an effort to slow down traffic. “We got two signs that say 20 mile per hour speed limit when students are present,” Harvey said. “They were supposed to go up this afternoon (June 3). I was out there with the police and we marked the location.” The signs were installed later that day. The city is also considering doing a new traffic study of the area, but Harvey said that would be best accomplished at a time when the restaurant is open and school is in session. “I’ve been out there several times since they opened and I can’t see a traffic problem with Piada,” he said. “Let’s figure out what we want to study, if anything, and then let them do the study. “One resident said, ‘Let’s do a traffic study before Piada opens.’ Well, that doesn’t make any sense. Now that school is going to be out for the summer, it’s hard to do a study now because you won’t have buses stopping and parents and all that kind of stuff. So, it’s a matter of somebody needs to tell me so I can See SPEED, page A2
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