How many council members can legally represent the Village of Richwood Council on a committee or board?
Village Solicitor Alison Boggs said she is researching Ohio laws and Ohio Ethics Commission opinions to determine the exact number, but it is “inappropriate” to have more than the majority of the council on one committee because of impartiality.
Boggs said it becomes problematic when most of the councilmembers make a decision with the committee then are supposed to appear unbiased before the council for a vote. Additionally, Ohio Revised Code states, “a majority of the council constitutes a quorum and no action shall be taken by the council unless approved by at least five voting members.”
Currently, the Richwood Revitalization Subcommittee is in violation of the law with four councilmembers on the subcommittee of the six-person council. Chair Reddy Brown, Donald Ridgeway, Laurie Eliot-Shea and George Showalter serve on the committee.
“When I learned that there was four [councilmembers], there’s a huge problem there,” Boggs said.
She encouraged councilmembers to resign immediately. Councilmember Laurie Eliot-Shea announced her intent to resign from the subcommittee during the meeting Monday night.
As of Tuesday morning, Brown said Eliot-Shea officially departed from her position. Her resignation will be discussed at the next Richwood Revitalization Subcommittee meeting scheduled for July 8 at 7 p.m. at the municipal building.
When asked how many councilmembers should be on each village committee, Boggs said she prefers there only be one.
Councilmember Von Beal believes there should be no more than two councilmembers on a committee. He added that he could agree with Boggs’ suggestion of one councilmember for impartiality.