ASHLAND — It’s been 11 years since Ashland has officially reviewed its charter, a document that sets the governing rules of the city.
The last official review occurred in 2014, according to city officials.
The formal process is completed by a Charter Review Committee, which is supposed to meet every seven years to suggest additions or changes to ambiguities and outdated language found in the charter, originally adopted in 1914.
State law allows for municipalities to adopt home rule charters, which give cities and villages the power to govern themselves locally.
For a review to happen, Ashland City Council must appoint at-large voters of the city to form the committee, according to section 51 of the charter. That rule, adopted in 1989, also states a committee must be formed every seven years.
The committee is then tasked with reviewing each of the 125 sections in the document, a copy of which can be found here. The process typically takes months and committees meet weekly.
If any amendments or additions are requested by the committee, they must be presented to council. Council can then vote on which recommendations will appear on the ballot so voters can ultimately decide.
Last review led to three changes
In 2014, the committee’s review led to three amendments to Ashland’s charter.
The changes dealt with city council’s deposit of money, the duties of clerk of council and rules surrounding alterations made to contracts.
The charter can be updated without a formal review committee from time to time. In 2018, the charter was updated to allow the Ashland City Health District to unite with a “General Health District.”
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller has not been part of a charter review since being elected as mayor in 2017. He said officials “should be talking about it.”
“I’ll talk with (Ashland Council President Steve Workman) and (Ashland City Law Director Rick Wolfe) about what the process should look like,” Miller said.