by Emily Canning-Dean | Reporter
Twinsburg voters approved four of five charter amendments and two zoning amendments, according to final but unofficial results from the Summit County Board of Elections.
Issue 36, which will amend the city's charter to combine the Historic Preservation Commission and the Architectural Review Board, was approved 6,361 votes (76.98 percent) to 1,902 votes (23.02 percent).
Issue 37 asked voters if the city should amend its requirements for hiring a law director. Eligible law director candidates will now be required to have five years of experience in municipal law, as the issue was approved 6,367 votes (77.9 percent) to 1,806 votes (22.1 percent).
Issue 38 will allow the planning commission to zone annexed land as closely as possible to the zoning it had in the ceding municipality, without having to place the rezoning on the ballot, and was approved 5,248 votes (65.27 percent) to 2,792 votes (34.73 percent).
Issue 39 will place regulations on wind energy turbines -- a modern-day windmill that harnesses energy to be used for power -- as the issue was approved 6,283 votes (76.21 percent) to 1,961 votes (23.79 percent).
Issue 40 will place regulations on rain barrels -- devices used to collect rain water falling off roofs and re-route the water, usually to a garden -- as the issue was approved 4,707 votes (57.98 percent) to 3,412 votes (42.02 percent).
Issue 41 will require that all charter changes recommended by the Charter Review Commission be submitted to the electorate. The issue was approved 6,108 votes (78.14 percent) to 1,709 votes (21.86 percent).
Council President Ted Yates said he was happy that voters approved this measure.
"I believe that our Charter Review Commission works hard to make good recommendations," he said.
Issue 42, which would have removed the police and fire chiefs from the list of civil service employees and updated the city's list of civil service employees, removing positions that no longer exist such as the assistant director of public works and the sewage treatment plant supervisor, was defeated 3,708 votes (51.52 percent) to 3,489 votes (48.48 percent).
Procop said this issue will likely go back to a future ballot and added that city officials will try to educate voters about why these updates need to be made.
"This was a list that really needed to be updated," Yates said.
Issues 36, 37, 38 and 41 were approved by voters in November 2009, but due to a clerical error regarding public advertisement of the issues, Council deemed the charter amendments invalid. Issue 42 was rejected by voters in 2011, but had it been approved, it would have been considered invalid because of the same clerical error.
"I am very happy that most of these issues were approved, so we can keep the integrity of our charter intact," Procop said.
Email: ecanning@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-541-9400 ext. 4171
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