ASHTABULA – Councilmembers clashed at a Monday, Aug. 17th Ashtabula City Council work session to discuss the proposed Thriving Communities Commission being sought by council member RoLesia Holman.
Holman, who has been chairing council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Racism as a Public Health Crisis, said the new Commission for Thriving Communities would be a permanent group focused on making sure every neighborhood and every ward in the city has a voice. The ad hoc committee would transition into the commission.
“The commission would look at things like city services, infrastructure, public safety, economic opportunity, and ways we can make Ashtabula more competitive for state and federal grant funding,” she stated in a Facebook post prior to the work session.
As the work session began, Holman was going to have Jessica A. Leveto, an associate professor at Kent State Ashtabula, speak.
However, council President John Roskovics objected.
“Work sessions usually do not have citizens’ input, and I don’t believe that was requested when the work session was requested…,” he said. He said work sessions are usually for council to discuss the item on the agenda.
But Holman said council had work sessions before that were open and people could ask questions.
“I do believe that we have had a work session where we actually did work together,” she said.
“And I believe that was probably determined before the work session was scheduled,” Roskovics said. “If you read the council rules, it says work sessions are for council discussion. Council can open it to the public, but that would require a vote, and votes are not allowed to be taken at work sessions.”
“Every work session we’ve had concerning this we have had guest speakers,” council member Jane DiGiacomo said.
“And that was determined before,” Roskovics said.
Holman asked city Solicitor Cecilia Cooper about what has taken place in the past, prior to the Thriving Communities Commission legislation being drawn up.
“We’ve had several work sessions where the ad hoc committee has made reports, and, yes, at those work sessions, the ad hoc committee members have spoken to council and answered questions from council about the reports,” she said.
“Yes, I agree with that,” Roskovics said. “That was the purpose of the meeting.”
At those work sessions, he said council invited the ad hoc committee to come to the meeting and discuss their findings.
But he said the Aug. 17th work session was for city council to discuss the proposed legislation.
He said council only had a half an hour for the work session. The work session began at 5:30 p.m. with the pre-council meeting beginning at 6 p.m.
Roskovics said he didn’t anticipate a presentation being made.
“I just don’t see enough time for that to happen,” he said.
Ultimately, council agreed to hold another work session to discuss the proposed Thriving Communities Commission on Sept. 8 at 5 p.m.
This time, guests will be part of the work session.
“We will meet Sept. 8, and guests will be invited,” Roskovics said.
