March 10, 2011
Review Commission’s recommendations
Charter changes in council’s hands By JEFF DONAHUE ThisWeek Community Newspapers A long-awaited package of proposed changes to the Bexley city charter is in the hands of city council. Members of the Bexley Charter Review Commission handed over the recommendations during a special city council meeting March 1. They began a line-by-line review of the city charter in November 2009. There were no surprises, including a formal recommendation that the city abandon the practice of electing an au-
ditor and instead switch to a finance director, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by city council. Discussion on that topic alone dominated the meeting. Bexley auditor Gary Qualmann, who serves the city in a part-time capacity, has been a vocal critic of an appointed finance director. Qualmann has two years of a four-year term remaining and earns $26,000 a year. Beecher Hale, a full-time appointed employee of the city who reports to Qualmann, earns $80,848 as the city’s finance director. Charter Review Commission chairman John Offenberg and commission
member Don Brosius both insisted the recommendation was made in the best interest of the city. They said they had no issues with Qualmann or Hale personally and praised them for their service to the city. While commission members have the authority to recommend changes to the city charter, they do not have the final say. City council will review the recommendations then decide which issues, if any, will be presented to the voters in November. Council may choose to place some, all or none of the recommendations on the ballot. Only the
voters can approve changes to the charter, which was last reviewed 12 years ago. Council president Jeff McClelland said he does not have a precise timeline for reviewing the recommendations. He said the process would likely evolve out of council’s finance and judiciary committee. The commission also recommended: Granting city council the authority to name a temporary replacement for a council member who is absent for an extended period of time. That issue was referred to as “The Lampke Rule” be-
Zanner embraces return to school board
Bexley’s Gould climbs in national rankings
By TARA STUBBS-FIGURSKI ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By TARA STUBBS-FIGURSKI ThisWeek Community Newspapers When Bexley High School freshman Sam Gould is having a bad day, he turns to rock climbing or “bouldering.” “It is really almost like a meditation,” he said. “Like when you are angry or have lots of emotion it calms you down. It’s added to my life. The climbing community is just awesome.” Gould is participating in the Junior Indoor Bouldering Series Championships March 11-13 in Philadelphia. Founded in 2001, JIBS offers young competitive climbers their own bouldering league. According to the juniorbouldering.com website, the championship is “a unique event which rewards young competitive climbers for their dedication, their passion and their talents as the future stars of competitive climbing.” Competitors are eligible to receive financial assistance in the form of cash and gear, according to the site. There are three categories of competition, ages 11 and under; ages 12 to 14; and ages 15 to 18, Gould said. He competes in the 12 to 14 age brackSee GOULD, page A2
cause councilman Matt Lampke is currently on active military duty in the Middle East and council has struggled with how to deal with his extended absence. Permitting drive-through uses on the north side of Livingston Avenue (west of College Avenue) to ensure that businesses there are competitive with those on the south side of Livingston in the city of Columbus. The citywide ban on drive-through restaurants would remain intact in the rest of Bexley. Requiring any elected official who is under indictment for a felony to step down from office.
By Eric George/ThisWeek
Sam Gould, 14, trains at Vertical Adventures on March 5. Gould will be competing in the National Junior Bouldering Competition in Philadelphia.
Newly appointed Bexley City Schools Board of Education member Susan Zanner knows all too well what it’s like to be unable to serve the remainder of a term. Board members voted 4-0 on Feb. 23 to appoint Zanner to the vacant seat on the five-member board created by the resignation of Diane Peterson. Zanner resigned from her seat on the school board in December 2006 for health reasons. She was first elected in November 1999, was re-elected in 2003 and served as board president in 2004. “I had to leave when I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Zanner said. “Dr. Mike Levy stepped forward in a much similar situation.” Zanner said with her service on the board she is taking care of some unfinished business. “I always felt as if there was some unfinished business in my service,” she said. “I truly was honored (to be appointed). Serving on the board has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.” Peterson, a two-term board member, resigned Feb. 14, citing personal reasons. Her resignation was effective Feb. 28. She has not elaborated on her decision to leave
the board since the announcement of her resignation. According to state law, the board was required to apSusan point a reZanner placement within 30 days of the effective date of Peterson’s resignation. Since more than half of Peterson’s term remains, Zanner can only serve through Dec. 31, 2011. The remaining two years of the unexpired term will be on the ballot in November. Zanner will not be a candidate for the final two years of Peterson’s term, board president Joan Fishel announced at the Feb. 23 meeting. Zanner told ThisWeek she is working to get up to speed on the issues facing the district. “I’m just now getting into the communication loop,” she said. “It would not have been appropriate for me do that before the first of March. Obviously the pressing needs are to manage the budget and the taxpayer’s best interests.” Zanner said she originally ran for a seat on the board of education in 1999 because she is passionate about education. See ZANNER, page A3
Bexley Public Library plans job-help events
Bexley Farmers Market to expand at new location
By TARA STUBBS-FIGURSKI
By TARA STUBBS-FIGURSKI ThisWeek Community Newspapers
ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Bexley Public Library is partnering with other central Ohio libraries to offer a Job Help Week, March 14-18. The Bexley library will offer two programs – “Landing Your First Job” and “Nail That Interview” – during Job Help Week. On March 15 “Landing Your First Job” will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A representative from New Directions Career Center will provide job-hunting strategies for new college and high school graduates entering today’s
job market. “Obviously the (bad) economy has hit many portions of the population,” said Cynthia Kazalia, New Directions employment specialist. “I think that sometimes the younger generation has been overlooked.” In some cases jobs that have traditionally gone to high school students or college graduates are being filled by someone whose job has been outsourced, an individual who needs a job just to pay the bills, Kazalia said. “They take a job in another industry that has traditionally been for high school students or new college graduates,” Kazalia said.
The program is designed to help graduates understand the job market, how to search for a job online and have a resume that reflects the skills they have gathered through high school or college activities that are transferable to their career, she said. College graduates may have gained new skills through volunteer work or affiliations with sports and other organizations, she said. Participants will gain a better understanding of the importance of networking by making contact through religious affiliations or See HELP, page A2
Bexley residents will have a new place to get their fresh fruits and vegetables on Thursdays from May 19 through October. The new market will be held in the vacant lot owned by Plaza Properties across from the Bexley Gateway at Parkview Avenue and Main Street from 4 to 7 p.m. each week, according to economic development director Bruce Langner. “We believe there will be plenty of room for vendors and people to park,” he said. “We (also) encourage people who can, to walk to it.” Langner said the new Bexley Farmers Market is organized by a group of 20 to 25 volunteers. Bexley resident Amy Bodiker is a member of the committee. She was born and raised in Bex-
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ley and moved back to the community two years ago. “My career has been focused on local food,” she said. “I have worked for a culinary organization and farm education center in New York.” Bodiker has a culinary arts degree. She spent five years as the director of an organization called Chefs Collaborative that brings culinary organic farmers and chefs together, she said. “I think farmers markets are the new town square,” Bodiker said. “They (offer) a direct connection to the local food supply. They are a place where members of the community can get together regularly and see one another.” The Bexley Farmers Market replaces the market traditionally held on Saturdays on Main Street
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