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In an article published on March 29, 2017 in the Elyria newspaper, The Chronicle-Telegram, Susan Anderson was recognized for her work on behalf of the City of Elyria. In this article, reporter Lisa Roberson noted that Susan has been working to determine which city employees should fall under nonexempt status and, consequently, are eligible to […]
The Private Sector. Just before Thanksgiving, in a unanimous decision, the federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that local governments can enact right-to-work laws that will apply to private sector businesses and organizations whose labor relations are covered by the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”). Right-to-Work is shorthand for a law or ordinance that […]
On December 7, 2016, the Ohio General Assembly passed Substitute Senate Bill 331 (SB 331), which significantly impacts a municipality’s ability to regulate the placement, construction, modification, and maintenance of “small cell” wireless facilities in the public right of way. As originally introduced, SB 331 only sought to regulate dog sales by pet stores and […]
In State ex. rel. Cincinnati Enquirer, et al. v. Deters, Pros. Attorney, released on December 20, 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court was faced with several important issues raised by the use by police departments of body-camera video. The Court determined that, assuming such video constitutes a “public record,” public bodies are entitled to a reasonable […]
By William R. Hanna, Aimee W. Lane, and Jessica Trivisonno Legislation that will significantly expand the remedies available to requesters of public records will take effect on September 28, 2016. The effect on local governments responding to public records requests is not yet clear. S.B. 321 was passed unanimously on May 25, 2016. Beginning September […]
By R. Todd Hunt and Susan M. Bungard. On May 31, 2016, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 180. This bill prohibits a public authority/local government from requiring a contractor to employ a certain percentage of individuals from the geographic area of the public authority for the construction or professional design of a public […]
On Tuesday, the Ohio Supreme Court held that an email exchange between a majority of school board members may qualify as a meeting under Ohio’s Open Meetings Act. The plaintiff, a board member who conducted an independent investigation into alleged improper expenditures by two athletic directors within the school district, voted against a proposed board […]
On February 25, 2016, Aimee W. Lane was a co-presenter at The CMBA’s Government Attorneys Section and the Northeast Ohio Law Directors Association’s “Annual President’s Day Seminar and Municipal Law Update.” At this program, held in Cleveland, Ohio, Aimee spoke on the topic, “4th, 5th, and 14th Amendment Issues Related to Code Enforcement.”
By Benjamin G. Chojnacki and Stephen L. Byron.andnbsp; On January 26, 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court decided State ex rel. Cornerstone Developers, Ltd. v. Greene Cty. Bd. of Elections, Slip Opinion No. 2016-Ohio-313. In the case, the Court ordered the Greene County Board of Elections to remove a tax levy from the March 2016 ballot […]
In late December 2015, Governor John Kasich signed a law that prohibits public employers, including townships, villages, municipal corporations, and public school districts, from asking questions about an applicant’s criminal background on their job applications. Under the new law, the Fair Hiring Act, public employers are permitted to conduct background checks, but they can only […]
Across the nation and in Northeast Ohio, claims of unlawful shootings and excessive force are making headlines in alarmingly increasing numbers, resulting in heightened scrutiny of police policies and protocols related to the training of law enforcement officers and the use of force. Suddenly, Mayors, Police Chiefs and other city officials are finding themselves having […]
Byandnbsp;Stephen L. Byron,andnbsp;Aimee W. Lane, andandnbsp;Ellen R. Kirtner, Law Clerk On Thursday, June 18, 2015, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision inandnbsp;Reed v. Town of Gilbert. Inandnbsp;Reed, the court held that a municipal ordinance in Gilbert, Arizona is in violation of the First Amendment. The ordinance allowed for varying restrictions on sign content […]