Brunswick, Ohio: Locating Ward 3

Ward 3 in Brunswick, Ohio, is represented by Brandon Lambert, who sits on the Brunswick City Council. Brunswick Ward 3's previous councilman, Joe Salzgeber, resigned in 2019 during a City Council hearing to determine his qualifications for council office following his appointment as Medina County Recorder. Salzgeber was elected in 2015 and his term was set to end that year, but he had planned to seek reelection.

Brunswick Ward 3 Councilman Joe Salzgeber resigned in 2019

Brunswick Ward 3 Councilman Joe Salzgeber resigned from his position on February 11, 2019. This came during a City Council hearing to determine whether he could remain a member of the City Council following his appointment as Medina County Recorder (or Auditor) on January 14, 2019.

Salzgeber was first elected in 2015, and his term was set to end in 2019, with plans to seek re-election. However, the Brunswick City Charter raised questions about whether a council member could hold another public office. Specifically, Section 3.06 states that a "council member shall forfeit his or her office if he or she lacks any qualifications prescribed by the Charter or by law". This was further complicated by the Ohio Revised Code, which prohibits members of a legislative authority from holding any other public office, except as a notary public or a member of the state militia.

Salzgeber disagreed with the interpretation of the charter, stating that the law was not clear and that it should be read narrowly, referring only to municipal qualifications. Despite his objections, he chose to resign rather than pursue legal action, stating that he did not want to put the city council, administration, or residents through a lengthy battle.

Following Salzgeber's resignation, the Council began the process of filling the vacant Ward 3 seat. The deadline for submitting resumes was set for February 22, 2019, and the Council met to review the candidates shortly after.

Ward 3 in Brunswick, Ohio, is represented by a councilman and is one of four wards in the city.

Brandon Lambert is the Council member for Ward 3

Lambert is one of seven Council members in Brunswick, Ohio, including Mike Abella Jr. (Council Ward 1), Nick Hanek (Council Ward 2), Keith A. Kuczma (Council Ward 4), Joe Delsanter (Council-at-Large), Kristy Piper (Council-at-Large), and Tim Smith (Council-at-Large).

The Brunswick City Council generally meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month in the Council Chambers of the Brunswick Municipal Complex, located at 4095 Center Road. Residents can watch the regular City Council meetings on Brunswick Area Television (BAT), which also airs reruns throughout the week on the Government Channel. Recent meetings are also available online at bat.viebit.com.

Prior to his role as Council member for Ward 3, Lambert's predecessor, Joe Salzgeber, resigned from his position on February 11, 2019. Salzgeber's resignation came during a public hearing that aimed to determine his qualifications to remain a member of the City Council following his appointment as Medina County Recorder.

Ward 3's council seat was vacant as of February 2019

Ward 3 of Brunswick, Ohio, is home to popular destinations such as St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Cozumel restaurant, and Mapleside Farms. It was represented by Joe Salzgeber, who served as the Brunswick Ward 3 Councilman and Council President Pro Tem. However, as of February 2019, the Ward 3 council seat was vacant due to Salzgeber's resignation.

Salzgeber's resignation came during a City Council hearing on February 11, 2019, as he chose to step down rather than go through a legal battle over his qualifications to remain in office following his appointment as Medina County Recorder. He was elected in 2015 and intended to seek reelection, but the interpretation of the Brunswick City Charter regarding a council member's eligibility to hold another public office became a point of contention.

The Brunswick City Charter's Section 3.06 states that a council member shall forfeit their seat if they lack any qualifications prescribed by the Charter or by law. The Charter does not explicitly prohibit a council member from holding the office of county recorder, but it defers to state law on this matter. Ohio Revised Code, as mentioned by the city's Law Director Ken Fisher, prohibits members of a legislative authority from holding any other public office.

Salzgeber disagreed with the interpretation, arguing that the Charter should be read as is and that specific positions prohibited from being held concurrently with a council seat are listed in Sections 3.05 and 3.06. Despite his rebuttal, Salzgeber chose to resign to avoid prolonging the issue, stating that he did not want to put the city council, administration, or residents through a legal battle.

The vacancy left by Salzgeber's resignation needed to be filled within 30 days, as per the Brunswick Charter. The process of finding a replacement began immediately, with a deadline for submitting resumes set for February 22, 2019. The Council planned to review the resumes and potentially select a candidate during the regular council meeting on February 25, 2019.

Ward 3's council seat must be filled within 30 days of becoming vacant

Brunswick, Ohio, is divided into four wards, with each ward having a dedicated council seat. Ward 3's council seat is currently held by Brandon Lambert. In the event of a vacancy in Ward 3's council seat, it is imperative that the position be filled promptly to ensure continued representation for the residents of the ward.

According to the Ontario Municipal Councillor's Guide, if a municipal council seat becomes vacant, the council must declare the vacancy at its next meeting. In the case of a death, the declaration can be made at either of the next two meetings. Once the vacancy is declared, the council has 60 days to decide whether to fill the position through a by-election or by appointment for the remainder of the term.

If the vacancy occurs after March 31 in a regular election year, the seat can only be filled by appointment. Additionally, if the vacancy occurs within 90 days before a regular election, the council is not required to fill the position. In all other cases, the vacancy must be filled.

When making the decision between a by-election and an appointment, the council may consider various factors, such as whether the vacant seat is for the head of the council or whether the individual holding the office will sit on both lower-tier and upper-tier councils. If the council opts for an appointment, the appointee must consent to the position and be eligible to hold office. The council has the autonomy to determine the process for choosing the appointee.

In the case of Ward 3 in Brunswick, Ohio, the council would need to follow these guidelines and make a decision on how to fill the vacant seat within 30 days of the declaration of vacancy. This ensures that the residents of Ward 3 continue to have their voices heard and represented in the city's decision-making process.

Brunswick City Council meetings can be seen on Brunswick Area Television

The Brunswick City Council generally meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month in the Council Chambers, Brunswick Municipal Complex, 4095 Center Road. These meetings are aired live on BAT on the second and fourth Mondays of the month and are rerun throughout the week on the Government Channel. The Government Channel also includes other programs, such as The Buzz on Business, which highlights local businesses, and Golden Years and Salute to Service, which showcase interesting members of the community.

Recent Brunswick City Council meetings are available to watch online at bat.viebit.com. This internet-based feed offers 24/7 access to all of BAT's most recent programs, increasing the audience for these programs worldwide.

In addition to the Government Channel, BAT also offers a Public Access Channel, an Educational Access Channel, and a Recreation Channel. The Public Access Channel allows community groups, non-profit organizations, and individuals to promote their causes, issues, and interests to the local community. The Educational Access Channel is operated by the Brunswick City Schools, and the Recreation Channel highlights the programs and opportunities available at the Brunswick Community Recreation and Fitness Center.

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