Some residents of Warren are seeking to change the city's form of government, but the clock is ticking.
 
 
For decades Warren City has been a statutory city meaning city council members, and the mayor are governed by Ohio state statutes. A charter is a document that is created and spells out duties and powers of government defined at the local level.
 
On Wednesday in Warren, a group of citizens that collected signatures that could require major changes to its form of government.  
 
The group was present to see council vote on its ballot initiative that would allow voters the change to a new charter form of government, which is permitted under Section 8 of Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution.
 
The number of signatures required has been verified by the Trumbull Board of Elections.
 
"The residents have said it's time for us to stand up, to be heard, and to move this issue forward," Tina Minor said.
 
But the city council stalled at pushing forward a ballot initiative that would ask voters if they want a new charter form of government at Wednesday's emergency meeting.

City Council Wednesday rejected voting on the submitted signatures. 
 
Supporters tell 21 News time is running out to do what is mandated by law.
 
Volunteers who have collected enough signatures to put the charter of whether voters want to create a commission to change Warren's form of government were stunned to hear seven no votes to passing legislation to put that issue to voters. 
 
Cantalamessa said the council rejected the vote during the emergency hearing, but council will have two other opportunities to pass the measure before the deadline, which is 90 days ahead of the May election.
 
The signatures must be voted on or tabled before February 1, otherwise, the city could be heading for a legal battle.
 
Warren's Law Director just explained under Ohio law there is no option council must vote to put the citizens initiative to voters.
 
"Tabling or voting against the charter carries ramifications that could lead to costs to the city," Enzo Cantalamessa, Warren's Law Director.
 
The Trumbull Board of Elections has certified the signatures and so for Warren Council this is a procedural issue mandated by law.
 
Supporters of a charter form of government tell us if some council members try to block this their next step will be in court. 
 
"We will seek a court order or mandamus. It's a shame we have to ask people who have been on council for an extended period of time to do their jobs. It's a shame they don't understand the process and they are our city legislators. All they did is prove to our community why we need a charger form of government," Minor said.
 
"They are 90 days out of compliance in regards to this ordinance. If it is not passed by this Friday we will be seeking some kind of legal charges," Minor added. 
 
"Warren doesn't have any real requirements for the leadership of this city. There are no certifications or licensing for many of those positions. They just passed legislation that the head of engineering department should have an engineering degree. Because we don't have qualified leadership Warren is outsourcing millions of dollars to consulting firms in order to complete projects because our leadership is unable to sign off on, because they don't have the necessary licenses or certifications. We need to move Warren forward," Minor explained.
 
Council members who voted no gave their explanation.
 
But councilman Greg Greathouse and others who voted no know they must pass it and will do that the next regular meeting.
 
"We are talking about a fundamental change in city government. It's from the ground up. Everything has the potential to be different and I want to have a meeting where people can come ask quesstions and get answers. That's the reason I voted no," said Councilman Greathouse.
 
He tells 21 News they are going to pass it at the next regular scheduled meeting so it can get to the Board of Elections within the time frame. That's plenty of time to get it to the Board of Elections.
 
But supporters point out the group has had citizens each month.
Warren's Law Director explains a Charter form of government simply gives a committee the ability to write constitution to govern Warren, that citizens would vote on in a future election.
 
Councilman Ken MacPherson says time is of the essence. If we want to allow citizens time to run for the commission. We need to move expeditiously. We have already called for special council meeting this Friday at 3:00 p.m., that will be a second reading.
 
We have had two meetings before the public since the signatures were submitted December 6th, then audited and certified by the Trumbull Board of Elections by December 28th or 28th. There has been a lot of public discussions and the committee has been having public weekly meetings and bringing in speakers," MacPherson emphasized.
 
MacPherson tells 21 News he is asking people who care about the city of Warren and people who believes Warren deserves better step forward and find out about the process to be considered.
 
"This is an exciting opportunity. It helps save taxpayers money, it create accountability, and is a more modern form of government. This would give us us the ability to write our city's constitution and do whatever form of government we want to have," MacPherson added. 
 
But Councilman Greathouse said, "This has the potential to not allow anyone to vote for mayor, auditor, and treasurer of council. It could reduce council size. Some say the idea size is five. Currently we have a representative for every 4,000 citizens. If we have a council of five, it limits your ability to contact your elected official."
 
"It works in Youngstown. It can be crafted so it works positively and you don't have to look far in the east in Trumbull County to see where it doesn't work at all," emphasized Councilman Greathouse.
 

The possible change in Warren's form of government needs council to vote on the charter , so they move to the next step -  to vote on 15 members to be on a Charter Commission. From there, if the voters approve the idea to form a charter commission, the group would have to get the charter provision on the next regularly scheduled election.