New council committees to face 'generational' decisions

FINDLAY — Findlay City Council is expected to vote Jan. 20 on new committee assignments that will help shape decisions with "generational" impact — from major water and sewer projects to long-term infrastructure planning. Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city of Findlay's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio. Council's Rules and Organization Committee voted 3-0 on recommendations to council in a meeting held on Friday. Serving on the committee are Councilman Dan DeArment, R-4, chair, with councilmen Rodney Phillips, R-6, and Dan DeLong, R-7, serving as voting members. The group worked from a draft prepared by Mayor Christina Muryn, which incorporated the preferences and scheduling constraints of council members based on a questionnaire she sent to all newly elected council members regarding the committee assignments. The four major standing committees were the first to be finalized, with selections based on member preferences, experience and anticipated workload. The committee emphasized balancing workloads and honoring members' top choices where possible. Some adjustments were made for work schedules, such as avoiding daytime meetings for members with conflicts. Councilman BJ Preston, R-2, was tapped to chair the Finance Committee, and would be joined by councilmen DeArment, R-4, L. Reed Needles, R-at-large, Phillips and DeLong as members. Councilwoman Heather Kensinger, R-at-large, whose top choice was Planning & Zoning, was recommended to lead that committee with members Nichole Coleman, R-1, Kevin Cullen, I-5, Brad Wagner, R-at-large, and DeLong as members. Streets, Sidewalks & Parking would be chaired by Coleman, with Councilwoman Carol Smith, R-3, and Wagner as members. The Water & Sewer would be chaired by DeArment, with Preston, Cullen, Phillips and DeLong as members. The Strategic Planning Committee would be chaired by Kensinger, with members Coleman, Preston, Cullen and Smith. Cullen and Coleman will serve on the Street Designation Committee. "Water and Sewer will likely involve some of the biggest financial decisions we make," DeArment said. "It's going to be a big number for a long period of time, and it's going to be generational cost." The committee's recommendation also includes members appointed to represent council on other city and community boards, including: Economic Development, DeArment; Airport, Cullen; Blanchard River Watershed Partnership, Smith; Downtown Findlay Improvement District, Phillips; Hancock Regional Planning Commission, Kensinger; Income Tax Board, DeArment; Parks & Recreation, Smith and Phillips; Traffic Commission, Wagner; Tax Incentive Review Board, Needles; and Utility Termination Board of Appeals, DeLong; Shade Tree Commission, Needles; Revolving Loan Fund, Needles. EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to make corrections and updates to the committee's recommendations.