Professional Documents
Culture Documents
BYRD
CUYAHOGA COUNTY CUERK OF COURTS
1200 Ontario Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Court of Appeals
vs.
Judge:
VILLAGE OF BRATENAHL, OHIO, ET AL.
Pages Filed: 48
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Authorities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Assignments of Error. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Argument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
I. Standard of Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
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TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Page
Brewer v. Cleveland City Schools, 122 Ohio App. 3d 378, 701 N.E.2d 1023, (Ohio 1997). . . . . . . . 2
Berner v. Woods, 2007-0hio-6207 (Ohio Ct. App., Lorain County Nov. 26, 2007). . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Brenneman Bros. v. Allen Cty. Cmmrs., 3d Distr. Allen No. 1-14-15, 2015-Ohio-148. . . . . . . . . . 6
Cincinnati Enq. v. Cincinnati Board ofEducation, 192 Ohio App. 3d 566, 2011 -Ohio-703
(Ohio Ct. App., Hamilton County 2011). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co., Inc. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 64. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
In re Application ofAm. Transm. Sys., Inc., 125 Ohio St.3d 333, 2010-Ohio-1841,
§23, 928 N.E.2d 427. . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
L.J. Smith, Inc. v. Harrison Cty. Bd. of Revision, 140 Ohio St.3d 114, 2014-Ohio-2872. . . . . . . . . 4
Mahajan v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio, 10th Dist. Nos. 1 1A P-421 and 11AP-422,
2011-Ohio-6728. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Portage County Bd. of Comm 'rs v. City ofAkron, 109 Ohio St.3d 106, 2006 Ohio 954. . . . . . . . . . 9
Skindell v. Madigan, 2017-Ohio-398, 2017 Ohio App. LEXIS 406 (Ohio Ct. App.,
Cuyahoga County Feb. 2, 2017). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer, Div. of Gannett Satellite Info. Network. Inc. v.
Dupuis, 98 Ohio St.3d 126, 2002-0hio-7041, 781 N.E.2d. 163. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
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State ex rel. Long v. Cardington Vill. Council, 92 Ohio St.3d 54, 2001-Ohio-130. . . . . . . . . 10,11,13
See State ex rel. Shafer v. Ohio Turnpike Com., 1 59 Ohio St. 581, 590,
113 N.E.2d 14(1953). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
State ex rel. VanDyke v. Pub. Employees Retirement Bd., 99 Ohio St.3d 430,
2003 Ohio 4123. . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Thomas v. Bd. of Trustees of Liberty Twp., 5 Ohio App.3d 265, 268, 215 N.E.2d 434
(7th Dist. 1966). . . . . . . . . . . ’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
White v. Clinton County Bd. of Comm ’rs (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 416. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,11
Statutes
R.C. 121.22(G)(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
R.C. 121.22(G)(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
R.C. 149.43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
R.C. 507.04. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
R.C. 731.45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
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Appellant’s First Assignment of Error
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Appellant’s Issues Presented for Review
judgment, a court of appeals may affirm the summary judgment in favor of the appellees,
reverse and render a judgment in favor of the appellant, or reverse and remand the case if
2. Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act (R.C. § 121.22), a statutory injunction shall issue
upon proof of either (i) a violation of any requirement of the Act; or (ii) a threatened
3. A violation or threatened violation of the Open Meetings Act (R.C. § 121.22) occurs
4. A violation or threatened violation of the Open Meetings Act (R.C. § 121.22) occurs
when a public body fails to keep a full and accurate record of its proceedings, which
includes satisfying the requirement that meeting minutes contain sufficient facts and
information so that the public can understand and appreciate the rationale behind any
5. Minutes of a public body are those that are approved as the minutes, no information from
6. A village council speaks only through its minutes or its written record of resolution,
7. A violation or threatened violate of the Open Meetings Act (R.C. § 121.22) occurs when
a public body meets in executive session without satisfying the conditions precedent of
(i) the motion to enter executive session specifically stating the statutorily-permissible
purpose for the executive session; and (ii) conducting a roll-call vote on that motion.
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8. A violation or threatened violation of the Open Meetings Act (R.C. § 121.22) occurs
when a public body fails to keep a full and accurate record of its proceedings which
includes setting forth: (i) the motion to enter executive session which specifically states
that statutorily-permissible purpose for the executive session; and (ii) recording the roll-
vi
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STATEMENT OF CASE AND FACTS
On January 25, 2016, Relators Patricia Meade and MORE Bratenahl (“Relator” or
“Appellant”) filed a one count Complaint in this action alleging that Respondents Village of
Bratenahl, Ohio, and councilmembers Mary Beckenbach, James F. Puffenberger, Erin E. Smith,
Geoffrey B.C. Williams and Marla Murphy (“Respondents” or “Appellees”) violated the OMA,
R.C. 121.22. See Pagination (“Pag.”), 1. The Village of Bratenahl is a non-charter statutory village
in Cuyahoga, Ohio. The Complaint requested injunctive relief pursuant to R.C. 121.22(1)
contending that the aforementioned Respondents violated or threatened to violate the OMA by
using secret ballots to conduct official business when electing the president pro tempore of the
Bratenahl Village Council on January 21, 2015. The minutes of the January 21, 2015 speak for
themselves and accurately reflect the proceedings of the meeting including the appointment of Mr.
Puffenberger as president pro tempore for the term ending December 31, 2015. See Pag. 17,
Exhibit A.
On April 21, 2016, after exchanging written discovery, Relators filed an Amended
Complaint adding three additional counts and naming Village of Bratenahl Mayor, John Licastro
as an additional named defendant/respondent. See Pag. 17. Count II of the Amended Complaint
requested injunctive relief pursuant to R.C. 121.22(1) contending that the Respondents violated or
threatened to violate the OMA by failing to keep and maintain minutes of the Finance Committee
of the Bratenahl Village Council that comply with the OMA for the meetings held on January 19,
2016, February 16, 2016, March 14, 2016 and April 18, 2016. See Pag. 17. The minutes of the
above-referenced meetings speak for themselves and accurately and adequately reflect the
proceedings of the meetings. In Counts III and IV, Relators alleged the Village Council conducted
public business of the Council in illegal executive sessions and/or entered into executive session
1
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in violation of the requirements of the OMA on August 19, 2015 (Count III) and November 19,
2014 (Count IV). Counsel for Relator dismissed Relator MORE Bratenahl and verbally dismissed
Relator’s Motion for Summary Judgment, filed on September 12, 2016, was limited to
alleged violations of the OMA in Counts I, II and III of the Amended Complaint and requested a
mandatory statutory injunction pursuant to R.C. 121.22(1). See Pag. 22 and 23. Respondents filed
a Motion for Summary Judgment on November 2, 2016 in accordance with the Court’s briefing
schedule. See Pag. 28. Relator’s Motion for Summary Judgment was denied by the trial court on
December 15, 2016 and Respondents’ Motion for Summary Judgment was granted by the trial
court as Relator failed to meet her burden of persuasion by a preponderance of the evidence that
Relator-Appellant’s Assignments of Error concern the trial court's ruling in regard to the
motions for summary judgment. An appellate court reviews a trial court's grant of summary
judgment de novo. See Grafton v. Ohio Edison Co. (1996), 1996-Ohio-336, 77 Ohio St.3d 102,
105. De novo review means that the reviewing court uses the same standard that the trial court
should have used, and must examine the evidence to determine if, as a matter of law, no genuine
issues exist for trial. See Brewer v. Cleveland City Schools, 122 Ohio App. 3d 378, 701 N.E.2d
1023 (Ohio 1997), citing Dupler v. Mansfield Journal (1980), 64 Ohio St.2d 116, 119-120.
1 Relator filed a motion to amend the complaint striking Count IV on December 15, 2016. This motion was granted
by the trial court on December 19, 2016. See Pag. 35.
2
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Summary judgment is appropriate where it appears that: (1) there is no genuine issue as to
any material fact; (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law7; and (3) reasonable
minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom
the motion for summary judgment is made, who is entitled to have the evidence construed most
strongly in his favor. See Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co., Inc. (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 64,
66; Civ.R. 56(C). The burden is on the movant to show that no genuine issue of material fact exists.
Id. Conclusory assertions that the nonmovant has no evidence to prove its case are insufficient; the
movant must specifically point to evidence contained within the pleadings, depositions, answers
to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, etc., which affirmatively demonstrate that the
nonmovant has no evidence to support his claims. See Dresher v. Burt (1996), 75 Ohio St.3d 280,
293; Civ.R. 56(C). Unless the nonmovant then sets forth specific facts showing there is a genuine
issue of material fact for trial, summary judgment will be granted to the movant. See White v.
II. The Court Should Affirm the Trial Court’s Decision to Grant Respondents’ Motion
for Summary Judgment and to Deny Relator’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
A. The Ohio Open Meetings Act (Appellant’s Second Issue for Review)
The OMA seeks to prevent public bodies from engaging in secret deliberations with no
accountability to the public. See Berner v. Woods, 2007-0hio-6207 (Ohio Ct. App., Lorain County
Nov. 26, 2007), PI5 (“The intent of the Sunshine law is to require governmental bodies to
deliberate public issues in public.”); Cincinnati Enq. v. Cincinnati Board of Education, 192 Ohio
App. 3d 566, 201 l-Ohio-703 (Ohio Ct. App., Hamilton County 2011), p9, discretionary appeal
not allowed. There is absolutely no evidence in the record that there was any intent by the
Respondents to engage in secret deliberations or conceal information from the public, as such, the
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A party who files a complaint alleging a violation of the OMA has the ultimate burden to
prove the OMA was violated (or was threatened to be violated) by a public body; that is, the party
asserting a violation of OMA has the burden of persuasion by a preponderance of the evidence.
Although the OMA is construed liberally, the burden of persuasion never leaves the party who is
alleging a violation of OMA. See State ex rel. Hardin v. Clermont County Bd. of Elections, 2012-
Ohio-2569 (Ohio Ct. App., Clermont County 2012). Further, “the presumption of regularity
applies to official actions pursuant to the official’s ordinary duties of office.” L.J. Smith, Inc. v.
Harrison Cty. Bd. ofRevision, 140 Ohio St.3d 114, 2014-Ohio-2872, f 28, 16N.E.3d 573. Relator
is unable to establish her burden of proof that Respondents violated the letter or spirit of the OMA.
Despite Relator’s arguments to the contrary in footnote 3 of her Merit Brief, the evidence
submitted in support of Respondents’ Motion for Summary Judgment was proper. See Appellant’s
Merit Brief, FN 3, p. 17. Respondents addressed Relator’s argument that the exhibits attached to
Respondents’ Motion for Summary Judgment should be stricken in its Reply Brief and
Respondents’ Brief in Opposition to Motion to Strike. See Pag. 31 and 33. Relator has gone to
remarkable lengths in her efforts to exclude evidence from the record in order to manipulate
Respondents’ actions to fit her legal theory. Despite these tactics, the exhibits were properly
submitted in accordance with Civil Rule 56 as they were either contained within the pleadings or
answers to interrogatories. As such, the exhibits were appropriately considered by the trial court.
Even construing this evidence in favor of the Relator, there is no genuine issue as to any material
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B. The Trial Court Properly Granted Summary Judgment as to Count I Regarding the
Use of Secret Ballots (Appellant’s Third Issue for Review)
Puffenberger to the ceremonial post of president pro tempore of Village Council on January 21,
2015 for the term ending December 31, 2015 and seeks injunctive relief based upon R.C. 121.22.
Count I seeks no relief other than an order declaring that the Village’s use of secret ballots on
January 21,2015 was unlawful and the Village be enjoined from using secret ballots in the future.
The only remedy available for this Count is provided by R.C. 121.22(I)(1), which mandates that
an injunction be issued for a violation of the statute. If an injunction is issued, then a $500 penalty
shall be levied along with attorney’s fees, subject to the trial court’s discretion to reduce the fees
awarded. As such, all of the requested remedies in Count I are contingent upon the issuance of a
“Normally, an appellate court can only consider what is in the record on appeal. When it
comes to deciding whether an event has caused an issue to be moot, however, it may be proved by
extrinsic evidence outside the record. State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer, Div. of Gannett Satellite
Info. Network, Inc. v. Dupuis, 98 Ohio St.3d 126, 2002-0hio-7041, 781 N.E.2d. 163.” Skindell v.
Madigan, 2017-Ohio-398 (Ohio Ct. App., Cuyahoga County Feb. 2, 2017). It is undisputed that
Mr. Puffenberger served as president pro tempore January 21, 2015 through December 31, 2015.
He was re-appointed without contest on January 20, 2016 for a term ending December 31,2016
and then re-appointed again on January 18, 2017 for a term ending December 31, 2017. See
January 20, 2016 Minutes (Exhibit A) and January 18, 2017 Minutes (Exhibit B) attached hereto.
An issue is moot “when it has no practical significance and, instead, presents a hypothetical or
academic question.” See State v. Moore, 4th Dist. Adams No. 13CA987, 2015-0hio-2090, 1|7;
5
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Brenneman Bros. v. Allen Cty. Cmmrs., 3d Distr. Allen No. 1-14-15, 2015-Ohio-148, f40, fn. 2.
The relief sought by Relator in Count I cannot be carried into effect because the president pro
tempore’s term at issue has ended. It is clear that this injunction cannot be awarded and that Count
I is moot, as are the remedies which are contingent upon an injunction being entered.
2. The Election of President Pro Tempore of Council on January 21, 2015 was in
Accordance with Ohio Law.
Relator alleges that Respondents violated the OMA at the Bratenahl Village Council
meeting on January 21, 2015 when the councilmembers used secret written ballots to elect the
president pro tempore. In the event this Court finds Count I is not moot, but rather ripe for decision,
the trial court’s decision granting summary judgment in favor of Respondents must be affirmed as
to Count I because there is no evidence the Respondents violated or threatened to violate the OMA
on January 21,2015.
The minutes of the January 21, 2015 speak for themselves and accurately reflect the
proceedings of the meeting including the appointment of Mr. Puffenberger as president pro
tempore for a one-year term in accordance with Section 121.05 of the Bratenahl Codified
Ordinances. See Pag. 17, Exhibit A. According to Section 121.05, “[wjhen the Mayor is absent
from the Village or is unable, for any cause, to perform his/her duties, the president pro tempore
shall be the acting Mayor, and shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as the
Mayor.” Mr. Puffenberger served as president pro tempore for one year, until December 31,2015.
However, there is no Ohio statute or case law7 that spells out how a village council should conduct
The voting on January 21, 2015 was performed in accordance with Bratenahl Village
Council’s past practice for election of president pro tempore and results of the written ballots were
announced publicly. Councilwoman/Respondent Mary Beckenbach clearly states her support for
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utilizing a secret ballot to elect the president pro tempore of Council because “we’ve always done
that.” See Pag. 17, Exhibit A, page 16, lines 19-20; see also Pag. 33, Exhibit A to Respondents’
Reply Brief in Support of Summary Judgment (Bratenahl Village Council minutes from January
In addition, the written ballots were maintained as part of the public record by the Village.
Relator did not request copies of the ballots after the election or challenge the appointment of Mr.
Puffenberger as president pro tempore for 2015 until this matter was filed on January 25, 2016. In
fact, this lawsuit was not filed until Mr. Puffenberger’s term ended and the uncontested re
appointment of Mr. Puffenberger as president pro tempore was publicly voted upon on January
20, 2016. The Village provided the Relator with a copy of the handwritten ballots, maintained by
the Village, marked by the members of the Village Council in response to her discovery requests
in March 2016. See Pag. 28, Exhibit 1. As such, the Respondents did not intend to engage in secret
Relator relies almost entirely upon Ohio Attorney General Opinion No. 2011-038 for the
proposition that secret ballots are a violation of the OMA. See 2011 Ohio Ap. A tty Gen. No. 38,
Pag. 17, Exhibit B. In issuing the referenced opinion, the Ohio Attorney General was specifically
asked whether it was permissible for the Ohio Board of Education to vote by secret ballot in an
open meeting. See id. The Attorney General concluded that “the State Board of Education could
not vote in an open meeting by secret ballot.” Id. By its explicit language, the opinion applied only
to the State Board of Education. Previously, the Ohio Attorney General’s office ruled in 1980 that
final voting of a county central committee of a political party must be held in a public vote, while
allowing secret ballots when central committees are filling vacancies for publicly elected offices.
See 1980 Op. Atty Gen. No. 80-083 (syllabus, paragraph 4). The 2011 Opinion overruled the 1980
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Opinion regarding the voting of a county central committee of a political party. See id.
Accordingly, the only two Ohio Attorney General Opinions regarding secret ballots are limited to
the use of secret ballots by county central committees of a political party and the Ohio Board of
Education, not the election of a president pro tempore by a statutory village council. As such,
Similarly, Relator’s reliance on the Attorney General’s 2013 Ohio Sunshine Law's Manual
is misguided as this manual is not legal authority that can be relied upon by a Court of law. The
opening letter on page ii clearly states that manual is “intended as a guide”. See Pag. 17, Exhibit
C.
Even assuming the 2011 Attorney General opinion applies to statutory village council’s
elections of a president pro tempore, “Attorney General opinions are not binding on courts; at best,
they are persuasive authority.” State ex rel. VanDyke v. Pub. Employees Retirement Bd., 99 Ohio
St.3d 430, 2003 Ohio 4123, P40. It is uncontroverted that there is no statute or case law from any
Ohio court on the issue of voting by secret ballot in a public meeting. In addition, the state
legislature has taken no action to enact legislation regarding the use of secret ballots in public
determine its own rules and in this matter, Bratenahl Village Council followed its own past practice
of using a secret ballot to elect president pro tempore. See Pag. 17, Exhibit A page 16, lines 19
20. Because the legislature has not provided for a particular voting procedure in the Revised Code,
this Court should not imply or impose one. To expand the requirement for open meetings to include
a particular voting procedure at council meetings without any legal authority to do so would
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Moreover, the plain and unambiguous language of R.C. 121.22(C) does not provide for
any particular voting procedure, therefore, such intent should be inferred here by the judiciary.
R.C. 121.22(C) requires that “[a]ll meetings of any public body” be “public meetings open to the
public at all times.” A court shall apply an unambiguous statute in a manner consistent with the
plain meaning of the statutory language and may not add or delete words. See Portage County Bd.
of Comm'rs v. City of Akron, 109 Ohio St.3d 106, 2006 Ohio 954, p52. Here, the election on
January 21, 2015 was performed in accordance with Village Council’s past practice for election
of president pro tempore and the written ballots were maintained by the Village and produced
Relator invites this Court to make new law since they are unable to cite to any statute or
case law holding for the proposition that the use of secret ballots to elect a president pro tempore
of a village council is a violation of the OMA. Based upon the above. Relator is unable to establish
her burden by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondents violated or threatened to violate
the OMA on January 21, 2015. Therefore, the trial court properly granted Respondent’s motion
The trial court properly granted summary judgment in favor of Respondents as to Count II
because the minutes of the relevant public committee meetings were properly recorded. In Count
II, Relator alleges that Respondents violated R.C. 121.22(C) by "failing to keep and maintain
minutes of the Finance Committee of the Bratenahl Village Council which contain sufficient facts
and information so as to permit the public to understand and appreciate the rationale behind the
Committee’s actions.” The minutes for the relevant meetings were adequate and in compliance
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R.C. 121.22(C) provides that “[t]he minutes of a regular or special meeting of any public
body shall be promptly prepared, filed, and maintained and shall be open to public inspection. The
minutes need only reflect the general subject matter of discussions in executive sessions authorized
under division (G) or (J) of this section/’ For purposes of R.C. 121.22(C), minutes mean "a. series
of brief notes taken to provide a record of proceedings...an official record composed of such
notes." Mahajan v. State Med. Bd. of Ohio, 10th Dist. Nos. 11A P-421 and 11AP-422, 201 1-Ohio-
6728 (quoting White v. Clinton Co. Bd. of Commrs., 76 Ohio St.3d 416). As such, minutes of
public meetings need only “contain sufficient facts and information to permit the public to
understand and appreciate the rationale behind the relevant public body’s decision." Id. Minutes
do not have to be a verbatim transcript of the proceedings. See State ex rel. Citizens for Open,
Responsive & Accountable Gov’t v. Register, 116 Ohio St.3d 88, 2007-Ohio-5542 (2007)
(construing R.C. 121.22, 149.43, and 507.04 together, a township fiscal officer has a duty to
maintain full and accurate minutes and records of the proceedings as well as the accounts and
transactions of the board of township trustees); White v. Clinton County Bd. of Comm ’rs, 76 Ohio
St.3d 416, 423 (1996) (determining that the minutes of board of county commissioners meetings
are required to include more than a record of roll call votes); State ex rel. Long v. Cardington Vill.
Relator argues that the Finance Committee meeting minutes in this case are insufficient
according to White v. Clinton County Bd. of Comm 'rs and State ex rel. Long v. Cardington Vill.
Council. Yet, for the reasons set forth below, this argument is incorrect.
In the White case, the complaint sought a writ of mandamus compelling the Clinton County
Board of Commissioners “to prepare complete and accurate minutes of all Board policies,
decisions, procedures and essential transactions.” White, supra. The facts in White are significantly
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more egregious than those in this case. For instance, in the White case, the minutes failed to
document new policies adopted by the Board and were missing a page. While the court in White
held that the Clinton County Board of Commissioners violated the OMA, the opinion makes clear
that courts are not in the business of “micro-managing the public record-keeping procedures of
local governments” and “public bodies should be trusted with a certain degree of latitude in the
preparation of minutes and other records of their proceedings.” Id. In addition, the court refrained
from setting any specific requirements for complying with R.C. 121.22 for keeping minutes and
concluded that full and accurate minutes must contain sufficient facts and information to permit
the public to understand and appreciate the rationale behind the public body’s decision. See id.
Thus, the White case and its underlying facts are distinguishable from the instant case.
The Relator also relies upon the Supreme Court of Ohio decision in State ex rel. Long v.
Council of the Village of Cardington. See Long, Supra. The Complaint in Long alleged village
council minutes were inadequate and incorrect for various reasons including the erroneous
reference to Long’s name in the roll call even though she was not a member of village council at
that time. See id. The Court held that the village had a duty to prepare, file, and maintain full and
accurate minutes for council meetings, and to make them available for public inspection and found
the village to be in violation of the OMA. See id. Unlike the allegations in the Long case, Relator
Meade has made no allegation that the minutes of the January 19, 2015, February 16, 2015, March
14, 2016 and April 18, 2016 Finance Committee were not promptly prepared, tiled, maintained
and/or open to public inspection. See R.C. 121.22(C). See Pag. 17, Exhibit D.
In contrast to the facts in this matter, Long involved a challenge to the minutes of a full
village council, not a village council committee. There is an obvious distinction between legislative
acts of a village council and acts that are administrative or ministerial in nature, like those of a
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committee of a village council. For example, according to Section ! 21.08 of the Bratenahl Codified
Ordinances, the Finance Committee “may consider and recommend on budget, assessments,
taxes, fees, transfer of property to or from the Village, and other financial matters.'’ (emphasis
added). Thus the Finance Committee is limited to the administrative functions of considering items
and making recommendations to the entire Village Council as a whole on financial matters. The
Bratenahl Village Council is the sole legislative and policy-making body of the Bratenahl Village
government, whereas the committees review matters referred to them by Council and make
recommendations to Council at the Council meeting on the record. It is also particularly important
to note that the regularly-scheduled Bratenahl Finance Committee Meetings occur on the second
Friday or third Monday morning of the month. The Finance Committee Meetings referenced by
Relator in the Complaint took place either on the Friday or Monday prior to the monthly Village
Council meeting that occurs on the third Wednesday of the month. As such, the public is given the
opportunity to hear the Finance Committee Chairperson explain the events and particular items
discussed at the recent Finance Committee meeting and make Finance Committee
recommendations to the Council as a whole and to the public in attendance on the record at the
regularly-scheduled Council meeting. At this time, any council member and any member of the
public have the opportunity to comment on such matters. Any legislative action regarding the
Finance Committee’s recommendations are then adopted by Village Council as a whole on the
Applying the principles set forth in the OMA and the referenced case law, the Bratenahl
Finance Committee’s minutes contain sufficient facts and information to permit the public and all
council members to understand and appreciate the issues discussed at the Finance Committee
meetings at issue and the recommendations made to Village Council. Relator attempts to create an
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issue of fact by preparing self-serving summaries of the relevant Finance Committee meetings
utilizing audio recordings obtained by the Relator and comparing those summaries to the official
Finance Committee minutes. See Relator’s Merit Brief, pp. 9-12. Yet, according to Ohio case law,
minutes do not have to be a verbatim transcript of the proceedings. See State ex rel. Citizens for
Open, Responsive & Accountable Gov’t v. Register, supra. Relator’s summaries of the Finance
Committee meetings contained in her merit brief are irrelevant and self-serving and fail to establish
her burden of proof that Respondents violated the letter or spirit of the OMA.
Furthermore, in analyzing the minutes of the January 19, 2016, February 16, 2015, March
14, 2016 and April 18, 2016 Finance Committee meetings along with the transcribed minutes of
the regularly-scheduled Village Council meetings on January 20, 2016, February 17, 2016, March
16, 2016 and April 20, 2016, it is apparent that the minutes provide an accurate and adequate
record of the Committee’s proceedings, recommendations and the Council’s actions on the same.
See Pag. 17, Exhibit D; see also Pag. 28, Exhibits 2, 3, 4 and 5. Count 11 Relator’s First Amended
Complaint does not assert any specific errors in the Finance Committee minutes even remotely
similar to those alleged in the White and the Long cases. The Finance Committee minutes at issue
are self-explanatory by referencing the ordinance and resolution numbers being considered for
recommendation to Village Council, identification of each motion, some discussion and the votes
of the Committee members. While Relator contends that the minutes do not comply with the OMA,
they reflect substantial reasoning and explanation. The details reflect the discussions which took
place relative to each meeting allowing the public to understand and appreciate the rationale behind
the Council’s decisions. See State ex rel. Dunlap v. Violate Twp. Bd. of Trustees, 2013-Ohio-2295.
Furthermore, the minutes from the regularly-scheduled Village Council meetings on January 20.
2016, February 1,2016, March 16, 2016 and April 20, 2016 demonstrate additional reports from
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the Finance Committee Chairperson as to the Committee’s discussions and recommendations to
For the reasons set forth above, despite Relator’s misguided attempt to create an issue of
fact through self-serving summaries, the Finance Committee minutes were sufficiently detailed to
comply with R.C. 121.22. Relator failed to establish a violation or threatened violation with regard
to the Finance Committee minutes and therefore, the trial court properly denied Relator’s motion
for summary judgment and granted judgment in favor of Respondents as to Count II.
D. The August 19, 2015 Executive Session was Properly Convened in Accordance with
Ohio Law. (Seventh and Eighth Issues for Review)
The trial court properly granted summary judgment in favor of Respondents as to Count
III because the executive session was properly convened and recorded. Count III of Relator’s
Complaint alleges that Village Council improperly went into executive session on August 19,
2015. Now, Relator argues in her Appellate Brief that “Respondents failed to comply with the
conditions precedent for holding an executive session” or “if such conditions precedent were
actually satisfied, then the meeting minutes fail to accurately indicate such compliance,” See
Relator-Appellant’s Merit Brief, p. 24. Despite Relator’s arguments to the contrary, the Village
Council properly entered into executive session on August 19, 2015 in compliance with the OMA,
and the minutes properly reflect such action, therefore, Count III fails as a matter of law.
First and foremost, Relator erroneously states that Council failed to identify in a motion to
enter executive session the specific purpose for the session and Council failed to conduct a roll
call vote on said motion to enter executive on August 19, 2015. However, as evidenced by the
audio recording of the August 19, 2015 taken by Relator and provided to Respondents during
discovery, yet conveniently not referenced in Relator’s Motion for Summary Judgment, the motion
and roll call vote to hold executive session were clearly taken. See Audio Recording of August 19,
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2015 Council Meeting, Pag. 29. The motion and roll call vote took place before the court reporter
began transcribing the record. See id. The roll call vote is also reflected in the notes of Leon Blazey,
Village Clerk, provided to Relator during discovery. See Pag. 28, Exhibit 6.
In addition to the audio evidence, the transcript of the August 19, 2015 documents
Council’s proper entrance into executive session. See Pag. 17, Exhibit E. On page 2, line 4 of the
official minutes for the August 19, 2015 Council meeting, the Mayor asks that the record reflect
that the Council went into executive session to talk about acquisition of land and threatened
litigation. The purchase of property is a permissible discussion topic for executive session
according to R.C. 121.22(G)(2). In addition, conferences with attorneys are permissible discussion
topics for executive session according to R.C. 121.22(G)(3). The Mayor clearly states that the
motion to enter executive session was made by Mr. Puffenberger and seconded by Ms. Murphy.
Pag. 17, Exhibit E. In addition, the Mayor states that Mr. Puffenberger made the motion to return
to the public session of Council and the motion was seconded by Ms. Bacci. See id. Respondents'’
citation to an appropriate discussion topic for executive session on the foregoing date satisfies the
statutory' requirements for entering an executive session. See State ex rel. Dunlap, supra, P 22.
The rule is generally accepted that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, public
officers, administrative officers and public boards, withm the limits of the jurisdiction conferred
by law, will be presumed to have properly performed their duties and not to have acted illegally
but regularly and in a lawful manner. See State ex rel. Shafer v. Ohio Turnpike Com., 159 Ohio St.
581,590, 113 N.E.2d 14(1953); see also Thomas v. Bd. of Trustees ofLiberty Twp., 5 Ohio App.3d
265, 268, 215 N.E.2d 434 (7th Dist. 1966) (finding that township trustees were presumed to have
followed the Open Meetings Act.) The presumption must be rebutted with actual evidence, and
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not bare allegations. See In re Application of Am. Transm. Sys., Inc., 125 Ohio St.3d 333, 2010-
Here, Relator has the burden to prove that the Village Council did not follow the correct
procedures and violated the Open Meetings Act. Relator offered no evidence to rebut the
presumption that the Council acted legally when it held the August 19, 2015 meeting. There is no
evidence indicating that Village Council failed to follow the proper procedures to enter executive
session. As Relator had the burden to prove a violation occurred, and Village Council enjoys the
presumption that it acted legally, the trial court properly found that the Village Council followed
the proper procedures when entering executive session on August 19, 2015.
As such, the August 19, 2015 executive session was properly convened and Relator’s claim
to the contrary was properly denied by the trial court. The audio recording and transcript clearly
reflect Respondents’ compliance with R.C. 121. 22(G) and therefore the trial court properly
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III. Conclusion
Relator attempts to mold the facts of this case to fit a violation of the Open Meetings Act,
when the reality is that the Respondents’ actions comply with Ohio law. Relator assigns sinister
motives to Respondents, yet there is absolutely no evidence in the record that there was any intent
by the Respondents to engage in secret deliberations or conceal information from the public.
Considering the facts and law stated above, Respondents request the trial court’s December 15,
2016 be affirmed. Relator is not entitled to the issuance of a mandatory statutory injunction and,
therefore, Relator is not entitled to a civil forfeiture, court costs or an award of attorney’s fees.
Respectfully Submitted,
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on this 7th day of March 2017, a true and correct copy of the foregoing
Answer BriefofAppellees was filed electronically and served through the Court’s electronic filing
system:
Curt C. Hartman
The Law Finn of Curt C. Hartman
7394 Ridgepoint Drive, Suite 8
Cincinnati, Ohio 45230
Shana A. Samson
18
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3
1 generosity, as taxpayers. And frugal management,
BRATENAHL VILLAGE 2 I might add. Thank you.
BRATENAHL COMMUNITY CENTER 3 Moving to the Mayor's Court report. For
10300 BRIGHTON ROAD
4 the County Treasurer for the month of December
BRATENAHL OHIO 44108
17:35'53 5 received $748.50; the Village of Bratenahl,
(216} 383-9468
6 $25,656; the Treasurer of State of Ohio, $6,314;
7 the Village of Bratenahl Court Computer Fund,
VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING
30 32
1 think just as housekeeping we need to delete the 1 MR. BLAZEY: Mr. Williams?
2 redundant second -- or the last sentence in the 2 MR. WILLIAMS: Aye.
3 first paragraph. 3 MS. MURPHY: And Ordinance 3857 for
4 MAYOR LICASTRO: Yeah, we have a clean 4 passage.
18:01:32 5 copy. We get rid of the strikeouts. ’.8:02:39 5 MS. BECKENBACH: Second.
6 MS. BURKE-JONES: Do you? 6 MAYOR LICASTRO: Mr. Puffenberger
7 MAYOR LICASTRO; Yeah. Uh-huh. 7 alluded to this. Ms. Murphy, do you want to
8 MS. BURKE-JONES: Okay. 8 offer any further information or clarification?
9 MAYOR LICASTRO: Yes, we basically added 9 MS. MURPHY: Well, the general fund
18:01:38 10 Veterans Day for the employees as a paid holiday. 18:02:48 10 appropriations for the fiscal year 2016 increased
11 Thank you, Ms. Burke-Jones. 11 to the amount of $5,364,570 and there is
12 Roll call on passage, please? 12 reappropriations of $20,000 to the Rec
13 MR. BLAZEY: Ms. Beckenbach? 13 Commission, $20,000 to --
14 MS. BECKENBACH: Aye. 14 MAYOR LICASTRO: Police training.
18:01:45 15 MR. BLAZEY: Ms. Burke-Jones? 18:03:04 15 MS. MURPHY: -- police training, and the
16 MS. BURKE-JONES: Aye. 16 60,000 -
17 MR. BLAZEY: Ms. Murphy? 17 MAYOR LICASTRO: Transfers. For
18 MS. MURPHY: Aye. 18 transfers.
19 MR. BLAZEY: Mr. Puffenberger? 19 MS. MURPHY: Oh, for transfers, that's
18:01:49 20 MR. PUFFENBERGER: Aye. 18:03:11 20 right.
21 MR. BLAZEY: Ms. Smith? 21 MAYOR LICASTRO: Yes.
22 MS. SMITH: Aye. 22 MS. MURPHY: Thank you.
23 MR. BLAZEY: Mr. Williams? 23 MAYOR LICASTRO: For debt service.
24 MR. WILLIAMS: Aye. 24 Any questions from Council? Any further
18:01:52 25 MAYOR LICASTRO: So not only did you 18:03:14 25 dialogue?
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11 of 11 sheets Page 41 to 41 of 41 02/14/2016 11:57:15 PM
3
1 MAYOR LICASTRO: Anyone opposed? Thank
BRATENAHL VILLAGE
2 you. Mr. Blazey.
BRATENAHL COMMUNITY CENTER
3 MR. BLAZEY: Yes, sir. We received 331,
10300 BRIGHTON ROAD
4 almost $332,000 in income tax collections. Those
BRA i £, 21 .l,
5 are December collections, which are high because
{216) 383-9468
MARLA MURPHY
13 MAYOR LICASTRO: Thank you, Mr. Blazey.
JAMES PUFFENBERGER 14 Any questions for Mr. Blazey? Thank you.
ERIN SMITH 15 Mayor's court report for December, the
GEOFFREY B.C. WILLIAMS 16 County Treasurer received $540; the Village of
DAVID J. MATTY, ESQ.
17 Bratenahl, $22,563; Treasurer State of Ohio,
18 $4,809; the Village of Bratenahl Court Computer
19 Fund, as always my favorite fund, the Driver
20 Alcohol Treatment Fund, $168. Any questions from
MoLXAR'.'MuWiT f A
21 Council on that? Thank you.
DRAFT 22 Moving to my report, we had a stormwater
23 committee meeting on Thursday, January 12th, to
24 discuss two ordinances, 3903 and 3907. Members
25 present were Mr. Williams, myself, and Don
2 4
1 MAYOR LICASTRO: I'm going to call the 1 Beirut. Don, do you want to sort of summarize
2 meeting to order. Will you please rise and join 2 what the purpose of this -- what we're doing
3 in the Pledge of Allegiance. 3 here?
4 (Pledge of Allegiance.) 4 MR. BIERUT: Sure. The Ohio ERA in the
5 MAYOR LICASTRO: Thank you. Mr. Blazey, 5 year 2000 required municipalities in the area to
6 will you call the roll, please. 6 file a permit to allow us to discharge our
7 MR. BLAZEY: Yes, sir. Ms. Beckenbach? 7 stormwater into the creeks and streams, if you
8 MS. BECKENBACH: Here. 8 can believe that, we've been doing that for a
9 MR. BLAZEY: Ms. Burke-Jones? 9 long time. Anyway, we got our permit. Every
10 MS. BURKE-JONES: Here. 10 five years or so they tweak the permit and they
11 MR. BLAZEY: Ms. Murphy? 11 asked us to do different things with it based on
12 MS. MURPHY: Here. 12 what they've learned over the past five years.
13 MR. BLAZEY: Mr. Puffenberger? 13 These two ordinances reflect some fairly
14 MR. PUFFENBERGER: Here. 14 miner tweaks. I was telling somebody one of the
15 MR. BLAZEY: Ms. Smith is absent. Mr. 15 tweaks was changing stormwater from one word to
16 Williams? 16 two or it might have been two to one, I don't
17 MR. WILLIAMS: Here. 17 remember which one it was.
18 MAYOR LICASTRO: We have the minutes 18 MAYOR LICASTRO: I think it's the
19 from regular Council meeting on the 21st. Is 19 latter, two to one.
20 there a motion to approve or amend? 20 MR. BIERUT: But, probably most
21 MS. BECKENBACH: I'll move to approve. 21 interestingly, they really come home to the fact
22 MR. PUFFENBERGER: I'll second. 22 that soil erosion, soil protection is the
23 MAYOR LICASTRO: Discussion? All in
23 responsibility of the property
24 favor of the motion? 24 the improvements. So it's alwJ. ‘-n'"ul1 1
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1 of 12 sheets Page 1 to 4 of 46
5 7
1 the general contractor or the developer. They 1 committee reports, Finance.
2 said they don't care, it's the owner and they've 2 MR. PUFFENBERGER: Yes, that would be me
3 given the Village the ability to go after the 3 again. Finance met at its normally scheduled
4 owner under these ordinances. 4 time, Friday, January the 13th at 8:00 a.m. A
5 MAYOR LICASTRO: This really pertains to 5 number of ordinances and one resolution were
6 new construction. Everything that's already 6 considered, all of which you'll see this evening
7 existing is grandfathered. Each ordinance, I 7 on the agenda.
8 think, is 42 pages. And Mr. Bierut is correct, 8 Ordinance 3904 and 3906 were recommended
9 most of it is semantics, changing a word here, a 9 for a passage here this evening by the committee
10 word there, but what’s most significant is, as 10 with no changes, as was Pay Claims Ordinance
11 Don mentioned, the onus is now on the property 11 3908. Ordinance 3905 is a rather significant
12 owner, everything prior is grandfathered. 12 change in the position of Village Clerk and
13 So I think it's a quick summary, that 13 Treasurer. There was a great deal of discussion
14 quick summary is encompassed in the 84 pages of 14 and quite a number of changes. And the final
15 ordinance you'll see in 3903 and 3907. 15 version is something you will see on the agenda
16 Ms. Murphy, does that give you enough 16 this evening as well. That final version the
17 clarity? 17 committee does recommend for approval.
18 MS. MURPHY: Thank you. 18 The last item was Resolution 1041, which
19 MAYOR LICASTRO: So when we get there, 19 is the renewal of the Heritage Home Program.
20 we’ll read the header, which also explains. 20 This is a program that we participated in over
21 Thank you for your input, Mr. Bierut, and thank 21 the last couple of years. There's been a slight
22 you for being there, Mr. Williams. Do you have 22 uptick in, I guess, usage or participation over
23 any questions on that? 23 the past year. And my hope is certainly that
24 MR. WILLIAMS: It was very exciting. 24 more of our residents, given the old home stock
25 MAYOR LICASTRO: Actually, my spell 25 that we have in the Village, a significant amount
Molnar & Munguia Court Reporting (440) 377-5030 DRAFT Molnar & Munguia Court Reporting (440) 377-5030 DRAFT
6 8
1 check never accepted stormwater as one word, now 1 of older homes, that more people will take
2 it has to. 2 advantage of this, but we did recommend that we
3 MR. BIERUT: Right. Problem solved. 3 continue this through Resolution 1041, and that
4 MAYOR LICASTRO: There you go. Thank 4 concludes my report.
5 you. 5 MAYOR LICASTRO: Thank you, sir, any
6 Okay. We now come to our regular 6 questions for Mr. Puffenberger? Thank you.
7 January effort where we elect the president pro 7 Public Improvements.
8 tern. The president for 2016 was Mr. 8 MS. BECKENBACH: Public Improvements met
9 Puffenberger. Is there a nomination for someone 9 on January 11, 2017 at the community center. The
10 for this office? 10 minutes of December 13, 2016, were approved by
11 MS. MURPHY: I'll make a motion to 11 motion from Joyce Burke-Jones, seconded by Ms.
12 nominate Mr. Puffenberger for another year - 12 Beckenbach and passed unanimously. The agenda,
13 MR. WILLIAMS: I'll second. 13 we had one agenda item, the preliminary and
14 MS. MURPHY: — to represent us. 14 initial plans for the service garage project on
15 MS. BURKE-JONES: I'll second that. 15 Garfield Lane presented and reviewed by the Van
16 MAYOR LICASTRO: Any other nominations? 16 Auden Akins Architects.
17 One, two, three? No changes? Then Mr. 17 The phase one environmental site
18 Puffenberger, by unanimous vote, you are again 18 assessment by the Van Auden — by Van Auden Akins
19 Council president pro tern. Congratulations. 19 Architects has been completed.
20 MR. PUFFENBERGER: Thank you. 20 MAYOR LICASTRO: Mary, just call them
21 (Applause.) 21 VAA.
22 MS. BURKE-JONES: Are you willing? 22 MS.BECKENBACH: Okay. Has been
23 MR. PUFFENBERGER: I said thank you. I 23 completed and determined to be clean. The entire
24 didn't clap, but I said thank you. 24 property will be rechecked fully during the
25 MAYOR LICASTRO: Thank you. Moving to 25 second phase of the project. Mayor Licastro
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