The charter indicates that council is nonpartisan since ballots for election have no partisan identification.
So when the eight-person Democratic majority gathered last week to address internal party rancor, Mrs. Shultz concluded they held a clandestine session in violation of Ohio's open-meetings law.
"They still have to give the media 24 hours notice," Mrs. Shultz, an at-large Republican who used to be a Democrat, said yesterday. "And they must tell other councilmen and provide a reason for the meeting."
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070828/NEWS09/708280378
Section 32A. President of Council.
At the organizational meeting on the first business day of January following each regular City election, the Council shall elect one of its members as President who shall serve as President at the pleasure of Council. The President shall preside at meetings of the Council, perform such duties as presiding officer as may be conferred upon him or her by Council, and shall prepare the agenda for the meetings of Council in consultation with the Mayor, or the Mayor's designated representative, and with the Clerk of Council. In the event of the death, removal, or resignation of the President of Council, the Council shall elect one of its members to fill the vacancy. If the President is temporarily disabled from performing the duties of President for any cause, the Council shall elect a President pro tempore to act during such disability.
(Amended by electors 11-7-00)
http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/Ohio/toledo/toledomunicipalcode?f=templates$fn=default.htm$3.0$vid=amlegal:toledo_oh
Eh....it's just the charter, why bother to follow it.
If Redfern paid the $500 fine and apologized to the citizens of Toledo I'd find that acceptable. Then the Dems could revote. It would still be partisan but it wouldn't be appear to be illegal.
I think that would be an honorable way for the Dems to get out of this mess.
MikeyA