Westerville Government

Westervilles history stems all of the way back to Ohios conception. Only six years after
Ohio was recognized as a state, Westerville became an established city. Ever since then,
Westerville has held a Council-Manager form of government, made up of a City Council and a
City Manager.
Westervilles City Council is made up of seven members a most who serve four year
terms. Just like everything else in the fall election season, these council members are voted on in
November and resume office in December. Once in office, the city council meets formally every
first and third Tuesday of each month and are open to anyone who wants to attend. In between
these meetings, Councilmen meet informally every second and fourth Tuesday of each month for
work sessions. No matter when they meet, the City Council has specific duties that must be
carried out. These duties include adopting or amending city laws, establishing policies,
approving budgets, establishing spending priorities, and approving contracts and agreements.
Not only that but in between day to day activity, the Council receives recommendations from
eight boards and commissions, influencing their decisions.
In addition to the City Council, Westerville has a City Manager, the Chief Executive of
the City Council. Although, this position involves the same duties and responsibilities as a
council member, it involves so much more. On top of the responsibilities of a Councilmen, the
City Manager is responsible for day to day operations and carrying out the policies of the City
Council. Each component of Westervilles Council-Manager government is vital to the prosperity
of this city.
Westervilles service departments provide citizens with necessary items that they are
unable to provide themselves. The amount of services depends on how much funding that the

city receives in tax revenue and loans from the state. From there, these funds are divided up
amongst service departments that then spend that money on programs that benefit the people.
The Public Service Department is a great example of a service department that directly
benefits citizens. The main job of this department is to maintain the citys infrastructure. This is a
huge undertaking for just one service department, so it has divided into four subdivisions: street
maintenance, utilities, environmental maintenance, and fleet maintenance. Street maintenance is
responsible for snow and ice control, leaf collection, traffic sign placement, pavement marking
and painting, and over 130 miles of road maintenance. The utilities division is responsible for
maintaining over 400 miles of water, sanitary sewer, and storm drain pipes. The environmental
maintenance department is responsible for maintaining three cemeteries, coordinating street
sweeping efforts, and performing mosquito abatement programs. The fleet maintenance division
is responsible for cleaning and maintaining over 250 pieces of service equipment ranging from
fire trucks to salt spreaders. Each one of these divisions are crucial in maintaining a sound
infrastructure.
The Administrative Services Department is one of Westervilles newest service
departments. Created by the City Manager in 2008, this department was developed in hopes of
reducing the overall staff needed to run this city. In addition this department works with every
other department citywide in hopes of maximizing efficiency. The functions of the
Administrative Services Department include human resources, labor relations and negotiations,
benefits administration, property and casualty insurance and risk management, wage and salary
administration, employee safety, procurement, building and ground maintenance, records
management in conjunction with the Clerk of Council, and community relations and public
information. Through this service department, the rest of the departments thrive.

Although Westervilles service departments help provide citizens with things that they are
unable to provide themselves, bureaus and commissions help bring the city forward through
citizen participation. The Planning Commission is a great example of this. Made up of seven
members, one of them is appointed by the City Council while the other six are citizen appointees.
Every fourth Wednesday of every month the Planning Commission comes together for hearings
on land proposals such as subdivision plans and zoning requests, as well as plans for commercial
land development.
Another commission is the Uptown Review Board. Just like the Planning Commission, it
consists of seven members, one of them appointed by the City Council. This commission's main
job is to protect and promote Uptown Westervilles historic quality. With meetings held every
first Thursday every month, this group reviews all of the changes being made to the Uptown
District. This can include things such as new construction, building additions, faade renovations
and changes to exterior materials, window and door replacements, signage, awnings, paint color
changes, building demolition, and landscaping elements. Yet, if only few changes are made then
decisions on them can be made administratively. Either way, it is the job of the Uptown Review
Board to oversee all of these new changes.