The Galion Municipal Building was bustling on Monday evening when residents of Galion had the opportunity to meet and speak with their ward and at-large representatives serving on City Council.
Three new members and a new council president have joined the council since the beginning of the year, and Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary expressed the importance of introducing the newest body of council to the community.
“A year ago when we came in there was quite a bit of activity and commotion to get it going, so I think this is a recognition of where we’ve been in a year and introducing the new council members to some of the community leaders,” he said.
Monday’s meet and greet was organized by Council President Carl Watt, who took office on Jan. 1 before unexpectedly becoming council president on Jan. 6. So far, he said council meetings have been fairly smooth under the newest administration.
“We all want to see it work,” said Watt. “There’s quite a variation of age and experience; some were on council before and then you have Sarah (Capretta) who just had her first meeting.”
First Ward Council member Sarah Capretta experienced her first council meeting earlier this month since joining on June 2 after the resignation of Eric Webber. She noted her first official meeting was a bit scary at first, but exciting.
“The first meeting was a little scary because you’re not really sure how it’s going to go, so knowing what is going to happen at the next meeting makes it a little bit easier,” she said. “I haven’t had anybody come up to me with any issues yet, so I’m kind of looking forward to some challenges.”
Watt stated one of the goals of Monday’s meet and greet was a step toward changing the public image of council and city government. At-large Council member Jon Kleinknecht agreed.
“There has been such a negative mindset in this community for years, I’m even willing to say decades, and there’s been so much mistrust with the local government,” said Kleinknecht. “Over the past year we’ve got a new crew in, and many of us were raised in this community, we raise our children in this community, so I think slowly but surely we’re showing people that we’re not just talkers, we’re doers and we’re listeners.”
Kleinknecht noted the phone lines to reach members of council are always open, as well as the doors to the public meetings. Galion City Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Galion City Hall, 301 Harding Way East in Galion. He said the current members of City Council work very well together.
“There is a real synergy in this administration,” said Kleinknecht. “We don’t all vote the same way every time, but you don’t want that. There’s a mutual respect there.”
“There is a real synergy in this administration,” said Kleinknecht. “We don’t all vote the same way every time, but you don’t want that. There’s a mutual respect there.”
