Council votes not to rush judge vacancy

With a vote of one to four, Tiffin City Council did not meet the votes required to suspend the three-reading rule on an ordinance declaring a judge vacancy in the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court Monday. The Ohio Supreme Court's disciplinary board suspended Judge Mark Repp of the Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court in November 2021 for an incident in his courtroom that occurred in March 2020. According to the ordinance, the council has found Judge Repp has been absent from official duties for a period in excess of six consecutive months, as referenced in Ohio Revised Code 1901.10(B). If passed, the ordinance would declare a vacancy in the court exists due to Judge Repp's absence. In its own language, the ordinance "is determined to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and welfare of the City of Tiffin." Normally, an ordinance requires three readings by council before a vote can be held on the matter. If deemed necessary, the council can vote to suspend the rule, therefore forcing a vote earlier. To suspend the rule, five members of the council must vote in favor of the move. Councilmembers Ben Gillig, Steve Lepard, Dawn Iannantuono and Ken Jones voted for the suspension of the body's three reading rule Monday, with Daniel Perry voting against the ordinance's suspension. At Large Councilmember Zackery Perkins was absent from Monday's meeting, and council is already down one member from At Large Councilmember Jeff Rhoades' recent resignation. Perry said Monday he was not in favor of suspending the ordinance at this time to gather feedback from the Fourth Ward and residents of the city. Lepard said the issue has been ongoing and it is time to "put it to rest." The ordinance was presented for its first reading Monday. Christopher Leibold, an attorney representing Alexzandria Orta, the woman named in Repp's disciplinary hearing who is now suing Repp, the court and the Seneca County Sheriff's office, spoke during public comment regarding the judge vacancy and invasion of privacy done to Orta by Judge Repp. Leibold expressed his concerns to the council to approve the declaration of a vacancy to further restore justice to Orta and the residents of Seneca County and the City of Tiffin.