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Notice/Advertisement Title: Citizens' Commission on Elected Official Compensation Minutes
Contact Name: Kirsten Estose
Contact Telephone Number: (614) 795-0275
Contact Email Address: kmestose@columbus.gov
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The 2026 Citizens' Commission on Elected Official Compensation met for the fifth time on Thursday, March 19 at 8:30am in Columbus City Hall, Council Chambers (90 W Broad St, Second Floor, Columbus OH 43125). Chair Christopher Moses, Commissioner Liz Caslin-Turner, Commissioner Alyvia Johnson, and Commissioner Monica L. Womack were in attendance.
Call to Order
Chair Moses called the meeting to order at 8:33am.
Presentation on the Duties of the City Council and the Council President
Chief of Staff to the City Council, John Tannous, presented on the roles and responsibilities of the City Council and the Council President.
Chief Tannous provided a summary of what City Council is, the responsibilities of the Councilmembers in chair and vice chair committees, and the responsibilities of the Council President in providing leadership to the City Council. Chief Tannous highlighted how the role has evolved over the decades and how that relates to compensation, noting that Councilmembers are expected to be highly accessible to the community.
Chief Tannous also discussed historic debates about whether the role of the Councilmember is a full-time or part-time role, as the City Charter is silent on this topic. He also presented a philosophy of compensation regarding public servants and elected officers.
Commissioner Johnson asked about the qualifications to be a Councilmember, and the skills necessary to succeed in the role.
Commissioner Johnson asked whether all Councilmembers are paid the same regardless of their outside employment status.
Commissioner Womack asked how outside interests are captured and what it would take to make the job full-time officially.
Chair Moses asked how the role might change if the election model changed to a ward-based ...
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