That remains to be seen. But Council will meet on May 15 at 2 p.m. in the municipal building to discuss Loper's fate.
“I'm not sure if there will be a vote,” President Howard Baughman said at Monday's Council meeting. “We'll see what progresses and see what happens with Mr. Loper, his representative and the opinions of the city solicitor on what needs to be done.”
The Scioto County Board of Elections earlier this month ruled that Loper is no longer a resident of the 1st Ward. The city charter mandates Council members to live in the ward they represent.
Loper said he now lives in the 6th Ward, but plans on moving back to the 1st Ward. He said Solicitor David Kuhn advised him on the move.
Loper also said he plans to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court. Kuhn said he can keep his seat during the appeal process.
Loper was not at the meeting and could not be reached for comment. Kuhn said he didn't know if Loper has started the appeal process.
Baughman asked Loper to leave the April 10 meeting after Kuhn said Loper's votes may not count. But on Monday, Kuhn said Loper's future votes would not be called into question.
“We have the ability, and I believe, the responsibility to hold a hearing,” Baughman said. “We have to give time to Mr. Loper so he can be represented and see what recourse he has. He deserves due process. But City Council deserves to have the integrity of a full membership, too.”
Baughman said the charter's mandate is clear, but that Kuhn's ruling gives Loper the right to remain on City Council during his appeal.
City Council also authorized Mayor Jim Kalb to enter into contract with PAE/Quest Engineering to design and build an ionic exchange water filtration plant system for an amount not to exceed $3,348,000.
The city raised water rates 8.5 percent to pay for the system.
Water Director Sam Sutherland has said city water has cancer-causing agents in it which the system will remove.
In other business, City Council passed ordinances:
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