City council will vote on a one reading resolution to express their support for marriage equality.
Athens City Council will not have an empty at-large seat for long.
City Council’s Tuesday meeting will kick off with the swearing-in of Mike Canterbury by Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl.
After being appointed by Athens’ Central Democratic Committee on Wednesday, Canterbury will be filling council President Chris Knisely’s former seat.
Canterbury will also be running for another at-large term on council in November’s elections.
After a presentation from the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau at last week’s meeting, council will be voting on an ordinance to allow Wiehl to extend the current three-year contract the city holds with the bureau.
Paige Alost, executive director of the bureau, explained that the bureau is “responsible for promoting Athens County to visitors.”
“We engage in a lot of marketing efforts to promote Athens County,” Alost said.
That includes using social media and creating guides and newsletters to increase tourism in Athens.
Alost said the bureau’s website alone receives 1.6 million hits a month.
Council will also be voting on a one-reading resolution supporting marriage equality and the work Why Marriage Matters Ohio, a state nonprofit, has done.
Why Marriage Matters Ohio is a public education campaign supporting marriage equality, according to its website.
The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on same-sex marriage later this year while considering four cases made by same-sex couples, including one from Ohio.
Council members have expressed their support for marriage equality in the past and even passed a measure in 2011 allowing for same-sex partners to register at the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St.
Other agenda issues for Tuesday include measures allowing officials to dispose of the city’s rural transit bus.
“A lot of times, we send it out as scrap metal,” Wiehl said.
Councilwoman Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, said Athens Transit is slated to open another route in the county next month.
“We are moving out to the county with our public transit,” Papai said.
Council will additionally authorize the purchase of two new buses.
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