By Josephine Birdsell
Staff Writer
The Greater Hilltop Area Commission voted to push back commissioner elections at their regularly scheduled meeting on July 7.
In response to COVID- 19, an executive order from Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther released all area commissions from following the election timeline outlined in their bylaws for this year only. The executive order also extended all expiring commission terms through Dec. 31, 2020.
In the Hilltop, Mike Purcell, Nikol Madison, Neal Bronder and James Groves will now serve through the end of the year. The election to fill their seats will be held on Oct. 3. Election hours and locations are to be determined.
The commission also reduced the number of signatures a candidate is required to gather to be eligible for election from 25 to 15 to reduce candidates potential exposure to COVID19.
“The point, we think, of getting those signatures is to go out, engage with neighbors and get feedback on what people’s concerns are in the neighborhood. So we don’t want to completely remove that from the process,” said Rachel Wenning, commission vice-chairman.
In other news, the commission’s parks and recreation committee is hosting a park clean-up from 9am to noon on July 11 in Glenwood Park.
The committee is working to clean the area at the bottom of the hill at the park. Volunteers will assist in clearing the area, relaying mulch and pulling weeds.
“We want to give the park a good sprucing up and try to make it presentable,” said Neal Bronder, parks and recreation committee chair.
The committee encourages volunteers to bring their own gardening gloves and masks. Gardening tools will be provided.
Additionally, My Project USA is working to supply personal protective equipment, including hand sanitizer, soap, garbage bags and face masks, to the Hilltop. Community organizations, such as churches and mosques, can apply for supplies at www.myprojectusa.org.
“We highly encourage everybody, all organizations and civic associations, to please spread this message because the face mask is required by governor’s order now all over Franklin County. We have those supplies, and we would love to take them to whoever needs them in our area, in the Hilltop area and beyond,” said Zerqa Abid, My Project USA president.
