The verdict issued by the city’s Charter Review Commission after a brief meeting Wednesday night: “If it isn’t broke, let’s not fix it.”

The commission conveyed for a brief meeting at 6 p.m. in council chambers, each of the five members bringing their own unique outlook to the table.

Four members previously had been long familiar with Columbiana’s charter, which had been approved 50 years ago, as they had served in city government.

Dan Blasdell was the former municipal attorney between 1978 and 2017, which covers the bulk of its governance under the charter that was passed in 1974. And no, he quipped that he didn’t want his chair, which is now occupied by Mark Hutson, back.

Keith Chamberlin served as one of the only three city managers between 1990 and 2012, alongside Mary Louise Dicken who was Columbiana’s finance director for many years.

Richard McBane, a former city planning commission and council member, was selected by the body, which also included Don Pedicini Jr. from the Columbiana Public Library, to chair the commission.

Mayor Rick Noel oversaw the discussion prior to a new chair being chosen and expressed his appreciation for the commission members’ interest in the charter. “Many of you are in the trenches from the very beginning,” he said before each commission member gave a brief introduction about his or her self.

Deputy City Administrator Bryce Miner composed the minutes, which later will be signed by secretary Blasdell, as chosen by the board.

Referring to an editorial in Tuesday’s Morning Journal about how Ohio population trends suggest widespread drops statewide, Noel pointed out that Columbiana doesn’t appear to fall in that class.

“Columbiana County is projecting a -24.82 percent reduction down to a population of 76,556,” the article reads, also predicting declines in neighboring Mahoning County. “It is too simple to say the solution is to develop an economy and communities in which our young people want to stay and rain families – and which attract newcomers.”

As Noel pointed out, Columbiana is on the right track. During a presentation, 20 youth from Columbiana High School told representatives from the Rural Community Assistance Group (RCAP) that they all planned to stay in Columbiana after they grow up.

There also is tangible proof that the city is prospering.

For example, the city only had 3,000 population in 1915. Now, Columbiana has 6,900 population. Noel credits much of the foresight shared by individuals who decided that the professional municipality format is the way to succeed.

“(These) people set the foundation and established the infrastructure. Canfield may be the only other city that can show a population growth,” Noel added.

During the Chamberlin, Dicken and Blasdell years, Chamberlin agreed they saw results — mostly due to their investment in the infrastructure. “The size of Columbiana did double when we were here. You can see what happens when the infrastructure is in place.”

Dicken recalled how the city had a $5 million budget when she started there: “We ended up with a $40 million budget (when I left).”

Despite public notice of the Wednesday meeting, the gallery was virtually empty and no one expressed any need for charter changes.

Municipal attorney Mark Hutson pointed out it doesn’t appear to need anything now. “It still works as well as it did 50 years ago. The biggest issue appears to be individual code sections not the foundation of the charter. The charter is nice and broad so it is all encompassing and works well.”

Dicken agreed that it clearly could be navigated in audit situations when she she was finance director.

The commission voted unanimously to accept the current charter “as is” with no changes.

McBane declared the evaluation of the charter done and adjourned the meeting. Noel talked about a special commemoration ceremony of the 50th anniversary of the city’s charter on Light Up Night with more details to follow at a later date.