Huber Heights voters face six charter amendment issues

Mayor leading opposition against passage of Issue 29.

Huber Heights voters will consider six charter amendments on the ballot, the first proposed changes to the charter since ratification in 1983.

Passage of the issues requires majority approval by voters. The electorate’s vote is binding and would change the charter.

The newspaper interviewed Councilman Mark Campbell, a member of the 1983 and 2016 charter commissions who supports passage of the issues, and Mayor Tom McMasters, who opposes the issues, especially Issue 29.

Issue 26

Issue 26 approval designates the mayor as a non-voting member on all council-appointed committees. Current language designating the mayor as an “ex-officio” member of all council-appointed would be removed.

Campbell said “councils in the past took for granted that the mayor did not vote” and the commission wanted to make that clear in the charter.

“The commission agreed the mayor should veto, break ties, but should not vote,” he said.

McMasters believes the current language designates him as a voting member of committees.

“I think that’s intrinsic to the way that it’s referred to in there now,” McMasters said.

Issue 27

Issue 27 approval would allow the mayor eight calendar days to fill a council vacancy if council fails to do so within 30 days.

The mayor currently has three days "or as soon thereafter as possible." Neither the current charter nor the amendment specifies what happens if the mayor fails to make an appointment, as happened earlier this year when McMasters did not fill a vacancy within three days.

McMasters argues Issue 27 “makes unclear” what happens after eight days and prefers the “soon thereafter” language.

Campbell said passage would remove ambiguity by prohibiting a mayor from dragging out a vacancy.

“We’ve given the mayor more time and now there’s a specific time and date,” he said.

Issue 29

Issue 29 approval changes the way council approves legislation. If passed, each resolution would require one public reading before passage and immediate adoption, while each ordinance would be read twice, unless a vote of two-thirds of council waives the requirement.

Currently, each ordinance and resolution are read during three separate council meetings unless the requirement is waived. Additionally, a 30-day wait before resolutions take effect is required, meaning emergency legislation is often required to conduct routine business.

“What this does is eliminate us from having to waive readings and apply the emergency clause as frequently as we’ve done,” Campbell said. “I think it’s going to help run the government more efficiently.”

McMasters argues the current practice of passing emergency legislation restricts the ability of citizens to add input on major projects — such as the city’s aquatic center — and taking away the three readings and wait period will worsen the situation.

“If this proposal goes into effect, it will only require one reading for resolutions, and there are no checks and balances on council if this issue passes,” he said.

Issues 24, 25 and 28

Issue 24 approval adds charter language recognizing the city’s six council wards and requires council to “periodically review” ward boundaries to ensure sizes are “relatively equal,” and provides criteria for council to consider when creating new wards.

Issue 25 adds language stating interpretation of the charter “shall not be construed as limiting in any way the general power” granted to the city by the Ohio Constitution.

“It’s not a significant change, but it clarifies the language,” said Clerk of Council Anthony Rodgers.

Issue 28 approval designates the clerk of council as the deputy clerk of council’s direct supervisor.

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