Is it time for Greenfield to change to a City Charter? Part 2
By Pat Hays
Guest columnist
In my last guest editorial in April of this year regarding a charter for the Village of Greenfield (https://highlandcountypress.com/opinions/it-time-greenfield-change-city…), I asked if it was time for Greenfield to change to a “Charter” form of government.
Since that time, an issue has been placed on the November ballot to revert Greenfield to a “Mayor-Council” (federal) form of government.
The main impetus for this reform, in my opinion, was the removal of the City Manager and a member of village council. Facebook and other social media platforms were absolutely filled with hate, vitriol and potentially libelous comments directed at the village administration, and sadly, to members of this community.
I take no sides in the issue of the City Manager. He has resigned.
But I do take issue with throwing out Greenfield’s form of government just to get rid of an individual or two.
Greenfield does need a change. Just not the federal plan. Greenfield needs its own charter, where all of the issues brought up in the past year or so can be addressed. And Greenfield will not have a chance to form a charter for another three to five years if this issue passes.
In an editorial back in 2007, I wrote the following: “I’ve also found in the past 35 (now 52) years that the citizens of Greenfield are some of the greatest in the state, that when they are told the truth about issues, they will do the right thing for the town.
Let’s all work together, install good leadership in our elected positions, and support our Greene Countrie Towne.
I urge you to vote NO on Issue 4 and work diligently to place a charter issue on the ballot next year.
Comment
Charter will remove voter input
Do not be deceived. After a successful election on forming a charter you'll need a charter commission. Section 8 of Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution gives the charter commission only one year to draft the charter and schedule a second election, this time for the charter itself. The cost alone (the entire process to bring a charter to a vote could cost between $200,000 and $400,000) is enough reason to vote no. A huge disadvantage of charter government is that it potentially creates a city where the voters will have less representation. Charter government could take your right to vote for mayor, city auditor, city treasurer and city law director away, and those decisions would be made by city council. Under a charter, city council-hired mayor, auditor, treasurer and law director cannot be voted out of office With a charter government citizens have little voice in city staffing. Eliminating the mayor’s position and hiring a city manager could easily add $100,000 and then, Greenfield, you're right back to where you are right now.
Issue 4
Good article Pat. I feel most of this could have been avoided if we as a group would stop electing incumbents to more than 2 terms. It appears that the bulk of the problems have originated with some of the past and present council members. Wouldn't it be more effective to elect new council members when their terms expire than to change a whole form of government ?