Greenfield will elect new council, mayor in November election
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Residents of Greenfield will have to decide on a new village council, mayor and treasurer during the November general election, with some council members going up for re-election early due to the conversion from city to village status.
Greenfield Law Director Brian Zets told The Highland County Press this week that, "(The conversion) is one of the most difficult things to go through, and it's not well-defined by the Revised Code. The current council members will retain their council positions until they are replaced by their successors. There will be the November election, and Greenfield will have to election village council members."
The current council will retain their seats until January.
According to the Highland County Board of Elections website, Greenfield Council members Bob Bergstrom, Harvey Everhart, and William Redenbaugh were up for re-election in November. Council member Brenda Losey and council president Betty Jackman were not initially up for re-election until 2013. Zets said that Greenfield, as a village, will have six-person council, all of which will be on the ballot Nov. 1.
Those interested in running for village council must file by Aug. 10, according to Zets, which is 90 days prior to the election.
"There will be positions on the ballot for a village council, but until then the current council will be retained until January," Zets said. "Because Greenfield will go to a statutory village status, there will also be the position of village mayor, which will be up for election with the council seats."
Depending on what Greenfield chooses to do, current City Manager Betty Bishop could be retained as a village administrator.
"You can have a six-person council and a mayor, and if they decide, they can hire Betty as the village administrator, and the duties would be the same as in the current form. A lot of villages in Ohio have an administrator, who would take care of the day-to-day operations," Zets said.
When asked what duties the mayor would have, Zets said that is described by statute, with the responsibilities of "presides over council meetings, casts votes in case of ties, chief conservator of the peace and fills vacancies by appointment."
It would be up to the village to decide if the mayor, who would have a four-year term and must live in Greenfield, would be a full-time or part-time position, but Zets said it is unclear exactly who would decide the matter or when.
The current city council cannot "arguably" make any decisions that would effect the operations of the village "with finality," Zets said. They can continue with business that is defined by the ORC, but "anything else will have to be determined by the village council, and that is only official Jan. 1. (The current council) can't create positions for the village. In January there will be a rush of some legislation as the (new council elected in November) will have the ability to set up officially at the beginning of the year. All city statutes and laws continue, unless they are in direct conflict with what a village would do."
One example of a direct conflict, according to Zets, was when auditor Karen Daniels resigned. Because villages do not have auditors, an interim treasurer was appointed until a permanent treasurer is decided on by voters.
Council is holding a special session Tuesday, June 7 to address issues Greenfield is facing in the conversion from city to village status. During the meeting, scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. in the old life squad building, council will also address questions pertaining to the demolition of the Mausoleum. No format for public participation will be scheduled, according to the announcement. Council's regular meeting will be held later June 7 at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers in the city building.
Residents of Greenfield will have to decide on a new village council, mayor and treasurer during the November general election, with some council members going up for re-election early due to the conversion from city to village status.
Greenfield Law Director Brian Zets told The Highland County Press this week that, "(The conversion) is one of the most difficult things to go through, and it's not well-defined by the Revised Code. The current council members will retain their council positions until they are replaced by their successors. There will be the November election, and Greenfield will have to election village council members."
The current council will retain their seats until January.
According to the Highland County Board of Elections website, Greenfield Council members Bob Bergstrom, Harvey Everhart, and William Redenbaugh were up for re-election in November. Council member Brenda Losey and council president Betty Jackman were not initially up for re-election until 2013. Zets said that Greenfield, as a village, will have six-person council, all of which will be on the ballot Nov. 1.
Those interested in running for village council must file by Aug. 10, according to Zets, which is 90 days prior to the election.
"There will be positions on the ballot for a village council, but until then the current council will be retained until January," Zets said. "Because Greenfield will go to a statutory village status, there will also be the position of village mayor, which will be up for election with the council seats."
Depending on what Greenfield chooses to do, current City Manager Betty Bishop could be retained as a village administrator.
"You can have a six-person council and a mayor, and if they decide, they can hire Betty as the village administrator, and the duties would be the same as in the current form. A lot of villages in Ohio have an administrator, who would take care of the day-to-day operations," Zets said.
When asked what duties the mayor would have, Zets said that is described by statute, with the responsibilities of "presides over council meetings, casts votes in case of ties, chief conservator of the peace and fills vacancies by appointment."
It would be up to the village to decide if the mayor, who would have a four-year term and must live in Greenfield, would be a full-time or part-time position, but Zets said it is unclear exactly who would decide the matter or when.
The current city council cannot "arguably" make any decisions that would effect the operations of the village "with finality," Zets said. They can continue with business that is defined by the ORC, but "anything else will have to be determined by the village council, and that is only official Jan. 1. (The current council) can't create positions for the village. In January there will be a rush of some legislation as the (new council elected in November) will have the ability to set up officially at the beginning of the year. All city statutes and laws continue, unless they are in direct conflict with what a village would do."
One example of a direct conflict, according to Zets, was when auditor Karen Daniels resigned. Because villages do not have auditors, an interim treasurer was appointed until a permanent treasurer is decided on by voters.
Council is holding a special session Tuesday, June 7 to address issues Greenfield is facing in the conversion from city to village status. During the meeting, scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. in the old life squad building, council will also address questions pertaining to the demolition of the Mausoleum. No format for public participation will be scheduled, according to the announcement. Council's regular meeting will be held later June 7 at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers in the city building.