Tuesday, March 21, 2000
Charter proposals scrutinized
Street projects also on agenda in Middletown
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — Proposed charter changes — including raises for city commissioners — and various street and traffic projects are on the commission's agenda for today's meeting.
The city's 15-member charter review committee has recommended eight charter changes. The charter calls for a review every 10 years.
Commissioners, who must decide whether to put the proposed changes on the November ballot, discussed them at the March 7 meeting. They agreed on one: that the commission chairman should be a nonvoting member of the Board of Health, except to break ties.
City Law Director Les Landen said other recommendations include:
• Raise commissioners' annual pay from $5,000 to $7,500.
• Reduce the number of required signatures on city commission nominating petitions from 1 percent of the registered voters to 50 signatures.
• Add discussions of economic development to topics allowed in closed-door sessions. Though Ohio law doesn't specify economic development as being allowed, Mr. Landen said he believes this would fall under state open-meeting laws.
• Rename commission chairman and vice chairman to mayor and vice mayor; change the stints from one year to two years, and allow only at-large commissioners to serve as mayor.
• Allow going outside the ranks to hire police and fire chiefs.
The police and fire chief issue was recommended in the last charter review, Mr. Landen said. It was defeated at the polls.
The mayor/vice mayor issues have been the most controversial in recent charter review committee discussions, Mr. Landen said.
During today's meeting, commissioners also will discuss whether to add left-turn lanes at the intersections of Central Avenue and Main Street and Central and Broad Street as part of the City Centre Mall demolition and downtown redevelopment.
Adding turn lanes would eliminate eight parking spaces per block, said Susan Davis, assistant city manager.
But some fear the lack of turn lanes would create backups on Central Avenue, causing flow problems and leading drivers to avoid Central.
City commissioners will hear an alternative: adding turn lanes at Central and Main only, Ms. Davis said.
Commissioners agreed late last year to spend about $11.7 million on a mall demolition/renovation project. It includes removing the mall roof, reopening Central and Broad to vehicle traffic, restoring storefronts, demolishing some mall outbuildings and creating some new public areas.
“The mall project is now in the final design process, on track and on budget,” Ms. Davis said.
Commissioners also will discuss the proposed conversion of Verity Parkway and Clinton Street downtown from one-way to two-way, a decision necessary soon because of repaving plans.
The city's share of an estimated $2.5 million project to resurface Verity and Clinton, a joint project with the Ohio Department of Transportation which may be scheduled for 2001, would be about $500,000.
But if commissioners choose to redesign the roadway, along with the resurfacing and other improvements, it would cost the city $3.1 million to $3.4 million; there would be no ODOT funding because that project is not the one approved, Ms. Davis said.
The regular meeting begins at 6 p.m.
Parking to be tight for Reds' day games
Prison mom's fight led to major reforms
Rape suspects back in school
Bus dispute still muddled
Citizens air police complaints
Frosh offer slice of Amelia High
St. Patrick helps many have fun
4-year-old honored for 911 call that saved mom
Ballpark closer to getting a manager
Discs show why Duke was a king
Business asked to oppose workers' comp reform
Butler County elderly receive added assistance
Charter proposals scrutinized
New school district aims to fill jobs
School board expected to OK renovations
Suspect charged in N.Ky. slaying
Temple to get new life in arts
House razing goes before city
Indiana woman, 61, dies after head-on crash
Middletown considers changes to charter
Plaza to honor military service
Residents to vacate Warrick Apts.
'Three Days of Rain' clears up in second act
Cincinnati Zoo has pachyderm Picasso
Congressman takes civics lesson to the floor - of school library
Hay exits primary, endorses Roeding
Mason Kiwanis plan golf outing at Kings Island
N.Ky. drug unit faces new questions
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
