[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6172382,"mediaKeyId","5389576-754bf6faecd1e6be7d6987bda5fbb7a1","parentId",5389576,"title","North College Hill committee weighs which charter changes to send to voters","audioSeconds",3144,"startMs",21095,"endMs",3165175,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5389576-754bf6faecd1e6be7d6987bda5fbb7a1&start=21&end=3165","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5389576-754bf6faecd1e6be7d6987bda5fbb7a1/thumbnail_21095.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6172382/Ohio/North-College-Hill-committee-weighs-which-charter-changes-to-send-to-voters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172382-cd9ab0d68ad8f8300ecc379d3889cfbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770790610&Signature=cZMf9TPLxWPBe2My8niVtB3UOCOR0V~mwzOF8oWtL2NMLfmyg0pFehKyEyZypX1Qu3pfaP9W1DTkp6hKEQQV82vevJiKr5OEeTXbvKhC0G21PU7YUXAlAjzFDTY7lAmKORti7kQbaMCIXPpuTqjR06-1r1U5E-v2Nq3M-uqpqyjrKfLsiQuoEA2xkQelGt-c-mvn9GW5uP022WYah3~0zE14ghQ3WHGv2E7F7N~RZ7DG6ScHkBWabZWb6~ZihMfGZYnokP5Upo6un1w8WuVc9msveSaoDfOKK4KtzQZtqfw2EAQKjmmXGRd0~2M1egtqa9pHB~XqAR2k2YA7zYfOyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of North College Hill, OH ","date","2025-07-15T13:24:18Z","article","Members of the North College Hill Rules and Public Policy Committee spent the meeting deciding which recommendations from the Charter Review Commission to place on a city ballot and how to handle the drafting, timing and costs of that effort.

The question matters because several of the commission's recommendations would change the city's written charter and could have budgetary or administrative effects if approved by voters. Committee members noted a potential financial impact from renaming the city's finance manager to finance director, and raised procedural issues that must be resolved before ballot language is finalized.

Committee member Latonya Chichester opened the discussion by asking members to confirm whether the commission had strongly championed any particular change and to make sure the group knew the steps required to put charter amendments before voters. Chichester said she planned to send current meeting minutes to committee members so they could approve and post them in advance of the transition to the next committee chair.

Members agreed to ask the city's law director, Bill Deters, to draft the ballot language for whatever recommendations the council chooses to place on the ballot. Committee members discussed deadlines and logistics: a staff member said the Board of Elections process has changed and some notices can be emailed but that the overall sequence of steps and a likely August deadline would require the council to schedule special meetings to meet ballot deadlines. The committee also asked staff to confirm in writing whether notices must be mailed to every elector or may be emailed.

On the substance of the commission's recommendations, members focused on several items that drew repeated attention: changing the title of the finance manager to finance director (noted as potentially carrying a larger salary or classification implication), clarifying that the council exercises power over city finances through formal legislation (ordinance or resolution) and not ad hoc motions, and reconciling charter language with the city's civil service rules and the Ohio Revised Code. Chichester and other members said the charter as written contains language that could be read to allow hiring outside of civil service steps for police or fire, and said the charter needs to be brought into conformity with state law.

The group discussed a commission recommendation (section 4.03 in the draft report) to require the mayor to attend at least one council meeting per month and to require certain department heads to attend meetings so council can ask questions directly. Committee members said the recommendation as drafted lacked a time frame in some passages and suggested the ballot language be precise (for example, \"one council meeting per month\" rather than simply \"one meeting\"). The group also considered a proposed change to increase the mayoral residency requirement from three years to five years and discussed adding a requirement that mayoral candidates have prior service in some public or civic capacity; members did not reach a final decision and left those items for the full council vote on which recommendations to forward.

Committee members expressed concern about past practice in which financial matters were sometimes handled by motion or informal action instead of by ordinance or resolution, which makes historical record-keeping and legal review more difficult. Several members suggested tightening committee procedures, restoring thorough committee minutes or \"committee notes\" that explain legislative intent, and offering short training sessions for council members so they can recognize when an ordinance or resolution is required and how to follow required readings.

Procedurally, the committee agreed: (1) to have Bill Deters draft ballot language for the commission's recommendations; (2) that the council must separately vote on each recommendation to include it on the ballot; and (3) that special meetings may be necessary to satisfy the board of elections timetable if the council wants amendments on the upcoming ballot.

The chair closed the discussion by asking members to review the draft ballot language when it is circulated and to identify any items they do not want included before the council formally votes. The committee did not vote on any charter amendments at the meeting.

Ending: The law director will prepare draft ballot language and staff will provide written confirmation of Board of Elections deadlines and any mailing requirements. The committee signaled it will hold special meetings if needed to meet the ballot calendar.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","North College Hill Committees 7/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the North College Hill Rules and Public Policy Committee spent the meeting deciding which recommendations from the Charter Review Commission to place on a city ballot and how to handle the drafting, timing and costs of that effort.","taxTitle","North College Hill City Council, North College Hill, Hamilton County, Ohio","taxId",72193,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6172373,"Welcome-basket program, Juneteenth and fireworks planning shift to Recreation; council warns on donation protocol",1082,3326045,4408845,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5389576-754bf6faecd1e6be7d6987bda5fbb7a1&start=3326&end=4408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5389576-754bf6faecd1e6be7d6987bda5fbb7a1/thumbnail_3326045.jpg","/articles/6172373/Ohio/Welcome-basket-program-Juneteenth-and-fireworks-planning-shift-to-Recreation-council-warns-on-donation-protocol","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172373-76a567a2a9fac54a206757ff658f975c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770790610&Signature=I0MgcqL4hmf~hDaVriXS6CgvhnBjS4ijv1rvEJicC35qlScpNIn32nNoxEXsPUD15U5PQ1GUFZybYMY7NqQh36CoV0eC6HsDJN5EfVd~5XBjGg45MqcPXgNp~ofgtzFmUa8Xm5CPzsx~rlhxLrTOJDdyE7uqnnfOpIE3GpkbmNk3c8Fo9KXZHpw~tHh3oVoXtZ9IH9iIz10p38AEmBDVCfE~4zDR9RqYZoGqcw8ThLTp6DKxizevWQaYsR1y-vkSlYmqyIP6FfE5FGjaJBUynPLWiqh4spejXbOQUUjVfm8y6~vSz1ba451jMkBtVeXZfA1KHNGNUpq68LM-rQJY~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Community and Economic Development / Recreation (CCDR) discussion covered three community-led efforts: a new welcome-basket program for new residents, planning for Juneteenth and a fireworks display, and the Party in the Park event series.

Committee member Miss Gaskins reported volunteers assembled and delivered welcome baskets that included nonemergency information cards and printed materials; a few deliveries were made yesterday. Gaskins said the items were well received. Council members then raised equity and procedure questions after it was reported two council members paid for some materials out of pocket.

Council members said that leaving purchases to individual members is not equitable and asked that the committee either propose that council divide the cost or that the program be added to the municipal budget going forward. Several members emphasized donations or personal purchases by council members must follow the city's gift and donation procedures and be documented; one council member warned that soliciting contributions could be construed by the Board of Elections as a campaign-related activity and recommended the city administer fundraising and sponsorships centrally.

Members agreed to collect counts and cost data for the baskets used this year, calculate a per-basket cost and bring a budget request forward for next year. The committee also discussed Habitat for Humanity homes: closings on some houses were delayed, so some baskets should be held and redelivered when owners move in.

On Juneteenth and fireworks, members proposed turning responsibility over to the Recreation Department for 2026. This year volunteers stepped in while the city lacked a recreation director; members asked the department to include Juneteenth and fireworks sponsorships in its 2026 budget and to send sponsor letters early to avoid the timing issues that prevented a fireworks show this year.

Party in the Park planning was underway: signups were live for a bake-off, a best-pet contest and a police-vs-fire kickball game; committee members encouraged broad participation. Council also requested a list of this year's yard-sign winners and whether winners consented to public listing; staff said some winners opted not to be posted publicly and the committee will respect those preferences while keeping an internal record.

Separately, the senior center requested help: program coordinator Colleen Ellis announced a July spaghetti lunch fundraiser tied to a cellphone-literacy series for seniors and asked for donations of supplies, volunteer help or sponsorship of meals. Council members asked how to respond without triggering open-meeting or campaign rules and were advised that individual one-to-one contact with the organizer is acceptable but multi-member solicitation or systematic coordination among a quorum would not be.

Ending: The committee asked volunteers to tally baskets and costs and forward totals to budget staff, asked administration to route Juneteenth and fireworks planning and sponsorship letters through Recreation, and requested staff preserve internal records of yard-sign winners while honoring privacy requests.","Volunteers delivered a first run of welcome baskets to new North College Hill residents, and council members agreed the program should be budgeted or moved to Recreation administration; members also asked staff to handle Juneteenth and fireworks planning and warned council members about donation and solicitation rules.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6172377,"Finance staff reports Ohio Checkbook updated; IRS review centers on missing 1099s",3827,3166045,6993685,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5389576-754bf6faecd1e6be7d6987bda5fbb7a1&start=3166&end=6993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5389576-754bf6faecd1e6be7d6987bda5fbb7a1/thumbnail_3166045.jpg","/articles/6172377/Ohio/Finance-staff-reports-Ohio-Checkbook-updated-IRS-review-centers-on-missing-1099s","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172377-ea6d997bdde829fe47769948ef4c5e89/orig.mp4?Expires=1770790610&Signature=Zlr--HL7BZI7u7qRLINPZRKdqVuDbX2QnjFqKWZpibOJffrI1ZTEAnxVRUGv6jhGQfxonrlhENT5VwbZ6BiGOoU-VGc3gwMMdhY8EtQ7keimZw2x5MfgZgtO-jKv1zwCkEV-YWrWEap~m1XA2QY8eAC9FONSdedSW-9eScSQVw7oGzM1TXPutUN7YLQoEGbeGTcTqy1Kpf9X~jpWOfN66mIsUhPWNh9lfCXjw7jA-m8hnAVuzMif71pMSXVZqrzH9lYwoGAXiTGBBWz3hVmOrN~nXdvl2TxAZ-K43lMGAkxI60NgnnvMqsZu85uyV-dLA~RUI-lKc-oSKC0uO2OKeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City finance staff reported to the council's Budget and Finance meeting that the municipal Ohio Checkbook online posting is now current and that staff completed the month-end reconciliation for May while continuing work on related items.

The update is significant because it surfaced a previously separated Fifth Third Relief Fund holding $178,826.52 and identified outstanding checks and timing differences that explain apparent discrepancies between the software (books) and bank balances. Staff also told the committee an IRS review has focused on missing 1099 forms for contractor payments from 2022 that were not issued in early 2023; that omission prompted federal inquiry and could expose the city to tax-related liabilities if vendors do not satisfy their obligations.

Finance staff said the Ohio Checkbook upload is now current and walked members through the May monthly report. The city's Fifth Third Relief Fund was shown as a separate account with $178,826.52 and modest interest. Staff explained that the general-fund software balance must be read together with that relief account to reconcile totals. The reconciliation shows outstanding checks of about $23,869.12 that have been recorded in the city's accounting system but had not yet cleared the bank as of the May statement.

On payroll and benefits timing, staff explained the municipality records payroll and the city's portion of pensions and payroll-related obligations in the month they are calculated and often pays them the next month; that timing leads to regular month-to-month differences between the ledger and cleared bank items. The fire levy fund temporarily showed a negative balance because a usual Hamilton County deposit had not yet been received, staff said, and staff will check whether county distributions can be advanced if necessary.

Staff also disclosed that the IRS has initiated a tax review tied to missing 1099 information for work performed in 2022 but not included in 2023 filings. The city and its vendor Paycor are coordinating to identify affected payments and reissue appropriate information statements; staff estimated the gross exposure with interest could be on the order of tens of thousands to roughly $100,000 absent vendor action. Staff said many vendors have already cooperated and some have paid liabilities reported to the IRS, reducing the city's potential exposure.

The committee also discussed the state auditor's management letter, which routinely flags the city's present cash-basis reporting instead of the accrual basis most other municipalities use; staff said moving to accrual accounting is an option but involves a substantive transition and cost analysis.

Ending: Staff will continue the 1099 remediation with Paycor and vendors, provide a written reconciliation of the relief account, and check whether county fire levy distributions can be accelerated; the committee also agreed to shift Ohio Checkbook reporting to a quarterly update for council to conserve staff resources.","City finance staff told the Budget & Finance committee the Ohio Checkbook is current, detailed the May month-end reconciliation and disclosed an IRS review prompted by missing 1099s for payments tied to 2022.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

North College Hill committee weighs which charter changes to send to voters

Welcome-basket program, Juneteenth and fireworks planning shift to Recreation; council warns on donation protocol

Finance staff reports Ohio Checkbook updated; IRS review centers on missing 1099s