North College Hill charter review panel recommends removing transition clauses, new mayor duties and 45‑day special‑election notice

The North College Hill Charter Review Committee on Monday recommended several changes to the city charter, including removing a transitional provision that already has been implemented, requiring the mayor to attend at least one council meeting per month, renaming the finance manager position to finance director and adding a requirement that residents receive at least 45 days' written notice before a special election.

The recommendations matter because they would change how the city's executive and financial roles are defined, increase routine public reporting and set a longer notice period for any council‑placed special election ballot measures.

Committee chair Councilwoman Javette Underwood outlined the group's proposals during the council meeting and said the panel will deliver its report in writing. “I do intend to submit a report in writing,” Underwood said, adding that the document will include recommendations that council may accept, reject or modify. She told the council the panel recommends removing Section 3.01 (transition years) because the purpose of that clause — to stagger council elections — has already been accomplished.

Underwood said the committee wants to add language to Section 3.03 to clarify that legislation must be enacted as an ordinance or resolution under Section 9 of the charter. The committee also proposed changing Article 7 language to replace the title “finance manager” with “finance director,” and to require that person to attend one council meeting per month to provide a fiscal update.

On elections, the committee proposed adding a provision under Section 13.02 requiring the city to provide written notice to citizens at least 45 days before a special election, in addition to any requirements imposed by the county board of elections. The committee also recommended creating a new Section 4.05 to require an annual “state of the city” address by March 1.

Council members asked procedural questions about how recommended charter changes would appear on the ballot. Law Director William Dieters told the panel that council could bundle changes into a single amendment package for voter consideration: “All changes could be on the same ballot… once you have the council review those, they can either accept it, reject it, or modify them.”

Underwood said the committee considered but ultimately rejected several proposals, including term limits and changes to the city administrator provision; she said those decisions and the committee’s discussions will be included in the forthcoming written report. “I will get it completed and send everyone our recommendations in writing,” she said.

The committee also recommended deleting Article 15, which the members said contains obsolete transitional provisions. Underwood thanked committee members and citizens who participated in the review process.

The council did not vote on any charter amendments Monday; Underwood said council must decide whether to move individual recommendations or present a combined amendment package to voters. The committee chair asked to have the written report ready for the next council meeting so the council could begin considering the package in time to meet the election calendar if it chooses to proceed.