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South Bloomfield council reviews steps, timeline to ask voters about a charter commission
Summary
Mayor Aaron Thomas outlined the statutory steps and timeline for asking voters whether to form a charter commission; council discussed ballot timing, the need to elect 15 commissioners if approved, and contingencies if not enough residents run.
Mayor Aaron Thomas told the Village of South Bloomfield council on July 15 that if the village seeks a charter form of government it must pass an ordinance to submit the question to voters and set an election date 60 to 120 days after passage. "Shall a commission be chosen to frame a charter?" is the exact ballot question the council reviewed, and if approved Brown County voters would then elect 15 electors to the charter commission.
The discussion centered on timing and statutory requirements. Thomas and Village Administrator Joe Allen said the ordinance must specify the method of selecting electors (often by nominating petition), signature requirements and filing deadlines; the board of elections must issue public notice at least 10 days before the election. The mayor said the initial question must appear on the next regular municipal election within the 60–120 day window or on a special election held in that timeframe. The council cited R.C. 3501.01(B) in describing what constitutes a regular municipal election.
Why it matters: adopting a charter would shift South Bloomfield from statutory village governance to a charter form of municipal government, a change that requires voter approval twice: first to create the charter commission and later to adopt the drafted charter. The council discussed the practical hurdles, including the requirement to elect 15 commission members and the risk that the village might have to raise income taxes to fund positions required under statutory city government if sufficient volunteers do not run.
Council members pressed on logistics and local buy-in. Tom Ramsay asked whether the question appears twice on ballots; Mayor Thomas confirmed the process requires a separate election to approve the final charter if a commission is formed. Joe Allen warned that once the village starts the charter process it must be completed within statutory timeframes and he offered to coordinate follow-up steps. The council did not vote on an ordinance at this meeting; the mayor said an ordinance would be prepared next year to place the initial question on the 2025 November ballot if the timeline and conditions align.
The meeting continued with other business; council did not take a formal vote on initiating the charter process during the July 15 session.
