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Public hearing set on wide-ranging Madeira charter amendments after Council outlines multiple changes
Summary
City Manager Michael Norton-Smith summarized a package of proposed Charter modernizations — including electronic meeting notices, replacing the appointed treasurer with a finance officer, and raising City Manager spending authority — and the Council heard public comment urging either voter approval or separating major items for individual votes.
Mayor Tom Henning opened a public hearing on Ordinance No. 26-05 at 8:14 p.m. Tuesday, the second reading of a package of proposed amendments to the Madeira City Charter that city staff described as a modernization and cleanup effort.
City Manager Michael Norton-Smith told Council the changes include modernizing language, allowing electronic meeting notices, eliminating the appointed Treasurer position in favor of a staff Finance Officer, directing professional staff to develop a capital plan rather than volunteers, revising historical-district protections to require demonstrated historical significance, and increasing the City Manager's spending authority. Norton-Smith summarized the edits as a multi-year process of updates begun in 2024–25.
During public comment Doug Oppenheimer of Miami Township said he had "counted one hundred changes" and urged Council to notify residents clearly about what will appear on the November ballot; he recommended separating key items — the Treasurer change, historical-district revisions and the City Manager spending authority — into standalone questions. Oppenheimer pressed for clarity on how residents will receive the proposed changes and for the Council to consider splitting significant modifications so voters can decide on them independently.
David Peterson, speaking for the Madeira Chamber of Commerce, said local business owners "support the changes and encourage residents to vote for the Charter changes," arguing revisions to Article 16 are important to enable development and that the historic-district language has constrained options for some properties.
Councilmembers discussed technical wording edits suggested for a spending-threshold provision (one change suggested to allow "Ordinance OR Resolution" wording before third reading). Mayor Henning thanked those who contributed community input and closed the hearing at 8:24 p.m. No final vote on the charter ordinance occurred at this meeting; the matter will return for further review and a third reading as required.
