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1. What is the City Charter?

The City Charter is the governing document defining how the City’s administration is organized and how the City is run.  Similar to the U.S. Constitution or the State of Ohio Constitution, the City Charter can only be changed if approved by a majority vote by the people.

2. Why are there City Charter amendments on this year’s ballot?

The original City Charter was drafted and ratified by voters in 1992, when Green became a City in 1992.   The first Charter review occurred five years after the Charter was created.  Subsequent reviews are every seven years thereafter (Article 9.1).  This is the fourth time the Charter has been reviewed by a Charter Review Commission. 

3. Why are there so many City Charter amendments on this year’s ballot?

With the passage of the Charter Amendment (Issue 14, November 2018) to move from an appointed law director to an Elected Director of Law, the Charter Commission proposes several Charter Amendments to clarify items related to the Director of Law such as partial terms, qualifications, removal from office, etc.  

4. How is the City Charter Commission appointed?

The 2019 Charter Review Commission, appointed by the Mayor and approved by City Council, are Susan Allen, chair; Vivian Duffrin, vice-chair; and members Sherry Neubert, CJ Meager, and Ted Mallo.

5. What is the process the City Charter Commission follows?

The Charter Review Commission met 12 times from January 2019 through June 2019.  Their role was to re-examine the Charter and review proposed changes presented by city administrators and the general public.  During these public meetings, the commission members reviewed the entire Charter and solicited input from City administrators and the general public for proposed language changes and updates to the charter.   The Commission decided on proposed amendments in public hearings.   Following these hearings, the Commission presented the proposed amendments to City Council for approval to place the amendment on the ballot.   The amendments will become part of the Charter if a majority of voters approve them on November 5, 2019.  

6. Are there other ways to make amendments to the Charter?

Yes.  City Council may submit a proposed Charter Amendment to voters at any time.  Also registered voters in the City of Green may conduct a petition initiative to propose an amendment to voters.   For a petition initiative amendment to be placed on the ballot, the petition must be signed by 10% of voters who voted in the last municipal election.  

7. What are the proposed Charter Amendments by the Charter Commission and accepted by City Council?

For Green voters, Issues 23-35 on the Nov. 5, 2019 General Election Ballot were presented by the City Charter Review Commission and accepted by City Council.