By Wayne Gates
The Village of Georgetown is moving forward in exploring the possibility of becoming a charter village.
A charter village is one that creates its own constitution that allows residents to make local laws that do not conflict with specific Ohio law.
A first reading of an ordinance was held at the June 27 village council meeting to place the question on the November 5 ballot for residents.
A second reading and possible passage of the ordinance by declaring an emergency is scheduled for the July 11 meeting.
If council approves the ordnance, residents would decide in November whether to move forward with the process.
The next step would be naming a framing commission of 15 village residents who are current registered voters. Those who are interested in serving on the commission would have to circulate petitions and have them returned with 81 signatures of current registered voters by August 7.
The number of signatures is based on ten percent of the number of people that voted in the last municipal election. In 2017, 811 people voted within the village.
Village Solicitor Joe Braun explained the process to council prior to the first reading of the ordnance.
“It is a citizen driven process. It’s not controlled by the mayor, it’s not controlled by the council, it’s not controlled by staff. Once that committee is formed, they decide when they meet, how they meet, their rules, and everything else,” Braun said.
The commission would be comprised of the top 15 vote getters in the August 7 election. They will be listed on the ballot in alphabetical order.
“If the electorate in Georgetown were to vote yes on the question in November, those 15 people would have a year to come up with a charter. Then the village will have to pay to mail a copy of the charter to every registered elector no later than 45 days before the election in 2020.”
Once a charter is created, village residents would then vote in November of 2020 whether to approve it.
Georgetown Village Council Member Nancy Montgomery, an advocate of the idea of a charter village, said that citizens will have plenty of input through the entire process.
“As the process moves forward, all the commission meetings will be open to the public, which would allow the public to attend and give input,” she said.
Elected officials in the village cannot serve on the framing commission. This includes the mayor and any council members.
In other business at the meeting, Georgetown Mayor Dale Cahall read a proclamation praising Georgetown Bicentennial Chairperson Sue McKinley for her efforts.
McKinley then took the opportunity to extend some thanks of her own.
“I want to thank everyone who worked so hard on this event, but I would like to especially thank Nancy Montgomery. She was more than my right hand person. She felt the pride in bringing a glorious birthday party to the village of Georgetown and she didn’t stop until she got it accomplished,” McKinley said.
“To council, the mayor and the village administration. Thanks for giving us the reins to run with this. And to my family, I know this has consumed me for the past few years. Thank you for your support and love.”
McKinley then took a moment to recognize Coach Vern Hawkins, who was named as a grand marshal of the parade, but was not publicly recognized.
“Coach Hawkins was a fixture for over 50 years in the halls of Georgetown High School. His commitment and support of students has truly made you someone that has affected this community for the better. Thank you for your service and guidance.”
The next meeting of the Georgetown Village Council is scheduled for July 11 at 7 p.m. at the village administration building.
