Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Tag: city council

  • Campaign Statement of Pam Gross

    Campaign Statement of Pam Gross

    EDITOR’S NOTE:
    Pam Gross is a candidate for Loveland City Council and provided this Candidate Statement to Loveland Magazine.
     

    Loveland Magazine invites all candidates for public office in the 45140 zip code or within the Loveland City School District boundary to send a similar Candidate Statement for publication. Send to lovelandmagazine@cinci.rr.com

     
    Pam Gross is running for Loveland City Council

    Four years ago I made the decision to run for city council because I believed Loveland needed new leadership, vision and direction. I promised several things:

    • Smart and focused economic development programs
    • Implement sound fiscal policies without asking taxpayers to pay increased income taxes
    • Innovative and creative ideas on infrastructure while maintaining quality city services

    This message resonated with the voters and I was elected to serve as their council representative. I am proud to say that I have delivered on the promises four years ago and I am now seeking re-election to continue on this path of progress and looking forward to the future and new successes that will continue to grow our city and keep it vibrant and financially stable for future generations.

    This is a decent enough elevator campaign speech but it doesn’t tell the real story of the progress in Loveland nor does it capture the excitement and vitality of our city.

    During my first campaign, my niece, Nyla, was graduating from High School. We’ve always been very close and she spends a lot time at our home. Like most of us, we like to play, shop and eat in our community. We would ride or walk on the bike trail, and then we hop in the car and head over to Madeira to shop at the little boutiques and grab a bite to eat in Montgomery. Why, because Loveland didn’t have much to offer outside of an extremely expensive dirt pile in the middle of downtown.

    My accounting office is located downtown and I would drive by that dirt pile every day and finally I decided, I’m going to run for council. I’m tired of the same people running the show – our city needed new leadership, direction and vision. Our town had so much potential. So I ran for council and I won. There is no greater honor than serving as an elected representative for the community I care so deeply about. 

    Fast forward to today – my niece is now a senior at the University of Dayton. When she comes to visit her favorite aunt, the first thing she says is “let’s go downtown, I love that boutique – Busy Bee – they have all kinds of cool stuff.” She also tells me not to forget to bring my credit card and after spending my money she says “I’m hungry – let’s eat at Bella’s I like their outdoor patio – and after let’s get an ice cream at Graeters.”  That big pile of dirt is now Loveland Station, it is a thriving and fully occupied residential/retail space. 

    On any night of the week downtown Loveland is full of life – kids enjoying ice cream, adults socializing on the outdoor patios and couples walking hand in hand enjoying the people watching. We have new small businesses as well – Narrow Path Brewery, Fresh Press and Bike Trail Junction. Travel down Loveland Madeira Rd and what was once a vacant car lot is now a vibrant business center with a Starbucks, SportClips and Chipotle. Four years ago our Commerce Park,  the “economic engine” of our city, was losing tenants at an alarming rate, today it is almost 100% occupied, home of the corporate headquarters for McCluskey Chevrolet and Mike’s Car Wash. 

    New businesses are not only a boom to our economy but it builds our local tax base which supports our excellent Police, Fire, EMS, Public works and Parks  ( for people and dogs.) They are the quality city services our residents expect. I’m seeking re-election to continue this path of progress.  

  • Tom Morris: Council news broke with a scripted middle finger

    Tom Morris: Council news broke with a scripted middle finger

     

    EDITOR’S NOTE: Please excuse the quality of our recent video work from the Loveland City Hall council chamber. After the City recently hired Public Information Officer (PIO) Joe Wessels, LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV has been put into a small corral to one side of the room, and the podium was placed so that when the public rises to speak, they have their backs toward the audience and our camera. We have talked to the City Manager and the Clerk of Council about how this arrangement significantly degrades our video, “The old set-up allowed a video camera to swing back and forth between those at the podium and the council table. That arrangement had been used for decades.”

    Our plea has fallen on deaf ears. The PIO, however, did respond saying, “Unfortunately, the arrangement of the media area will not be moved to accommodate better angles at this time.”

    So, for the time being, LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV is forced to show butts instead of faces, except when Councilwoman Pam Gross uses the podium. (See this recent video)

    City’s PR man Wessels paid “Almost $76 per minute of meeting” – Tom Morris

    Loveland, Ohio – “Our town is a bit of an embarrassment. The actions of this Council in recent weeks have been deplorable, unfortunate, and absolutely a joke.” is how Tom Morris began his speech at the August 22 Loveland Council meeting. He wants it fixed and offered solutions.

    He told the remaining three members of the “Fitzgerald Four” that the previous council meeting was, “A scripted middle finger.” He was talking to Vice-Mayor Angie Settell, Pam Gross, and Steven Zamagias when they attempted to make Settell, mayor, and Gross, vice-mayor. The meeting was later ruled illegal because of improper public notice. Morris said that that problem will hopefully be rectified in a few weeks with the November election and the replacement of a few members of Council.

    Morris then laid into Joe Wessels, the City’s public information officer. He pointed to Wessels who was sitting at a desk alongside the side of the Council chamber and said he was getting paid $2 a minute, “Just to sit here in the room with us.” He chastised Council for paying Wessels $125 per hour and already $10,000 for signing up for a couple of social media accounts and, “Accomplishing what a seventh-grader does in an afternoon.”

    Morris pointed out that Wessels was recently paid $125/hour to have lunch with a resident.

    Morris said that Wessels charged the City $531.25, “Almost $76 per minute of meeting” to attend the June 27 Council meeting, a meeting that lasted seven minutes. “Maybe it took more than four hours to shyster a positive spin on something so mind-numbingly dumb, but all we needed was, ‘Grown man acts like a child and is unfit for his position.” Morris was referring to the meeting where then-mayor Fitzgerald called the meeting to order, gave an angry speech and then the “Fitzgerald Four” abruptly adjourned the meeting.

    Morris said that the City’s Public Relations Committee has qualified members and could be doing the job Wessels is doing, with more integrity, at no cost to taxpayers.

    Later in the meeting, Wessels addressed Council and outlined current projects he is working on but did not address the allegations made by Morris.

    Read these related stories:

    Who is Joe Wessels and what does he do at City Hall?

    Mayor’s Kumbaya Moment pivots to Bye Y’all as Council meeting abruptly…

    Solicitor tells Council their meeting was not proper and Settell is…

    Mark Fitzgerald resigns as Loveland Mayor and councilmember

    Loveland: Meet Chester, the fried chicken you’ve been awaiting!

     

     

     

  • Solicitor tells Council their meeting was not proper and Settell is not Mayor

    Solicitor tells Council their meeting was not proper and Settell is not Mayor

    “The election of Mayor and Vice Mayor at the special City Council meeting of August14,2017 was not proper.”

    – Loveland Solicitor Joe Braun

    Angie Settell took an oath of office to be Loveland’s mayor on Monday, a position that was stripped away in a legal opinion today.

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine obtained a legal opinion written by City Solicitor Joe Braun today that throws a monkey wrench in the selection of Angie Settell as Loveland’s new mayor and Pam Gross as vice-mayor.

    In the opinion, Braun said that the special meeting called by then Mayor Mark Fitzgerald for last Monday was not a legal meeting and voids the business conducted at the meeting.

    The Clerk of Council had failed to post a notice of the special meeting 12 hours beforehand as required by Loveland law. The notice was put on the bulletin board outside City Hall four hours short of the 12 hours required.

    Braun said, “The day after the August 14, 2017, special City Council meeting, I was advised by Councilwoman Kathy Bailey that a resident contacted her and alleged that the City had failed to properly advertise the special City Council meeting. Specifically, the resident indicated that the Clerk of Council had failed to comply with Section 109.04 of the Loveland code of Ordinances.” Braun continued, “I cannot ignore the fact that the posting requirements of Section 109.04 of the Loveland Code of Ordinances were not adhered to by the Clerk of Council. As such, any action taken by Loveland City Council at its August 14, 2017, special meeting should be deemed without legal effect.”

    Mark Fitzgerald presided over what he assumed was his last Loveland Council meeting and facilitated the election of Angie Settell as the next Mayor. The solicitor ruled today that it was not a properly called special meeting of council.

    Fitzgerald stepped down as Mayor at the meeting so that he could still cast votes on who would be the next mayor and vice-mayor. The votes were 4-3 in favor of Settell and Gross. After the meeting was over, Fitzgerald distributed a letter that he was resigning from Council.

    Braun’s legal opinion does nothing to affect the decision by Fitzgerald to resign his seat on Council which he submitted to meet a deadline of the Hamilton County Board of Elections who gave him a midnight deadline to either resign or face a recall election in November.

    Council remains a six member body. Council must begin again at a legal meeting nominating one of their own to be mayor and vice-mayor. A decision not made easy because Council is evenly divided into two camps of three members each. Braun said that Settell remains as vice-mayor is now also the presiding officer of meetings and might remain as such until November when voters fill the four open seats on the fall ballot.

    A six member Council after the November election might still deadlock on a selection of mayor, vice-mayor, and someone to fill Fitzgerald’s remaining two year-term. Brauns opinion did not address that possible scenario.

    Braun’s opinion at least temporarily strips Settell of her Mayoral duties and her ability to unilaterally appoint Fitzgerald’s replacement if the 3-3 divided council cannot agree on who it should be. Before Braun’s opinion, Settell had to wait for 30-days to make an appointment, but as of today, he said the decision must wait until after the November election.

    Braun reached the following conclusions:

    (1) I cannot ignore the fact that the posting requirements of Section 109.04 of the Loveland Code of Ordinances were not adhered to by the Clerk of Council. As such, any action taken by Loveland City Council at its August 14, 2017, special meeting should be deemed without legal effect.

    (2) The election of Mayor and Vice Mayor at the special City Council meeting of August 14, 2017 was not proper. Ms.Settel should maintain her role as the Vice Mayor of Loveland and serve as the presiding officer of all City Council Meetings given the vacancy left by the resignation of the Mayor as a member of City Council.

    (3) The decision to fill the empty City Council seat left by the resignation of Mark Fitzgerald vests with the remaining six members of this City Council Should those remaining six members not be able to reach a majority consensus before a new City Council is elected and seated in November 2017, then that City Council shall fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mark Fitzgerald under Section 2.03 of the Loveland Charter.

    (4) The position of Mayor of Loveland shall remain vacant until a new election takes place by the remaining members of City Council, or until an organizational meeting is held and a new Mayor is elected by the newly elected City Council in November pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Loveland Code of Ordinances.

    (5) Because the resignation of Mark Fitzgerald as a member of City Council took place after the special meeting, and not during it, the resignation is still effective as of 11:59 p.m, on August 14, 2017.

    Neither Settell or Gross replied to a request for comment before publication deadline.

    Here you can read the full text of the Solicitor’s Opinion: LOVELAND SPECIAL MEETING LEGAL OPINION-1

    This story was up-dated Friday, August 19 at 1:50 PM

    Read background about the illegal meeting:

    Mark Fitzgerald resigns as Loveland Mayor and councilmember

     

  • [VIDEO] Shanda Gentry was appalled by behavior of elected officials

    [VIDEO] Shanda Gentry was appalled by behavior of elected officials

    Loveland, Ohio – Shanda Gentry, a twenty-year resident took to the open forum mic during the July 25 Council and said she was appalled by the behavior of elected officials that would allow a speech to be made by the Mayor, and then walk out of a meeting without allowing anyone to respond. ([Exclusive Video] Council Majority shuts down meeting and goes home)

    Gentry also addressed Council on the possible deal with a private developer to turn over part of the City owned Christman property for development.

    New offerings for your child at VisionArts studio in Loveland

    Help your child improve their academic performance this school year by enrolling them in the creative arts program at VisionArts studio in Loveland!

  • [BREAKING] Board of Elections gives Loveland Mayor 5 days to resign or face recall

    [BREAKING] Board of Elections gives Loveland Mayor 5 days to resign or face recall

    Loveland, Ohio – In a statement to the Loveland Community Heartbeat PAC today, Sherry Poland, the Director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections said, “On August 4, 2017, the Hamilton County Board of Elections received a petition for the recall election of Mark J. Fitzgerald, and an election of a successor. We have completed the review of the petitions and determined the petitions to be sufficient.”

    Fitzgerald is the Mayor of Loveland and has two years remaining of his elected term of four years as a council member.

    Poland said that if Fitzgerald does not resign within five days, an election will be held at the next general election on November 7. She also informed the community group that attorney Doug Holthus, on behalf of Mark J. Fitzgerald, has requested a protest hearing on the validity of the petitions and that the board has scheduled a Special Meeting on Friday, August 11th at 8:30 AM to hold a hearing.

    Resident Neal Oury has collected signatures to run in the recall election against Fitzgerald, however, has not filed those petitions with the Board of Elections. He did, however, file a petition last week to seek one of the four-year-term open seats on council this fall. He told Loveland Magazine that if the recall petitions are certified, he will withdraw that petition and then file the signatures supporting his candidacy for the direct head-to-head vote against the Mayor.

    BACKGROUND:

    [VIDEO] Interview with Halie Rebeccaschild after turning in Fitzgerald recall petitions for 2nd time

     
  • Three candidates officially file for Council and School Board seats

    Three candidates officially file for Council and School Board seats

    Loveland, Ohio – Eileen Washburn who lives at 10923 Rednor Court has filed her petition to run for a seat on the Loveland City School District Board of Education.

    Timothy Butler who lives at 1102 Hickory Ridge Lane and Pamela Gross 343 Huntington Drive have filed petitions to run for Loveland City Council.

    Read other local election up-dates and news:

    Who is running for School Board and Council? – Other Election…

    [VIDEO] Tim Canada proposes term limits and direct election of Mayor/Vice…

    What you should know about recall elections

    [Video] Fitzgerald Re-Call Petitions delivered to Elections Board

    Diane Powers proposes direct election of Mayor and term limits

    [Exclusive Video] Oury will run to replace Fitzgerald in recall election

    Three Council Members jointly see a better way to address and improve Loveland ‘s City Charter

    Loveland Sweets – Fine Candies