LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: recall

  • [Exclusive Video] Council Majority shuts down meeting and goes home

    [Exclusive Video] Council Majority shuts down meeting and goes home

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland Magazine was live last night, and the only local media outlet to cover the Loveland Council meeting. Before City business was discussed, Mayor Fitzgerald read a statement accusing Councilmember Rob Weisgerber of condoning violence towards Councilmember Pam Gross. Weisgerber tried to respond, but the meeting was abruptly adjourned and the microphone turned off, with votes by Fitzgerald, Gross, Angie Settell, and Steve Zamagias.

    Weisgerber, Kathy Bailey, and Ted Phelps voted to continue the business meeting.

    The result was also that residents who say they had hard hitting statements they wanted to make during the open forum, were also not heard last night.

    Bailey, who voted against the adjournment said afterward that she believed the adjournment was rehearsed and scripted by those who voted for it. You can see her interview at the end of the live-stream. Fitzgerald, Gross, Settell, and Zamagias had left the meeting room, so were not available for any rebuttal to Bailey’s allegation of a scripted shut-down of the meeting.

    The live-stream continued to run after the “majority” council members had left the room, and you can watch as Weisgerber addresses the audience and the charges made about him by the Mayor.

    You can go to the end of the live-stream to see the interview with Bailey.

    Here is the social media post that Fitzgerald said was left on Weisgerber’s Facebook page and therefore condones violence towards Gross:

    Rob Weisgerber

    June 21 at 9:50pm ·

    To all my friends out there and especially for those who have spoken out against Mark Fitzgerald and Pam Gross on Loveland City Council. Pam Gross today submitted 9 separate public documents requests for all emails and documents between me and a host of private citizens. The magnitude of the list of names is very disturbing. She had also made the same request of Ted Phelps and Kathy Bailey included in those 9 requests.

    I will be clear that her request looks to be so broad and ill defined that no one can respond. Legal council now has to be involved to resolve. Pam is costing you the residents of Loveland by wasting your tax dollars on petty requests.

    The depth Pam Gross is willing to stoop to for her campaign is embarrassing

    (Name Redacted by Loveland Magazine) You dont have to give her anything. Thats a violation. Does she have a subpeona? She can request all day long. Lol who does she think she is? Trying to pull another fast one with intimidation. She nerds a good old fashion loveland ass kicking 80s style lol.

    Bailey said there was important City business on the Council agenda last night. In protest, some members of the audience crumpled or ripped in half, the meeting agenda.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: Loveland Magazine sent an email this morning to the Councilmembers who voted to shut down the meeting asking for their response regarding Kathy Bailey’s accusation last night that the abrupt closing down of the council meeting was pre-planned.

    Rick Ogden Heating & Air Conditioning

    Installation and maintenance of heating and cooling systems in Loveland, Ohio Rick Ogden Heating & Air Conditioning is a family owned company
     
  • Who is running for School Board and Council? – Other Election News

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

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This story will be continuously up-dated as election news is published.

      

    Council hopeful Andy Bateman’s Candidate Statement

    Kent Blair launches Loveland council campaign featuring resident engagement platform

    [BREAKING] Board of Elections gives Loveland Mayor 5 days to resign…

    Ned Portune is a candidate for the Loveland School Board of Education

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

    Three candidates officially file for Council and School Board seats

    [Video] Fitzgerald Re-Call Petitions delivered to Elections Board
    Secretary Husted certifies signatures for Marsy’s Law ballot initiative
    What you should know about recall elections
    What does Loveland Charter say about electing/recalling Mayor?
    Here’s what Vice-Mayor Settle didn’t want you to know
    [Exclusive Video] Oury will run to replace Fitzgerald in recall election
    Mark Fitzgerald is Loveland’s new Mayor by secret ballot
    [Exclusive Video] “We will rise!” – Shouting matches erupt at council meeting
    Mark Fitzgerald is Loveland’s new Mayor by secret ballot

    Loveland, Ohio – As of Friday, July 24, according to the Hamilton County Board of Elections, the following have picked up petition packets to run for Loveland Council, however, none have submitted their petitions to the Board.

    No one has picked up petition packets to run for Loveland School Board.

    Loveland Council 

    Todd Osborne

    Arthur E. (Ted) Phelps, Jr.

    Pamela Gross

    Dave Heimbach, the Administrative Associate at the Hamilton County Board said on Friday, “Loveland Council and Loveland School Board have not had any petition filings, to date. There could be others, not on our list, circulating petitions. The deadline for Loveland Council and Loveland School Board petition filings is August 9 at 4 PM”

    Loveland School Board Open Seats (3 to be elected – 4 year term)

    Dave Blumberg – Term Expires 12/31/17

    Tim Taggart – Appointed to the Board in 2017 to fill the remainder of term vacated by Linda Pennington, Term Expires 12/31/17

    Michele Pettit – Term Expires 12/31/17

    Open Loveland Council Seats (4 to be elected – 4 year term)

    Pam Gross – Term Ends: 12/04/2017

    Ted Phelps – Term Ends: 12/04/2017

    Robert Weisgerber – Term Ends: 12/04/2017

    Stephen Zamagias – Term Ends: 12/04/2017

    Loveland resident, Neil Oury is currently circulating petitions for a re-call of Loveland Mayor, Mark Fitzgerald. If Oury’s petition drive is successful, he will ask voters in November to give him the remainder of Fitzgerald’s term which expires 12/02/2019. ([Video] Fitzgerald Re-Call Petitions delivered to Elections Board)

    Loveland Magazine has sent an email to all of these potential candidates, asking if they plan on running.

    UP-DATE:

    Loveland School Board member, Michele Pettit replied, “I will be running again this fall. Since I have been out of town I will be picking up my packet next week.”

    Loveland Councilmember Rob Weisgerber replied, “Yes I do.”

    Rick Ogden Heating & Air Conditioning

    Installation and maintenance of heating and cooling systems in Loveland, Ohio Rick Ogden Heating & Air Conditioning is a family owned company

     

  • Elizabeth Blust to Mayor Fitzgerald: I don’t give you permission to bulldoze City Hall

    Elizabeth Blust to Mayor Fitzgerald: I don’t give you permission to bulldoze City Hall

     

    [quote_box_left]

    EDITOR’S NOTE: Please excuse the quality of our recent video work from the Loveland City Hall council chamber. After the City recently hired a Public Information Officer (PIO), 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)

    [/quote_box_left]

     

    Loveland, Ohio – Resident Elizabeth Blust spoke at the May 23 Council meeting. She said she only recently became more aware of City politics. The talked about her ethical concerns surrounding activities at City Hall and finished by saying she did not give Mayor Mark Fitzgerald permission to bulldoze the municipal building.

    Blust challenged Fitzgerald to send her a “Spoliation Warning” letter like he sent to other residents.

     

     

    Loveland Sweets – Fine Candies

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  • Councilwoman Bailey rejoices at the news that the buildings can be saved

    Councilwoman Bailey rejoices at the news that the buildings can be saved

    So many people stopped by to see the damage, not to gawk, but to mourn

    This photo was taken Tuesday evening at the site of the fire that nearly destroyed two historic buildings in downtown Loveland. Scaffolding was being placed to protect the integrity of the brick facade in preparation for the possible restoration.

     

    Loveland Councilwoman, Kathy Bailey

    [dropcap]W[/dropcap]e all experienced a loss this past weekend with the fire in downtown Loveland. We all feel it personally, because this is the town we love with all our hearts.

    So many people stopped by to see the damage, not to gawk, but to mourn.

    We all rejoiced at the news that the buildings can be saved. This is Loveland. Everyone of us that calls Loveland and the surrounding area home knows exactly what that means. Like we always do, we will band together, wrap our arms around the building owners, the businesses and their employees, and the residents, and do all we can do to get them through this, and restore that block to all its glory.

    It warms my heart, and reminds me why I love this town, to see all the businesses in the Loveland area reaching out to help, and to hear residents ask what they can do and where they can donate. (See this website for information on how to help!).

    A shout-out, too, to Chief Huber and our amazing fire department and police department for all their hard work this past weekend.

    This is a hard time, but this is Loveland, and with all of us working together and doing all we can to help, we will come through this stronger than ever!

     

    Kathy Bailey is a member of the Loveland Council

     

    Take Home Tano Consumer Meal Market

     
    Take Home Tano is about fresh, wholesome food for the frenzied family   Our goal is to meet the needs of busy families
     
  • Who is Joe Wessels and what does he do at City Hall?

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

    Residents deserve to know

    by Halie Rebeccaschild

    Dear Loveland Magazine Readers,

    Who is Joe Wessels? Does he have a contract with the city of Loveland? And how do we pay him? Residents deserve to know. The email you can read below, from Joe Braun, Loveland City Solicitor, was sent to me on 5/15/2017 in response to a Public Records Request request that I sent to Clerk of Court, Misty Cheshire, on 5/10/2017 in regards to the employment of Joe Wessels as PR consultant and independent contractor for the city of Loveland.

    On 5/11/2017, Wessels dedicated some time on the Loveland Community Heartbeat Political Action Committee (LCHPAC) Facebook page making public allegations that LCHPAC had been spreading false and misleading information to the public about the lack of engagement that Loveland City Council majority members have had with the residents of Loveland. At that time, Wessels stated that he is a new, part-time employee who represents the city, and he engaged with our stakeholders on our Facebook page from 7:45-11:50 AM, as well as a thread on another social media application used by Loveland residents, NextDoor. That thread may be seen in entirety here: https://www.facebook.com/LCHPAC/posts/451134371900703 .

    [pull_quote_left]Of course, the big question residents should want to know: How much does the city pay for a public relations consultant to spend hours on Facebook?[/pull_quote_left]It seems prudent that anyone claiming to speak for the city should provide evidence to residents supporting that claim. Residents also have the legal right to review employment contracts and verify the authority by which contractors are hired. Of course, the big question residents should want to know: How much does the city pay for a public relations consultant to spend hours on Facebook?

    [pull_quote_right]Is it possible that Joe Wessels is actually a campaign tool for the majority on council?[/pull_quote_right]This last question is especially important given his motivation to clean up the poor public relations problem of our city council, all of whom are elected by Loveland residents. Is it possible that Joe Wessels is actually a campaign tool for the majority on council, two of which are up for reelection on November 7th and one of which, Mark Fitzgerald, has petitions actively circulating to recall him to the 2017 ballot?

    Given that the positions Wessels chose to take on the Facebook thread serve the interest of the current development philosophy and the positions of the majority on council who drive that philosophy, it does indeed appear that Joe Wessels is election campaigning for the majority members up for reelection (or protecting the job of the city manager, Dave Kennedy). Why else would the city need a PR person to troll a Facebook page of a political action committee established with the singular intention of removing those members from city council this year and of questioning the development agenda of the city? 

    [pull_quote_left]It does indeed appear that Joe Wessels is election campaigning for the majority members up for reelection.[/pull_quote_left]In particular, Wessels claimed that a 6-resident session at the high school in February of 2016 somehow counted as sufficient engagement to endorse the current plan to demolish and rebuild city hall. I personally would like to call Wessels out on that information as patently false and unsupported by minority on council who attended, as neither was a 4-story, multi-use city hall project discussed at that meeting, nor has the city done any outreach to engage residents on this particular project (or any other development planning in the last eight years). Residents deserve to know we’ve been sidelined for nearly a decade, and we are clearly not going to get that information from Wessels or majority council. But let’s take a look at the money spent to cover up this unfortunate truth.

    [pull_quote_right]Why else would the city need a PR person to troll a Facebook page of a political action committee?[/pull_quote_right]Anyone who cares to stop abuse of tax payer funds and abuse of power should see the following employment documents for Joe Wessels (no contract exists, which means the authority to hire him is in question). Given the hourly rate of $125, Joe Wessels, an independent contractor who trolled the LCHPAC page from 7:45 AM until 11:50 AM on May 11th, will charge the city $500 to counter a single morning on the Loveland Community Heartbeat Facebook page. At 20 hours per week, Wessels will earn $2500/month, $30,000/ year to do the job that our majority on council should be doing to improve the poor relations between city council and Loveland residents. 

    I challenge Dave Kennedy, Loveland city manager, to produce authorization by ordinance or charter to pay for the ongoing public relations services of Joe Wessels. And I call to all Loveland residents to vote accordingly on November 7th, 2017.

    (Like and Follow Loveland Community Heartbeat on Facebook for daily updates on our efforts to hold majority council accountable on election day.)

    It’s time to Stand Up, Loveland!

     

    Halie Rebeccaschild is a Loveland resident and Secretary of Loveland Community Heartbeat Political Action Committee

     
    From: Braun, Joseph J.<jjbraun@strausstroy.com>

    Halie:

    You requested the following public documents from the City of Loveland:

    Any and all documents that detail Joe Wessels’ job description, salary, and any charter section or other materials governing his employment with the city and his salary amount.  Some of what you requested is information — not a public document.  Notwithstanding, in response to your public document request I am attaching any and all public documents in the possession of the City related to the work being performed by Joe Wessels. The City has no document that is a contract or job description responsive to your request.

    You should be advised that no documents are being withheld for any statutorily permitted reason or any privilege.  There are two redactions made to the documents related to his social security number and federal tax ID number.

    Thanks,
    Joe Braun

    Joseph J. Braun | Shareholder
    STRAUSS TROY CO., LPA

    Loveland Sweets – Fine Candies

     

    Loveland Sweets is a purveyor of hand-crafted chocolates, caramels, marshmallows, and ice creams. Our house-made candies are prepared in small batches

  • Loveland Council and Community Improvement Corporation sued over violation of open meeting laws

    Loveland Council and Community Improvement Corporation sued over violation of open meeting laws

    The opening paragraph and first salvo of a lawsuit alleging City officials violated open meeting laws on two separate occasions.

     

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland resident, Patty Horton-Sandmayr has sued the City of Loveland, individual council members, the City Finance Director, the Community Improvement Corp (CIC) and four of its members for violating Ohio’s open meeting law. She alleges Council illegally went into an executive session on September 13, 2016. She also alleges four members of the CIC went into an illegal closed-door meeting on March 20 of this year. She is asking the Clermont County court to prohibit these actions in the future by issuing an injunction, restraining the City, the CIC, and the individuals, from committing further violations of Ohio’s Open Meeting Act. She is also asking the City and the CIC to each pay a civil forfeiture of $500 each, court costs, and the cost of litigation.

    Horton-Sandmayr told Loveland Magazine, “It is time for the people of Loveland to know what our local government is doing. I felt it was time to put all of Loveland issues on hold – hoping we can work together as one community to keep our wonderful town fun and peaceful”.

    City Attorney, Joe Braun told Loveland Magazine in an email on Saturday morning, “The lawsuit claims City Council and the Community Improvement Corporation of Loveland failed to designate in their minutes on two occasions the proper section of Ohio law when holding an executive session. I have reviewed the lawsuit and it is based on inaccurate information and has no merit under law. The City will vigorously defend it and seek to have it dismissed.”

    Loveland Magazine followed up by asking Braun, ”What information in the suit is inaccurate? Is it that the minutes were not written accurately? Were the proper citations made orally before going into executive session? Or is it something else specifically?” Braun has not responded with an answer.

    You can read the complaint that was filed in the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas here: Complaint

    Named individuals are Mayor Mark Fitzgerald, Vice-Mayor Angie Settell, and councilmembers Kathy Bailey, Pam Gross, Ted Phelps, Rob Weisgerber, and Steve Zmagias. The Community Improvement Corporation members named are, Cory O’Donnell, Jay Stewart, Karl Weidner, and Kelly Flanigan who is also the City Finance Director.

    Horton-Sandmayr said that her family moved to Loveland in 1967, and she moved back in town about eighteen years ago.

    The CIC is an Ohio not-for-profit, quasi-government agency of the City of Loveland. Recently the CIC has made a controversial recommendation to City Council to demolish City Hall and replace it with a possible 4-story office building in Loveland’s Historic District with one floor of retail, City Hall on the second, and two additional floors of apartments. The CIC has come under fire by both residents and some members of City Council for meeting in a too-small room and during non-traditional hours for public meetings. The CIC has also recently been given the responsibility of selling and developing the City purchased, Loveland Bowling Lanes.

    The lawsuit doesn’t purport to know what was discussed during the meetings the public was prohibited from attending other than generic economic development issues that the bodies shouldn’t have been discussing behind closed doors. Horton-Sandmayr told Loveland Magazine on Saturday that she is in the dark as to what was discussed. Neither City Council nor the CIC publishes minutes of their discussions when they are behind closed doors.

    Horton-Sandmayr’s attorney is Matt Miller-Novak with the Cincinnati law firm of Godbey Law.

     

    RP Diamond Printing & Embroidery

     
    RP Diamond is the exclusive retailer of LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR
     
  • Future of City Hall: An open letter to City Council

    Future of City Hall: An open letter to City Council

    Can you please tell me, what is the harm in slowing this process down just a little?

    by Stacy Mullenix

    Dear Council and City Manager,
     
    Good afternoon.  I am a relatively new resident, having moved my family from Blue Ash to Loveland in 2014, though I grew up in Symmes Twp. and have spent a great deal of time in Loveland since childhood. 
     
    I am writing to share my disappointment in the recent activities and decisions regarding the future of City Hall, as well as ask some questions so that I may have a better understanding of the process.   
     
    There are many questions being circulated amongst residents, of which I am sure you are aware. There was a motion made at the May 9 th meeting by Mr. Weisgerber to engage with the public in discussions and idea-sharing sessions, to hold a true dialogue. To me, this would be a tremendous step towards resolving some of the hostility currently being displayed between residents and council. 
    [pull_quote_right]To those of you who voted against this motion, your lack of willingness and openness to this engagement is disheartening at best.[/pull_quote_right]
     
    To those of you who voted against this motion, your lack of willingness and openness to this engagement is disheartening at best, sorely disappointing, and quite frankly, feels like a violation of the trust we, as residents, should have in our elected officials.  
     
    I am not opposed to change and well-planned, well-thought out growth and development, but I do have many questions about the City Hall project. As much as I appreciate the opportunity to attend the CIC meetings to possibly get answers to these questions, I am unable to do so. Like so many residents, I hold a full time job during the day which precludes me from attending, so I am posing some of my questions here. 
     
    I have copied Mr. Kennedy as well in hopes that someone can and will provide some insight for me on the following. 
     
    1. Can you please tell me, what is the harm in slowing this process down just a little, for, if nothing else, the sake of repairing relations with the citizens you are supposed to be representing? 
     
    2. Are there significant financial (or other) consequences of pushing this project back 6-12 months to allow for better education of and input from residents? 
     
    3. If Loveland does not have the infrastructure (streets, parking, etc.) to accommodate large community events, how will the increased traffic and stress of so many additional apartment units be handled? 
     
    4. Have any environmental studies been conducted, or when will they be done? I am curious about this given the proximity to the river and the floodplain status of the property, as well as for the impact the dust and debris will have on neighboring businesses and residents. 
     
    5. How can we be assured the architecture and design of any new building will fit in and help maintain the quaint, historic charm of our downtown? Something that was missed with Loveland Station and the new “Historic Downtown” sign at Veteran’s Park. Will there be scheduled and announced times for residents to provide any input on the design plans?   
     
    Thank you for your time.
    Stacy Mullenix
     
  • Councilwoman Angie Settell to residents: “Enough is enough.”

    Councilwoman Angie Settell to residents: “Enough is enough.”

    “Yeah sorry, you’re gonna have to listen.”

    Loveland, Ohio – This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video was recorded during the April 11 Loveland City Council meeting.

     

    Loveland Sweets – Fine Candies

     
    Loveland Sweets is a purveyor of hand-crafted chocolates, caramels, marshmallows, and ice creams. Our house-made candies are prepared in small batches.
     
  • Chamber asks for Loveland Council to return their two signature events

    Chamber asks for Loveland Council to return their two signature events

    In describing her version of how the dust-up transpired, Pam Gross turned to Kathy Bailey and said, “And, you can sit there and think, oh, whoopee-do – but, it’s a big deal.”

    Loveland, Ohio – CeeCee Collins, the President of the Little Miami Chamber Alliance appeared at the  Loveland Council meeting on April 11 and spoke at the open forum about the Chamber’s recent expansion into Miami and Symmes Townships. She talked about Chamber programs and how they have helped new members since the expansion.

    Collins also commented on what she described as, “The two events that were taken from the Chamber” by the City of Loveland: Christmas in Loveland and the annual Fourth of July Celebration. She said, speaking about their Firecracker Festival and why it was moved to Symmes Township, “Make no mistake, we were consulted by City Staff and Council to do so.” She said the event was moved to “appease” leadership at City Hall. She said the Chamber wants to reach out to the City and let them help with these two events that last year cost the taxpayers over $20,000 when the two events were organized by City Staff. She said if the City should decide to again to partner with local businesses, the events would cost taxpayers nothing or a minimal amount.

    She asked Council to vote during the meeting to return both events to the Chamber. “We hope you will put your City and the businesses first.”

    Councilwoman Kathy Bailey made a motion to return the events to the Chamber. She said there is no question the City lost money on the events and, “We’ve got someone willing to run them – that’s run them well.”

    In making a case for the City retaining the events, Councilwoman Pam Gross said that the Chamber’s vision for a community event is not “Our vision of a community event.” Gross continued by going over her interpretation of why the Chamber’s Fourth of July event was moved to Symmes Township’s Home of the Brave Park. She said that behind the City’s back, Collins contacted Symmes officials in March of 2016 because the Chamber wanted to have the Firecracker Festival in one of their parks. She turned to Bailey and said, “And, you can sit there and think, oh, whoopee-do – but, it’s a big deal. “The point is, they want to grow their event and I respect that, but, logistics here in Loveland and the infrastructure here in Loveland does not fit an event of 10,000 or more people.”

    Gross said, speaking about Christmas in Loveland, “No one can steal events.”

    Laughter of disbelief came from the audience with someone saying, “Yes you did.”

    Gross responded to the audience by saying, “Excuse me. You cannot steal something that does not belong to you, OK? The events belonged to the community. These were community events. Cities all across the United States put on events and they put on these events because it fits what they think the community wants and needs.” Gross said she does not support Bailey’s motion.

    Councilman Steve Zamagias said he didn’t think Council should vote on issues that the Chamber and City staff should work out.

    Bailey, Ted Phelps, and Rob Weisgerber voted to return the events to the Chamber. Angie Settell, Steven Zamagias, Mark Fitzgerald, and Gross voted, “No.”

    BACKGROUND: “On the sly” – How City Hall pirated Christmas in Loveland

     

    Wards Corner Chiropractic & Sports Rehab

     

    Loveland chiropractor Douglas Portmann, DC at Wards Corner Chiropractic & Sports Rehab is one of the best chiropractors in the Loveland area.

  • Memo from CIC to Council for building a new City Hall

    Memo from CIC to Council for building a new City Hall

    Loveland, Ohio – This memorandum is the Community Improvement Corporation’s (CIC) update to City Council regarding their recommendations and options for build a new City Hall. This recommendation is set to be presented to City Council at their regular 7 PM meeting on May, 9. City Council is expected to vote on setting a date and time for public hearings on the recommendation.

    For Background: [Exclusive Video] How new City Hall project will be rolled out to the public