http://sciotovillecitizen.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=6thward&action=display&thread=8&page=2   NEW

 

http://sciotovillecitizen.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=6thward&action=display&thread=8&page=2   new link

Link above is 50 acres Video Sciotoville Land "Four Councilmen" are in rush to sell?

Two amendments on ballot on election day.

Police Chief Horner's Tax raise vetoed by voters.

The word on the street is people rejected raise because of

too much waste by Chief Charles Horner.  Many citizens don't trust Horner.

 

$22,000 expenses in campaign funds expended, hundreds of hours by police

and firemen working door-to-door throughout the city, failed to bring a victory of

more tax money from the citizens for Mayor Dave Malone, Police Chief Charles Horner,

and Fire Chief Bill Raison.

841 voted against the tax raise, 832 voted for the increase. 

Board of Elections officials told Sentinel reporters there were 18 more votes that will likely be 

counted and there will be an official announcement of the result on May 17, 2011.

Written by Austin Leedom at 0105 hours Wednesday, May 03, 2011

 

Portsmouth makes Al Jazeera news. Click Here

************  Click on conwaygreene link below:

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CHILLICOTHE, OHIO, 1961,

PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AT LENGTH IN A CODE OF REVISED ORDINANCES AS PROVIDED

IN SECTION 731.23 OF THE OHIO REVISED CODE

http://www.conwaygreene.com/Chillicothe/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0

 

Local man in Alliance Court- Fire Chief Imposter.

http://www.the-review.com/news/article/2376952

Thomas E. Lewis, Broadway St.Portsmouth

KALB DOES IT AGAIN – A NEW LOW IN DISCRIMINATION -

NEW RULES WILL FAVOR WEALTHY

Posted at 5:00 p.m. May 8, 2005

One of the most contemptible of Jim Kalb’s latest money-grab attempts was made

in City Council Monday night, April 25, 2005.

This is, as Jim Kalb has admitted, inspired by a desire to get more money. He

wants more money from our already overtaxed, abused citizens in an effort to

balance a budget deficit. This is a deficit caused by overspending in backroom

 secret deals with select over-privileged vendors and contractors.

For example, less than three weeks ago, on April 7th, we published the

news of the unbid, unadvertised liability insurance contract that Jim Kalb

signed with C. B. Hermann behind closed doors at the Mayor’s Office. The

cost to the city is $407,622. C. B. Hermann was a big-spending contributor to the

former Mayor Greg Bauer and contributed heavily to the campaign to "Keep

Bauer Mayor."

Since the beginning of the year Hermann and Kalb have been observed

together too many times.

(Does Jim Kalb expect big campaign contributions, and other favors from

Mr. Hermann?)

Compare the cost of $407,622 for city liability insurance with the $316,277 paid

by the Scioto County Commission for similar coverage. The County has a much

larger group of employees, a larger fleet of vehicles, more buildings and more

equipment than the city but their rate was nearly $85,000 less. Kalb has claimed

this was an honest "deal." We have asked, "If it were honest, why wasn’t the City

 insurance purchase advertised and why weren’t other insurance agents

allowed to participate?" "If the contract were honest why was it consummated

in the dark, without witnesses?" For the past nine months Jim Kalb has been

doing similar contracts with his "old buddies" and other heavy contributors

behind closed doors.

THE LATEST UNFAIR MONEY GRAB

The newest disgusting ordinance that Mayor Kalb tried to sneak past the

councilmen was the one you can read below. Kalb has already raised the

water rates this year; he drafted and encouraged legislation that increased

sanitation fees.

This latest proposal is one of the most revolting, unnecessary and discriminatory

ordinances ever created and presented to any civilized legislative body.

In this proposal you will find deliberate legalese language, misleading statements

and outright lies written to confuse and mislead the councilmen and citizens.

On first reading the ordinance you might believe, that although this is an unfair

burden on most rental property owners, that this ordinance would apply equally

 to all rental property owners. This is a deliberate deception. It will not apply to

all owners of rental property. The over-privileged, wealthy slumlords who have

most of the rental property in this city will not pay a dime on any building that

 contains living quarters for more than one renter.

The fee is proposed as $50.00 for each residential rental unit.

A residential rental unit is defined in lines 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in paragraph 2,

Section (A) (1) of 1357. 04 REGISTRATION REQUIRED, Section (A) (1).

These lines read: "A residential rental unit, dwelling or property is defined

as a non-owner occupied single unit which provides complete, independent

living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for

living sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation."

This ordinance will apply only to the above described rental units. Buildings

containing more than one rental space, such as duplexes, doubles, and

 apartments will not be subjct to the new fee. Only the owners

of single unit residential buildings will be assessed the fees.

Fat-cats, big-time business men, bankers, lawyers and real estate owners with

 dozens or hundreds of apartment renters will not pay a dime on any building

with accomodations for more than one renter.

This ordinance was especially designed to protect the wealthy, overprivileged

elite citizens who  may be big campaign contributors in the November Mayoral

 election. 

(One over-privileged wealthy associate of the Mayor has over 400 rental units,

many of the units are tax-abated. Under Mayor Kalb’s proposed ordinance this

man will not pay any fees on any of his apartment dwellings.)

However, the tired, work-worn elderly man with a rental property, the poor

sightless widowed old lady with only one rental, the unemployed crippled war

veteran, and all other  owners of single rental units owners will be burdened

with an unfair fee to feed the greed of Jim Kalb, while the wealthy pay nothing.

THE COMPLETE ORDINANCE IS COPIED BELOW

(FROM www.mollette.info )

n. An ordinance creating and enacting a new chapter entitled "Rental Registration

Rules" to the Codified Ordinances of the City of Portsmouth, establishing a rental

registration program. Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City

of Portsmouth, Ohio;

 

Section I. That a new chapter to the Codified Ordinances of the City of Portsmouth

entitled "Rental Registration Rules" is hereby created to be read as follow:

1357.01 TITLE RENTAL REGISTRATION RULES

This chapter shall be known as the Rental Registration Rules of the City of

Portsmouth.

1357.02 FINDINGS.

There exists in the City of Portsmouth, residential premises which are, or may

become, unsafe or unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use, due to dilapidation,

defects increasing the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities, lack of

ventilation, light or sanitation facilities, or due to rendering such premises, or

part thereof, unsafe or unsanitary or dangerous or detrimental to the health,

safety and welfare of residents of the City and persons having access to the

premises. It is further found that by lack of maintenance and progressive

deterioration, the condition of certain residential premises has the further

 effect of creating blighting conditions and initiating slums, and that if not

curtailed and removed, the aforesaid conditions will grow and spread, and

in time, will necessitate the expenditure of large amounts of public funds to

correct and eliminate the same and that by reason of timely regulations and

restrictions, the growth of slums and blight may be prevented, and neighborhood

property values thereby maintained, the desirability and amenities of premises

and neighborhood enhanced, and the public health, safety and welfare protected

and fostered.

1357.03 PURPOSE

The purpose of this Chapter is to enable the City to develop a comprehensive

inventory of rented residential dwelling units located in the City, in order to gain

 a better understanding of the number, location and ownership of such units.

This is essential in order to allow City officials to currently respond to nuisance

 and other complaints more efficiently. This inventory will also be necessary in

order to develop a Rental Occupancy Permit Program in the future. The purpose

of this inventory program is to protect the public health, safety and welfare by

placing the authority governing the maintenance, appearance and condition of

residential premises situated in the City of Portsmouth in the Portsmouth City

Health Department, Engineering Department, and Fire Department, and to establish

the respective rules governing said inventory program.

1357.04 REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

1. (1) Within sixty days after the effective date of this Chapter, every owner of
2. residential rental property shall file with the Portsmouth City Health
3. Department, on a form provided by the Portsmouth City Health Department,
4. a registration for such
5. residential dwelling. In addition to the owner, an agent for the receipt of process
6.  shall also be designated and shall reside within the City of Portsmouth.
7. Government owned and Public Housing Authority owned residential rentals
8. are excepted from registration requirement.   A residential rental unit,
9. dwelling or property is defined as a non-owner occupied single unit which
10. provides complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons,
11. including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and
12. sanitation.

(2) Anytime that: (i) The construction of a new residential rental unit; (ii) the

acquisition of a residential rental unit; or (iii) the conversion of a residential

unit from owner-occupied to a residential rental, results in a rented residential

 dwelling unit which would have been subject to the rental registration requirement

set forth in this Chapter had such unit been a rented residential unit at the time of

the effective date of the registration requirement set forth in (a) of this Section,

 which unit is not registered as provided herein, within 30 days after the property

 becomes subject to the registration requirement.

(3) The registration information required herein shall include, but not be limited

to, the following:

(a) The name, address and telephone number of the owner of the property;

(b) The name, address, and telephone number of the resident agent of the

 property;

(c) The address of the property and the number of residential rental units

 contained within the property;

(d) The number of bedrooms in each residential rental unit;

(e) Such other information as may be requested, including but not limited

to Social security Numbers to be used for enforcement purposes.

(B) Each person required to register a rented residential dwelling unit shall

pay a fee of fifty dollars to the Portsmouth City Health Department for each residential rental

unit for which registration is required.

(C) In the event there is a transfer of ownership of any unit which has been

registered pursuant to this Chapter, the transferee shall file a new registration form as required herein

within five days after such transfer occurs and shall pay the fee required in (b).

1357.99 PENALTY

Whoever violates any provision of the Rental Registration Rules is guilty of a

misdemeanor of the second degree. Every day such violation continues shall constitute a separate

 offense.

SECTION II. The City Clerk of the City of Portsmouth, Ohio is hereby authorized

and directed to publish the within ordinance by posting a true and authenticated copy thereof on

the bulletin board in the lobby of the second floor of the Municipal Building of said City for a

period of not less than fifteen days.PASSED FIRST READING (4/25/05) Concerns were voiced

 at the meeting by citizens and owners of rental property. The second reading will be given

at the next meeting on May 9th. It was suggested to have a public hearing for this Ordinance. I

encourage all concerned to contact their representative and attend the next Council Meeting.

Posted at 5:00 p.m. May 8, 2005

 

 

CORRUPT OFFICE HOLDERS CAN BE REMOVED WITHOUT RECALL ACTION

1. The Ohio Ethics Commission promotes ethics in public service to strengthen the public's

confidence that Government business is conducted with impartiality and integrity.

The Commission has jurisdiction over Ohio's public officials and employees at the

state and local levels of government, except legislators, judges, and their staffs.

Click on http://ethics.ohio.gov/ethicshome. for details

THE OHIO ETHICS COMMISSION  does investigate ethics complaints against public officials.  You do not need to hire an attorney. 

2.  An example:  Complaints against council members in Shawnee Hills, Ohio being

investigated by Ohio Ethics Commission.

 

3.  Freedom of Information bill in General Assembly.

  Read the latest news from Ohio General Assembly concerning tougher Freedom of

Information Act.    FINES OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY POSSIBLE FOR

OFFICIALS WHO FAIL TO PROVIDE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

DOUG DEEPE SENTINEL QUESTIONS FOR THE DAY: WHAT IS "TAPEGATE," 

WHY WAS PORTSMOUTH CHIEF HORNER VISITING WITH NEW BOSTON CHIEF

CLARK AGAIN? 10/FEB/05

SUNSHINE LAWS EXPLAINED – QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Ohio State Attorney General Jim Petro personally welcomed over one hundred persons to a

Seminar at Ohio University-Chillicothe Wednesday afternoon, February 9, 2005. Police

officials, lawyers, newsmen and public office holders were in attendance at the meeting that

was hosted by the Chillicothe Gazette and the Ohio Newspaper Association. Two reporters

 of the Shawnee Sentinel were present, as was Mike Deaterla of the Community Common.

Attorneys of the AG’s Office instructed the audience about Ohio’s Open Records Laws.

Portsmouth City Council’s violations of the laws in the Marting’s case were twice mentioned

and used as examples, during the lectures. (Written by Austin Leedom at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,

February 09, 2005.)
Read DOUG DEEPE - New Article 10/FEB/05-Mayor Jim Kalb did not attend the above

Attorney General's Seminar on Freedom of Information yesterday. That is too bad, Kalb

will never learn. Earlier this week Mayor Kalb refused to give the Shawnee Sentinel copies

of contracts he issued in January of this year with the excuse that the request was too much

for him to handle.  Now, he has allowed the Chief of Police to refuse public documents to

 

Ron Powell. This is going to cost the City of Portsmouth many dollars. If you can't perform

 

your lawful duties Mayor Jim Kalb, you should resign now before you waste more big legal

 fees and face the court again. (Written by Austin Leedom 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 10,

2005)

The article below was copied from the Columbus Dispatch February 7, 2005

by Austin Leedom

AUCTION OF KLAN ITEMS

STIRS DEBATE IN MICHIGAN

Published: Saturday, January 29, 2005

NEWS 02A

Associated Press

HOWELL, Mich. (AP) -- Gary Gray says he will be offering pieces of history today when

he sells seven Ku Klux Klan robes and other KKK paraphernalia at his auction house.

But the uniforms, knives, books and buttons are reminders of a past some people in this

nearly all-white Michigan town, about 55 miles west of Detroit, would rather forget.

"This goes against everything we've tried to accomplish,'' said Victor Lopez, a Latino

accountant from Howell and president of Livingston 2001 Diversity Council, a group

aimed at promoting tolerance.

Howell leaders say the town's racist reputation is undeserved, and they have been trying

to shake it for years. They trace it to Robert Miles, a KKK leader who lived on a farm

outside Howell until his death in 1992.

Miles was convicted of conspiring to burn school buses during an integration fight and

was found guilty in the tarring and feathering of a school principal.

Gray, a white man and owner of the Ole' Gray Nash Auction Gallery, said the auction is

not about promoting racism. He said it is about education and business -- a potentially

lucrative departure from his more standard auction fare of antiques, coins and books.

Howell, in Livingston County, is a growing city of more than 9,000 people. About 97 percent

 of the county's 157,000 residents in the is a growing city of more than 9,000 people.

About 97 percent of the county's 157,000 residents in the 2000 census were white.

Only a half-percent -- fewer than 800 people -- were black. In Howell, only 29 blacks

were counted.

The above article was copied from the Columbus Dispatch 7 February 2005 by

Austin Leedom

Ku Klux Klan is alive. A rally was held here in Portsmouth, Ohio in 1995.

It is believed that members of the Klan are still living here. – Austin Leedom

PUBLIC INFORMATION - Ohio Ethics Commission

History: In 1973, the Ohio General Assembly created the Ohio Ethics Commission as part

of the Ethics Law. The law, effective January 1, 1974, created new ethical standards for

public officials and employees by: requiring personal financial disclosure; creating new

restrictions upon unethical conduct with criminal sanctions; and, establishing uniform

 review of ethics issues by state-wide commissions of the three branches of government.

Authority: The Ohio Ethics Commission administers the Ohio Ethics Law and related

 statutes for all public officials and employees at the state and local levels of government,

except for state legislators and their employees, and judges and their employees. For

legislators and their employees, the law is administered by the Joint Legislative Ethics

 Committee. For judges and their employees, the law is administered by the Board of

Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline of the Ohio Supreme Court.

Members: The Ethics Commission is a bipartisan commission comprised of six members

who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Ohio Senate. The Commission

members, who serve staggered, six-year terms, are:

• Prof. Josiah Blackmore, Columbus - Term expires: 01-01-2009
• Merom Brachman, Chair, Bexley - Term expires: 01-01-2005
• Sarah M. Brown, Vice Chair, Alliance - Term expires: 01-01-2008
• Dr. Robert Browning, Worthington - Term expires: 01-01-2007
• Prof. Ann Marie Tracey, Cincinnati - Term expires: 01-01-2010
• Rev. Leon Troy, Sr., Columbus - Term expires: 01-01-2006

Duties: The Commission has four major responsibilities: public information;

advisory opinions; investigations and referrals for prosecution; and financial disclosure.

Public Information The Commission provides free ethics education and informational

materials, and recommends legislation relating to ethics, conflicts of interest, and financial

disclosure.

Advisory Opinions The Commission possesses the unique authority to interpret the

Ohio Ethics Law and related statutes, which are found in Chapter 102. and Sections

2921.42, 2921.421, and 2921.43 of the Ohio Revised Code. The Commission issues

both formal and staff advisory opinions on ethics statutes. Formal opinions are issued

 on novel questions or questions of statewide interest. Staff opinions are responses

to more routine questions, and follow Commission precedent. Both formal and staff

opinions fully insulate the person making the request, and others similarly situated, if

they comply with the opinion before they act, from criminal prosecution, civil

actions, and actions for removal from office based on the facts presented. The

 Commission is also available by telephone to provide assistance.

Investigations The Commission confidentially investigates complaints and may investigate

 charges of alleged violations under the Ohio Ethics Law. The Commission’s authority is

 analogous to the role of a grand jury. At the conclusion of an investigation, the Commission

may refer the matter for prosecution to the appropriate prosecuting authority or may settle or

 compromise a charge with the accused person. The settlement methods used may include:

mediation; restitution; rescission of affected contracts; forfeiture of any benefits resulting from a

violation of the law; and resignation of the accused. The Commission has no authority to prosecute

 public officials or employees independently. The Commission has discretion to publicly comment

that a complaint has been referred to a prosecutor if no action has been taken on the complaint

within 90 days of the referral.

Financial Disclosure The law requires elected state, county, and city officials,

candidates for these offices, and certain high-ranking state officials and employees

to file financial disclosure statements about their previous year’s finances in

order to remind them and inform the public of potential conflicts of interest. The

 law also requires school board members and candidates for school board member

 in school districts with more than 12,000 students, and superintendents, treasurers,

 and business managers in all school districts to file. The general filing deadline is

April 15, although some forms are due before then. Most forms filed with the

Commission are available for public inspection. For more details about the

requirements of financial disclosure, please refer to the "Financial Disclosure Fact Sheet,"

 available from the Commission.

General Prohibitions: The Ohio Ethics Law contains provisions restricting conflicts

of interest that involve nepotism, post-employment, representation, influence-peddling,

confidentiality, and supplemental compensation. Among other restrictions, the law

provides that each public official and employee is prohibited from:

• Authorizing, or using his position to secure authorization of, a contract, for
• himself, a family member, or a business associate;

• Authorizing, or using her position to secure the authorization of, the investment
• of public funds in any kind of security to benefit herself, a family member, or a
• business associate;

• Receiving any benefit from a contract entered into by his public entity;

• Hiring or securing any contract benefits for her spouse, parents, grandparents,
•  children, grandchildren, or siblings, or any other relatives living with her;

• Soliciting or accepting substantial and improper things of value, including gifts,
• or travel, meals, and lodging;

• Participating in matters where something of value will result for the public
• official or employee himself, his family, his business associates, or others
• with whom the public servant has a close tie that could impair his objectivity;

• Disclosing or using information deemed confidential by law;

• Representing parties, before any public agency, in a matter in which she was
•  involved as a public servant, both during and for one year after leaving public service.

The Commission provides free advice and assistance to public officials and employees,

and to the public and press, in the state of Ohio. If you have any questions about

this information sheet, or about the Ethics Law in general, please contact us.

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Copied on January 6, 2005 by Austin Leedom

EDITORIAL

EASIER ACCESS

Ohio General Assembly should act fast to strengthen state's open-records law

Published: Wednesday, January 5, 2005

EDITORIAL & COMMENT 08A

Ohio lawmakers have a chance to put teeth into the state's open-records law, and they should do it.

In a one-day test last June of selected cities and school districts, the law, which requires

public officials to make public documents available in a timely manner to anyone who asks,

was followed barely half of the time.

Based on that poor performance, Attorney General Jim Petro and Rep. W. Scott Oelslager,

R-Canton, have put together a bill to make the open-records law stronger and easier for citizens to use.

No law will work if government officials and employees -- the keepers of the public's documents

-- don't understand it, so Petro and Oelslager are wise to include a requirement that officials and

employees be taught their duties under the law.

Beyond that, the bill would establish fines of up to $1,000 per day for public offices that fail to comply with reasonable records requests.

That's toothier than the current penalty uncooperative governments face: the possibility of having

to pay the legal fees of a plaintiff who sues over improperly withheld records and wins. Having to

take a chance on a costly lawsuit is a heavy burden for most people. Consequently, only news

organizations that have the money to sue or to publicly embarrass noncompliant officials have

tended to receive the cooperation the law requires.

But information about how government offices spend public money and make public policy

belongs to all citizens, and the law should ensure that they have access to that information when

they ask for it.

Other provisions of the bill would clarify some aspects of the open-records law that have been

open to dispute. For example, reporters and others who make formal public-records requests --

often in painstaking detail -- are sometimes turned down out of hand because the request isn't in

the form preferred by that particular office, or because the requester didn't use the precise official

term in describing the records he wants.

The new bill says that, if a public office finds a request ambiguous, it must tell the requester

what the problem is and give him or her a chance to revise the request.

It also would require public officials who remove sensitive information from public documents

before releasing them to inform the requester of the deletions and, when denying a records

request, to explain the reason for denial, showing legal authority.

Oelslager introduced his bill last month in the dying days of the previous General Assembly,

with plans to quickly reintroduce it in the new session.

Ohio Republicans are rightly concerned with restoring trust in their party in the wake of the

campaign-finance scandals that paralyzed the House last year.

New House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, could demonstrate a strong commitment to

transparency in government by giving this bill a high priority.   _-End of Dispatch Article-

A STRONGER FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT IS DESPERATELY

NEEDED

HERE IN PORTSMOUTH, AND SCIOTO COUNTY, OHIO 

Written by Austin Leedom at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 06, 2005.

Many of the City of Portsmouth Offices and the Office of the Scioto County Sheriff are

notorious for hiding public information, and failing to account for public money. 

Honest citizens have been kept in the dark too long by corrupt office holders.