City Hall
Welcome to Tom McMasters' blog about being Mayor & life in Huber Heights
Thoughts
I believe I will be able to make better decisions if more residents know what's happening in Huber Heights. When I started this site I hoped to inspire 4 or 5 residents to attend committee meetings and then write informative articles for the rest of the community to reference. That idea never developed and I ended up writing most of the articles. Now that I've been elected Mayor, I've been in a quandary on what to do with the site. The city has official methods for conveying information. I plan to use this open forum to have a conversation that allows me to learn more about the city and your views. Yes I know, people shouldn't do public math. Oh well, you're going to see it, warts and all. With luck you'll give me insight into what you're thinking, but I'm positive it will allow you to see how I think.
Tom McMasters
As important as I'd like to think this website can be, if you really want to keep up with City government regularly look at the agenda items found on the City's Meeting Information & Audio / Video page
Flier
If you've come to this website because of a recent flier you probably want to see the City Lawyer's opinion paper first. At the very bottom of that page you can find a link to the flier for you to download it and pass it out yourself.
Tom McMasters
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News
Mayor annoyed by hiring process
- Posted 5:05 AM
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By Tom_McMasters
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Tune in for a lively Council Meeting Monday April 14, 2014
- Posted April 14th 2014, 1:12 AM
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By Tom_McMasters
Council meets tomorrow, Monday April 14, 2014. I expect it to be a long meeting with plenty of entertainment value. This is a pleasant way of saying last week was particularly frustrating. I'm also disappointed that again this week, I didn't get the opportunity to post responses to outstanding questions. I will address at least one in this article. Remember you can watch the meeting…
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Bethel Schools Facility Plan - Meeting
- Posted April 11th 2014, 12:12 AM
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By Tom_McMasters
Invitation to Bethel
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Update: Executive Sessions - committees can discuss the agenda item…
- Posted April 9th 2014, 6:53 AM
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By Tom_McMasters
UPDATE: Tuesday the Administration Committee voted to nominate Mr. Schommer for permanent City Manager. The process the voting members of the Administration Committee implemented last Tuesday was to tell Mr. Schommer to meet with the City Attorney and construct a contract. He was told to have it ready for Monday's Council meeting so the full council could vote on it. The committee did not give either…
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Older news
Recent Comments
Thomas Cloud Restroom & Concession Monday - Who Pays? and its Bas…
- Posted March 7th 2014, 6:23 AM
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By Thomas McMasters
The decision on where to put the concession stands has been negotiated. There is no commitment to put in lights or fences (in other words there is no commitment to remove 5 to 7 soccer fields). In fact during the public meeting emphasis was given to highlight that no user group such as soccer would be negatively effected.
Now it appears as if the baseball organizations expects to develop a baseball complex in a way that would significantly and negatively affect the soccer user. I believe that it is important that all users have a realistic expectation on future development.
Offering my opinion; I don't believe the baseball fields as laid out would ever allow for fences, lights, and dug outs. I believe that a baseball complex with fences, lights and dug outs is a good idea. However, if that is the objective then we should put the concession stand on hold and go back to the drawing board and redesign the layout of the park so that the baseball fields and soccer / football practice fields are efficiently laid out to maximize the usage.
I highly recommend that everyone look at the video of the public hearing (discussion starts about 38 minutes into the video. mms://agendaquick.hhoh.org/dcr2/CC042213.wmv
It can be a misdemeanor not to cut your grass.
- Posted February 27th 2014, 2:02 AM
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By RT
"and shall remove those cuttings from that land. "
Does this mean mulching lawnmowers are illegal?
Yes, I know I'm a fat old man that can't make sentences
- Posted February 25th 2014, 6:42 AM
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By Mike
Many politicians have style and charisma but lack virtue in their motives. I prefer to follow the leader with the latter.
Please contact Ms. Kaleps asking her to propose a change in the Adm…
- Posted February 19th 2014, 1:48 AM
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By Ronald Deak
Here is what I sent to Ms Kaleps–
I see that you are leading the charge to change the rules of the council. From a resident it is absolutely wrong. It seems you are spearheading the effort to remove the mayor for different boards. Why now, the previous mayor was part of everything….Tom McMasters is our mayor and was fairly elected and now changing the rules because he is asking tough questions on how the cities money is spent and accounted for and getting the word out to the residents to have them become better and more involved in their community. Wow this is what I hear. If this is accurate shame on you and the rest of the council. It is everyone's money in the city. Taking an elected official out of the process is not democratic…why because you and the rest of the council do not like his tough questions; or he does not go with the flow…There is only so much money in the pot to use and mortgaging our cities future by cooking the books and moving money around and trying to hang everything on the police and fire is wrong. I understand the different types of money as I have run several military installations and I know how to move money around. While it is not the same as in the city the overall concept is the same. While some money is fenced and can only be used for certain things others are used in one big pot and distributed as the city sees fit. Let me give you an example…last year we had a very mild winter and probably had excess funds, the money was probably moved somewhere else and now we have this winter and the city is saying overtime, salt reserves etc. are making us go broke. Well, all years are different and one year should not be the factor to cry I broke…better planning and stockpiles would have taken care of most…The mayor is an elected by the city residents and pushing him out because he is MAKING the people be accountable and also working hard to get the word out to the residents is good not bad…Asking tough questions of the council makes them be accountable and makes the city better in the long haul. Tom needs to have a vote on different boards and needs to chair the administration committee. I look forward to you answers and dialog with you on the rationale of the changes. I also understand there will probably be a levy on the August ballot for an income hike. Remember the last time…it was voted down by almost an 80-20 margin. The school levies were likewise voted down…by the same margins. Why you might ask. You and the rest of the council along with the previous mayor would not articulate the need and requirement and additional money and have open communication and hanging everything on the cause is police and fire cost….I think you are wrong. Without communicating with the residents the next time any increase in property tax, school levies will go down to defeat by equal margins. I think you and the other council members need to look the residents and public articulate what is in the best interest of Huber. Make the case. If it is voted down, plan something different. There are always many more ways to solve problem, just not in vacuum. You and the city council need to be held accountable for each and every action and full and open debate of the good and bad is required. Tom is not against different plans and initiatives, he just want s to make sure we address each and every concern. By electing a mayor and then because he asks tough questions and then changing the rules and put him as an outcast will be a larger PR headache for you the city council etc. by making elected officials outcasts and the ability to do anything good for the city, residents and getting justifiable funds for the residents will be flushed out and nothing will get done. In this day and age, the power of information, from the web, facebook, TV newspapers will consume time and shed bad light on the city and council…I do not think that it is what we need…Make the right decision with draw these changes, make Tom the chair of the Administrative Board, and be open and honest about the books…I am fully aware of the big plans the city has for the Heights Area development, but you and everyone needs to be open and honest will all. I look forward to feedback. This might be a little long and rambling but I apologize up front.
Interesting items on both Admin and Public works agenda's Tuesday F…
- Posted February 17th 2014, 8:32 PM
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By citizenforopenHHgovt
Emergency snow routes, absolutely leave and enforce. As we have seen this past winter (including this weekend) they (city) is not enforcing the ordinances, which is probably why someone wants to eliminate them! Charlesgate is on the list, yet has yet to be enforced!
Look at Clayton, Police Chief to City Manager, comon' HH, get original. Fill the City Mgr position with someone who has experience in that position!
Site Purpose
I've found that when people talk to our current city council they listen. I also believe council both needs that scrutiny and they don't like it. In fact, they proclaim they want public input but then their actions discourage it. I’ve been trying for a year and a half to get more people to learn about what council is doing because I know with our feedback the city will end up with better government. This website is new online and I have a great vision on where it can go! Right now you can review the beginning of the Aquatic Center or “The Heights” or you can create a profile and start adding content to this site. This is a great project and I look forward to working with you to ensure we get good government here in Huber Heights.
Tom
Announcements
Web Designers, Authors, Ideas Wanted
- Posted December 1st 2012, 1:40 AM
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By Tom_McMasters
This website theme has great potential especially since it is open source and free but I can see I'll need help to make it work. If you believe in the vision and you can write code for a website as sophisticated as this contact me. As useful as this site seems it loads pretty slow so if you know of another open source theme that does the same things contact me.
Also, I think if there are 8 of us willing to rotate through the committee meetings and then write about the key events we can improve this city. Contact me if you are interested.
Finally, if you have pictures of City events, construction, public areas or services I'd like to show them. Send them to me and I'll incorporate them into the site.
Tom McMasters
Caught in landlord's foreclosure? Know your tenants' rights
- Posted March 14th 2014, 4:25 AM
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By hendrajaiva
The nice thing about renting is that you don't have to worry about foreclosure, right? Not necessarily. Many tenants have come home to see a notice of foreclosure on their front door. Of course the responsibility falls on the landlord but the situation is also stressful to renters who are unsure of what they need to do now.
Understandably, renters who receive a notice of foreclosure might question whether they need to be…
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Yes, I know I'm a fat old man that can't make sentences
- Posted February 25th 2014, 6:42 AM
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By Thomas McMasters
Last night at the council meeting there was a long discussion on a number of issues: Rules of Council, the Election materials, City Attorney
My wife tells me that for most of the night my mannerisms and speaking ability made it impossible for people to get any of points I was trying to make.
Do you remember if there was anything that came across other than style?
Tom McMasters
Mayor of Huber…
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Don't know what to do!
- Posted February 5th 2014, 6:55 PM
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By jlbarney58
I know this may sound crazy but my wife and I are being harassed and terrorized. For over 2 years this has been going on and we cannot get nobody to help us. For the last 8 months they have been putting some kind of gas into our home. I have talked to the police a Lt. McMillan and the FBI advised us to talk to the police chief but that was impossible to do no one will help. I have asthma and this is not doing me any good and who knows what other health problems may come from…
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