News

On Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, members of Clifton Town Meeting (CTM) will be asked to vote for new five trustees, on a special petition measure determining eligibility and on 14 proposed bylaws amendments. Due to different requirements for each set of questions, there are different procedures and different timing for each vote. 

Elect five CTM trustees – In-person only, 6-7 p.m.

Five candidates are running for five open seats on the CTM Board of Trustees. All candidates are eligible for three-year terms. Learn more about each candidate here.

This election will take place in-person ONLY from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2023, at the Clifton Recreation Center, 320 McAlpin Avenue. You must be a current member of CTM to vote for trustees. Join CTM or renew your membership in advance online by Nov. 3 or in-person Nov. 6 at the CRC at 6 p.m.

Determine voting eligibility of non-residents – In-person or online, 7 p.m.

Per Article IV, Section 10 of CTM’s present Bylaws, as required by City Ordinance 220-1989, a group of five CTM members can ask for a special vote to determine whether non-resident CTM members (i.e. property or business owners who do not live in Clifton) will be eligible to vote on CTM issues or hold office as a CTM trustee. As a result of petitions received on Oct. 2, 2023, CTM will hold a vote on the below ballot question during the annual CTM membership meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2023.

Ballot Question: “Shall CTM Members that are not neighborhood residents (such as non-resident business owners and property owners) be eligible to vote or hold office in CTM?”

Currently, non-resident business and property owners are allowed to vote on CTM issues but are not allowed to hold office as a CTM trustee. If a majority of residents vote “Yes” on this question, nonresidents will be allowed to vote and, if CTM’s bylaws also change in a subsequent vote, will be allowed to hold office on CTM. If a majority of residents vote “No” on this question, nonresidents will NOT be allowed to vote nor will they be allowed to hold office.

Non-resident business owners or property owners are not eligible to vote in this special vote. This vote must take place within the board meeting, starting at 7 p.m., on November 6, 2023. You must attend the meeting to vote either in person or under GoogleMeet Poll ballot (see below “GoogleMeet Poll Voting”).

Accept or reject CTM bylaw changes – In-person or online, 7 p.m.

In September 2023, the CTM Board of Trustees voted 8-3 to take 14 proposed bylaws amendments to CTM’s full membership for consideration. The CTM Board of Trustees did not endorse or otherwise take a position on the proposals.

The amendments were proposed by CTM’s Governance Committee during the September board meeting. The committee recommended adoption and said the proposed amendments would simplify, clarify, add flexibility to the bylaws while also requiring board members’ active participation and bringing consistency with Ohio revised code.

In the October meeting, a former Governance Committee chairperson submitted to the record an alternative perspective, recommending against adoption. He said the proposed amendments would shift power to a less representative group of people and away from residents and reduce transparency, accountability and engagement.

• Read CTM’s current bylaws here.
• Read the Governance Committee’s rational here.
• Read an alternative perspective here.

Each proposed amendment will be voted on separately. For each one to pass, two-thirds of the membership must approve.

This vote must take place within the board meeting on Nov. 6, 2023. You must attend the meeting to vote either in person or under GoogleMeet Poll  ballot (see below “GoogleMeet Poll Voting”).

GoogleMeet Poll Voting
Per CTM’s present bylaws, electronic voting will happen at the same time as in-person voting only for the eligibility and bylaws votes.  Individuals attending the meeting remotely will be given the ability to vote using a GoogleMeet Poll link. People will also have the opportunity to vote in-person at Clifton Recreation Center, 320 McAlpin Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220.

All voting must be done by CTM Members in good standing. For in-person voting, individuals that are not CTM Members can purchase a membership just before voting.

Electronic voting (GoogleMeet Poll) will only be counted for members in good standing as of Nov. 3, 2023. Join or renew your membership to CTM online by Nov. 3.

Because membership will have to be verified, CTM does not expect results of the votes on eligibility or bylaws during the meeting.