LOVELAND, OHIO NEWS – After getting local, national, and international, headlines, and appearances on talk-radio, most of the world thinks that Mayor Brad Greenberg had already dropped charges against a local women for failing to report to the City that she didn't earn any income. However, Greenberg apparently did not have the authority to drop the charges himself so he took the issue to the entire city council last Tuesday evening.
Greenberg attended the Loveland City Council meeting just long enough last Tuesday night to introduce a motion to drop the charges, but after little discussion, Rob Weisgerber moved to table the motion until after a City ad hock tax review panel meets to see if Loveland's laws need to be changed. Because council rules dictate that if someone makes a “Motion to Table” and it is seconded, all debate ceases and Council votes immediately. Joe Schickel seconded the motion. Greenberg voted “No” on the motion, but it passed with all other Council members voting yes. Greenberg immediately asked for a motion to excuse himself from the remainder of the meeting, explaining that it was election night and he needed to go to the Hamilton County Board of Elections where he serves on the Board.
Combs was noticeably disapointed about the Council action. She knew that the headlines about the charges already being dropped were not true, but never-the-less did believe that the mayor had the votes necessary to drop the charges. Combs said it was Council's “false pride” that kept them from drooping the charges against her.
Christopher Finny, one of Combs' attorneys said, “Well, it looks like we will be going to a jury trial in Clermont County.”
Combs, Finney, and attorney Steve Adams talked about the possibility that everything they
witnessed at the council meeting was pre-arranged just to give the Mayor the publicity he wanted, but by not really doing anything for Combs. Greenberg told Loveland Magazine, “When I first brought up the idea of dismissing this case, I believed I had the support from other council members. That support eroded over the next few days, in part because of the federal lawsuit that Deborah Combs filed. I am disappointed that Council chose to table my motion. I am not defending Deborah Combs and I certainly believe that people need to file and pay their taxes. However, discretion should be used when determining when to prosecute. As the former Chief of the Grand Jury Division of the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, I can tell you that we did not prosecute every case that someone wanted us to prosecute. We tried, as best as we could, to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each case and then, keeping in mind the limited resources of the office, make a decision whether to prosecute.”
Greenberg was also asked if the tax review panel would bring back recommendations on the Comb's case or just make recommendations about the City's tax code and its implementation. Greenberg said, “The tax review panel has been asked to review the Combs case and the City's tax policies and procedures in general, especially the issues of late fees and issuing warrants for non payment of late fees.”
