Charter Review Commission Report

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

I am not sure that anyone actually reads the government section at the very bottom of the index, at least nobody has yet to comment on one of the most important issues facing Lakewood, so I am posting this topic here.

Upon recommendation from the Charter Commission, city council is reviewing the ramifications of altering city government from the Mayor-Council form to a Council-City Manager form, among other changes.

Any thoughts or opinions? Several members of city council seem interested in the idea. The Committee of the Whole will meet on this issue tonight at 6:30 in the city hall auditorium.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Ryan

Thanks for the heads-up.

LO has enlisted one of our toughest and brightest stars to cover the meeting. Dan Slife.

Also we have put a call out for Suzanne Metelko, Dr. Larry Keller, Steve Davis, and Lynn Farris to jump into this very important discussion about Lakewood and its future.

Thanks again.


Jim O'Bryan

[Suzanne Metelko]

Ryan and Jim,

It is my intention to attend tonight's meeting. I'm somewhat suprised that it has taken council this long to get around to acting on a citizen committee recommendation but I'm grateful for their consideration.

Lakewood is at its best when debating issues of policy, substance and quality of life. This one falls into all three catagories.

Suzanne Metelko

[Jim O'Bryan]

Suzanne

Did you happen to make the meeting? I know Dr. Keller was hoping you could make it. He mentioned that you knew the topic as well as anyone.

If you went I am curious what you thought about it, and it's chances.

Do you have any examples where city manager is working?

I have thought that even though I do not agree with many choices mayors have made in the past, Lakewood has been pretty lucky. Steve Davis always points out that the idea for city manager has nothing to do with the cirrent administration but is there just in case we are not so lucky. Certainly this is a good reason but there should be more. Is there?

Finally, what is the worst case scenerio for a city manager?

Observations I need from the pros.

Thanks for jumping in.


Jim O'Bryan

[dl meckes]

I have several concerns about a City Manager for Lakewood:

Mayoral candidates have been people with long-standing Lakewood ties and experience. I am not assured this would be the case with a City Manager.

There is a universal constitutional principle that demands an equal value to each vote; "one person, one vote". This principle gives each citizen the ability to share equal influence on the formation of representation. I wish to retain my rights to vote for City Council and Mayor and I want the people in those positions to be accountable to voters. I am not in favor of relinquishing my vote to City Council and I am not in favor of giving Councilmembers more power than they have.

I am not convinced that the best answer for managing the city is either a business person or someone with advanced degrees in Urban Studies. I am not convinced that the present system is in need of a fix, nor do I believe that there is someone "out there" who is going to come in and solve all the complex issues that we face as a community. I believe there are a number of checks and balances available to keep things on track.

I am fiscally conservative. Our city funds are very tight. We do not presently pay the Mayor or Council the "going rate". I am wondering about the wisdom of expending civic dollars to put this issue on the ballot at this time. I am not convinced that the city can afford the salary necessitated to attract the so-called "best" person and I am equally unconvinced that Council, rather than voters, is the best judge of those qualifications.

I am not convinced that hiring a City Manager will eliminate "politics" from City Hall.

[Lynn Farris]

DL, you know I have mixed emotions too about the City Manager vs. Mayor issue. We heard lots of good testimony on both sides of the issue and at the end I was slightly more in favor of the City Manager than against it.

However, I was fully in favor of having this be on the ballot so that the citizens of Lakewood could debate it and decide for themselves what they wanted.

As it is, all that it looks like they are putting on the ballot is the issues to repeal the Charter Amendment that was voted on by the citizens a few years ago regarding water rates and salary.

While, we can have lots of discussion about whether or not those are good for the city. It does annoy me that when citizens voluntarily take the initiate to put something on the ballot and it passes, that is the only thing council wants to change. JMHO

[Suzanne Metelko]

Lynn,

I believe that this is a discussion worth having. If for no other reason than the fact that your committee took months to thoroughly examine the charter, talk to the community, research options and make recommendations. This community is well served by it's citizen committees and they need to be taken seriously.

Bring on the discussion!

Suzanne

[Stan Austin]

Suzanne--- As you so correctly point out the charter review commission has already conducted the necessary public sessions on this issue last year. It's been done. The public has had ample opportunity for input into this issue.
Council has just completed what has perhaps been its most rigorous budget session ever. A strong mayor form of government with well qualified staffing helped council and the city arrive at a balanced budget in difficult times.
I think that council members would be the first to realize the essential folly and danger of discarding that process. And, they would be the first to recognize the need for a period of stablilty which a strong mayor form of government provides. The alternative is seven part time mayors.
Lynn- those two initiatives that you refer to are bad government, pure and simple. Just because a few irate citizens wanted to vent their personal anger through the initiative doesn't make their efforts worthwhile.

Bad government is bad government no matter how it got there.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Stan

I really have to side with Suzanne on this one. The process is going to continue if we discuss or not. Something I learned from Mary Anne Crampton and Lakewood Alive, if you really want to discuss something you have to put everything on the table. That way you can hear and judge agreement and discourse. The Lakewood Observer was created to cover Lakewood news, while making all of us experts on the city we love. Our mission statement calls for us to know this city better than any group has ever known a city before. This means our ills and our pills.

Right now we are in good shape. Good council, good mayor, good city hall, etc. So why not look at the tools we have available and see what can be used and what shouldn't be used down the road. Especially during this relatively peaceful time in Lakewood politics.

Stan there are some dynamic plans in place from Lakewood Grinders to Cafe U. this city is making a change for the better while others flounder. Let's kick some of this around in public.

That said I still ponder the odds of finding corporate managers from outside that understand Lakewood. One of the things we have found while recruiting for the paper, some get Lakewood immediately. The Vinces are perfect example Vince Frantz and Vince O'Keefe has fallen in love with the city and tapped into its life force. Others seem unable to find the groove and stay off balance. One thing we have to agree on is that Tom George's lifeblood is serving Lakewood. Tom gets the groove.

City Manager? I really need to hear and read more. I want to know all about it. Just like Late Night Lakewood, and podcasting.

Jim

[dl meckes]

I really need to hear and read more. I want to know all about it. Just like Late Night Lakewood, and podcasting.

I would also like to have some time to think about this issue. I have repeatedly stated my misgivings, but that doesn't mean I have closed my mind. I don't want to rush this concept.

While I do understand that there have been opportunities for discussion of this issue, I am not often available.

This is why I wonder why we might need to "do something" right now.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I really need to hear and read more. I want to know all about it. Just like Late Night Lakewood, and podcasting.

This is why I wonder why we might need to "do something" right now.

As far as the Charter Commission and for that matter Grow Lakewood, I think is is a little outrageous that it takes this long from completion to getting before council. I believe Grow Lakewood is still sitting in a drawer somewhere like it might be Pandora's Box.

Should we end the discussion while you think about it? I can see both sides in this one, and I cannot say I would start the ball rolling on the vote, but discussing it? Steve Davis once posted a really fascinating site on this one. If you are out there please post again.

Jim

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

Stan,
Did the Mayor write those lines for you, because that was one of the biggest political lies I have ever heard in my life. City Council made the decisions on the budget because the Mayor could not. If you were at one of the last sessions of the Finance Committee during budget hearings you would know the truth.

The Mayor came back to council with a revised budget that was garbage. We told him to cut $750,000.00 for additional street repair and he kicked and screamed. He threatened to take a police officer off the streets, close a pool, and cancel the fireworks to make up the difference. We advised him that those were ignorant and irresponsible choices and that he would face budgetary consequences if he chose that route. We called his bluff, he cut $716,000, and council took the lead.

If you want to contest this account you will have to do it against a print and audio record. I would love for Lakewood to hear the way in which our Mayor acted at that meeting. Its reminiscent of the phone message he left for me regarding Lakewood Center North, remember, when he said I was only fit to be an East Cleveland Councilman. Careful with your words, because I have ready access to the FACTS.

[Jim O'Bryan]

The Mayor came back to council with a revised budget that was garbage. We told him to cut $750,000.00 for additional street repair and he kicked and screamed. He threatened to take a police officer off the streets, close a pool, and cancel the fireworks to make up the difference. We advised him that those were ignorant and irresponsible choices and that he would face budgetary consequences if he chose that route. We called his bluff, he cut $716,000, and council took the lead...

Ryan

As you point out you have access to the facts. So I was wondering. Did Tom George really kick and/or scream?

One of the things I have grown to love about the LO group is the high level of positive discourse.


Jim O'Bryan

[stephen davis]

Jim,

There is a wealth of information about City Managers at their website.

http://icma.org/

Of course, this is their own site, but I found it to be pretty honest. Look under “Council-Manager Form of Governmentâ€Â

[Stan Austin]

Councilman Demro-- I assume that you are exagerrating the exchange for dramatic purposes. What you described sounds to me like a presentation of alternatives which is the normal process in budgetary negotiations.

Your friend and enthusiastic proponent of vigorous discussion==

Stan