Time For City and School Board Employees To Concede

[Shelley Hurd]

Also, what are the INTERVIEWS that you are referencing.

They are from the Auditor of State

[Ryan Patrick Demro]

Shelley, thanks for the clarification. That is exactly why I said, "I assume." I was wrong, my apologies. I found your advocacy for city workers awfully extraordinary not to have some type of vested interest. I am glad to know that this is just an issue of great interest to you.

[Shelley Hurd]

Shelley, thanks for the clarification. That is exactly why I said, "I assume." I was wrong, my apologies. I found your advocacy for city workers awfully extraordinary not to have some type of vested interest. I am glad to know that this is just an issue of great interest to you.

My "advocacy" is for all of Lakewoods residents to be given all the information pertaining to the "budget crisis"

To be privy to whats actively being planed for the future

And to feel we ALL have a right to defend Lakewoods charms and unique characteristics.

[Gary Rice]

And I was just starting to wonder when that banjo could ever start playing Kumbayah on this thread...

[Shelley Hurd]

And I was just starting to wonder when that banjo could ever start playing Kumbayah on this thread...

Might as well play that banjo and pass the Kool-Aid now.

Sleep aparently is the prefered state of mind

[Will Brown]

[quote="Ryan Patrick Demro"]Shelley, thanks for the clarification. That is exactly why I said, "I assume." I was wrong, my apologies. I found your advocacy for city workers awfully extraordinary not to have some type of vested interest. I am glad to know that this is just an issue of great interest to you.[/quote]

I shared your feelings that all these postings were not put forth without some kind of vested interest, but I never assumed that the poster was a city employee. There can be other types of vested interest, such as an economic or familial relationship, that would explain why there is interest in only the employees of one division, often at the expense of employees of other divisions.

In any event, this is a public forum and I would hope anyone, even a city employee, would feel free to post here. After all, who would be more likely to know of wasteful procedures than the people who are actually doing the work? Of course, it becomes more complicated when a third party, such as a union, is involved, as their interests may be other than those of the city or the workers, and they might not want their members to participate.

[Shelley Hurd]

[Charlie Page]

Ok Shelley, here's you shot at being Mayor. You are faced with a 4.5 million budget deficit.

What would you do? Cut expenditures or raise taxes.

[Shelley Hurd]

Ok Shelley, here's you shot at being Mayor. You are faced with a 4.5 million budget deficit.

What would you do? Cut expenditures or raise taxes.

Lets save the heated exchange over the "budget crisis" for later.

But what would I do as Mayor...wow! What wouldnt I Do!

I would remake Lakewood into what I have always envisioned it to be. No more old fashioned "family community"... No sir, I like things new and hip and trendy.

I would plan to spend money.. gobs of money.

I would take away from the elderly.

I would further disenfrachise the less advantaged.

I would keep my fingers placed firmly in both my ears. (I hate to be criticized)

I would surround myself with folks who reminded me often of just how great I am and how much they feel sorry for me for having to make the "tuff decisions" (They might even throw me parties and such)

And I would indoctrinate my followers..err supporters into the inability to see anything but what passes my lips as truth.

I would control the disemination of information (Public information, News Papers, TV reports...)

I would have my supporters wage war against any and all who oppose me.
And remind folks that they relinguished all right to opinion once they elected me Mayor. And consequences will be harsh for those who do not submit.(Resistance is futile)


I would force feed residents the poison of fear on a daily basis so they could see the boogey man, who’s out to get them, in the eyes of every stranger. So I can be their savior. Who questions a savior?


I would look into outsourcing:

2008 Budget Decions as of March 17, 2008Page 1-6

Contracting Out of CurrentCity Services
Landscaping
Solid waste management, recyclables & Yard Waste Collection, Transportation and & Disposal
Janitorial
Forestry
Information Systems

I would discount any suggestions that did not involove cutting out services.

I would give a free pass to divisions that would involove true "tuff decisions"

I would House the Regional Criminals via a shinny new Jail

And I would sleep like a baby at night knowing I was well respected and admired by all of Lakewood for being such a Progressive Democrate. I may even dream of higher political asperations in my fluffy comfortable bed.

But hay, thats just what I would do.

How bout you Charlie?

[Bill Call]

I would plan to spend money.. gobs of money.

I would take away from the elderly.

I would further disenfrachise the less advantaged.

I would keep my fingers placed firmly in both my ears. (I hate to be criticized)

Your criticisms of this administration make no sense.

Without cuts in spending the City would have had a $4 million dollar budget deficit. And that was before allowing for the current downturn in the economy. By the law the City cannot have a deficit. The choice was either to cut spending or raise taxes.

I think morally, politically and economically the correct decision was to cut spending. Others could argue that taxes should be raised. They would be wrong but at least they would be advocating a real world solution.

The option of closing your eyes and wishing pennies would fall from heaven is not a real world solution.

[Jim DeVito]

I would plan to spend money.. gobs of money.

I would take away from the elderly.

I would further disenfrachise the less advantaged.

I would keep my fingers placed firmly in both my ears. (I hate to be criticized)

Your criticisms of this administration make no sense.

Without cuts in spending the City would have had a $4 million dollar budget deficit. And that was before allowing for the current downturn in the economy. By the law the City cannot have a deficit. The choice was either to cut spending or raise taxes.

I think morally, politically and economically the correct decision was to cut spending. Others could argue that taxes should be raised. They would be wrong but at least they would be advocating a real world solution.

The option of closing your eyes and wishing pennies would fall from heaven is not a real world solution.

My Lord!!!! [falls out of chair in disbelief of agreement]

[Ed Dickson]

Shelley,

I have to say that was an amazingly arrogant way to avoid the question. You didn't answer it at all and I will admit to being curious of the answer myself. You have every right to criticize the mayor all you want but what are your solutions?

I haven't agreed with everything that has been done and honestly, I don't expect to. I would be worried if I did but at least something is being done. We don't have a group of people sitting on their hands.

Again, what are YOUR solutions?

Ed

[Shelley Hurd]

Shelley,

I have to say that was an amazingly arrogant way to avoid the question. You didn't answer it at all and I will admit to being curious of the answer myself. You have every right to criticize the mayor all you want but what are your solutions?

I haven't agreed with everything that has been done and honestly, I don't expect to. I would be worried if I did but at least something is being done. We don't have a group of people sitting on their hands.

Again, what are YOUR solutions?

Ed

The only thing I have left to say to you fellows is...sigh.. I would not spend 3-4 million to change that which is not broken, only so I could turn around and break it. So I could outsource it unapposed. And have Lakewood resident pay more for less. Guess thats just me, the arrogant one..right?

I do not understand your mind set

A__Col, Amin
A6 Audit related correspondence Ce
A6.12 CoL, 2008 Permanent Appropriation Decisions

2008 Budget Decions as of March 17, 2008
Page 1-6
Contracting Out of CurrentCity Services
Requests for proposals have either been issued or are in development for the following City services
Landscaping
Solid waste management, recyclables & Yard Waste Collection, Transportation and & Disposal
Janitorial
Forestry
Information Systems

The City of Lakewood Administration has decided to pursue contracting with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to provide health services


Page 4 of 6
Refuse and Recycling
Reduction in Division of Refuse budget due to changes in service currently underdevelopment (see Outsourcing Issues listed above)

But hay, I am the bad guy here right?

[Shelley Hurd]

INTERVIEW INFORMATION:Date:January 10, 2008
Phase I
Jen Pae (Finance Director -- FD), Ed Fitzgerald (Mayor), Non-AOS Participants
Bill Rouse, SAM, Danielle Novak, AM, AOS Participants


Does the City collect trash or is this outsourced?

They collect trash in-house. They are looking at outsourcing this function in the future.

[Jim Sage]

Shelly Hurd,

"To reengage the building department in residential maintence, to grow our tax payer appeal, to preserve our city services (many of which generate revenues for the city)"

Can you give more details as to exactly which city services actually generate revenues for the city? Can you list them and give a number to support your assertion?

Thank you.