City Finances

[Ed Dickson]

So, until they arrive, how do they TRULY know what's happening? If I have a life threatening crisis I would want the CLOSEST emergency responder to arrive quickly and decide later who moves on to other things. If that's the big 'ol firetruck, I'm good with that.

Shelley, you have made some relevant arguments in the past if you sift through your anger and "I told you so's" to find them. I think you will be way in the minority on this one. You are most certainly entitled to your opinion and I respect the fact that we have this outlet to express it. Just thought I would share mine.

I'm also hoping you may choose a more constructive path to make your points becasue your losing your audience when you choose anger laced messages. Again, just my opinion. Ignore if you choose.

[Shelley Hurd]

So, until they arrive, how do they TRULY know what's happening? If I have a life threatening crisis I would want the CLOSEST emergency responder to arrive quickly and decide later who moves on to other things. If that's the big 'ol firetruck, I'm good with that.

Shelley, you have made some relevant arguments in the past if you sift through your anger and "I told you so's" to find them. I think you will be way in the minority on this one. You are most certainly entitled to your opinion and I respect the fact that we have this outlet to express it. Just thought I would share mine.

I'm also hoping you may choose a more constructive path to make your points becasue your losing your audience when you choose anger laced messages. Again, just my opinion. Ignore if you choose.

Ed,
When a call is made to 911- I would hope that the person taking the calls would ASK what is going on and if any special assistance is needed. I would hope they dispatch the ambulance right away and continue taking and gathering information to most effeciantly assist the caller and the injured. I would assume that is how all other citys handle 911 calls. I assume Lakewood could too. I have not heard that in other cities their residents are droping dead like flies due to their more cost effective process.

I did not relize I was coming across with anger. I certainly do not feel any. Outrage, yes that this waste is allowed to continue and will seemingly be increased. Disheartened that residents give, give, give and it seemingly is never enough....

As to being in the minority, perhaps so in the vocal users in "this" forum. But the silent many, we are all in agreement and there are many.

It is hard however to be vocal on this matter. People have deep fears that speaking on the subject of Police and Fire will somehow doom them to being allowed to burn to death in fires and to be hounded by begrudging revenge weilding police. I however do not hold such absurd fears.

The beef here is with the policy that encourages and promotes waste. Not with the police and fire who are merely performing their duties in the manner in which City Hall has made policy.

[Brian Pedaci]

You and Mayor Ed Fitzgerald obviously think so. Personally I think these men are professionals, are competent and do not require a crowd of their peers to watch over them in the performance of their duties.

Yet, apparently, they need you to tell them their response is excessive. What evidence is there that the standard operating procedure here is set by the mayor and not by the respective chiefs of fire and police? How are you better equipped to gauge the appropriate level of response than they are? Were you privy to the 911 calls involved to know what information was given to the dispatcher? If a body is discovered, there may be no way to know whether it's the result of a drug OD, a gas leak, a poisoning or violence until further investigation is done. I think this FAQ from another city is relevant and helps answer your concerns as well:

Q. Why do I get a fire engine when I call 911 for an ambulance?
A. The closest ambulance is dispatched to answer your call; however, it is imperative that emergency medical help arrive on the scene as soon as possible. Since ambulances may be transporting other patients or completing duties at the hospital, it is likely that a fire engine will be closer to the call. Therefore, the nearest fire engine is dispatched with the ambulance.

I'm having trouble imagining what this 'secret personal agenda' of the Mayor's is that you keep railing about. What is it that makes attempts at saving money in the Refuse Dept. so despicable and would make cutting Fire and Police so noble? Help us all understand. Do you suspect that Council is complicit in this conspiracy? What do you suspect is the Mayor's end goal in it all? I can't wait to hear.

By the way, I cannot recall a single post you've made in which you make a tangible positive suggestion on cutting costs - do you have any specific recommendations (beyond cutting emergency response) that you'd undertake if you were Mayor?

[Shelley Hurd]

"I'm having trouble imagining what this 'secret personal agenda' of the Mayor's is that you keep railing about."

The Mayors desire for the Auditor seat is hardly secret.

"What is it that makes attempts at saving money in the Refuse Dept. so despicable and would make cutting Fire and Police so noble?"

To my knowledge the refuse issue has been settled has it not with the automation?



And as for the safety forces.

I get my facts from the Auditor of State.

"Operating: The City estimated that total operating costs (supplies, materials,
purchased services, utilities, etc.) would equal approximately $7.2 million in
2008, which represents 18 percent of the total General Fund expenditures.
Additionally, the City’s 2008 budget proposal represents a 13 percent increase
from 2007 ($6.3 million). By comparison, the City’s average annual increase in
total operating costs from 2005 through 2007 was only 1.6 percent. This indicates
that the operating budget proposals (prepared by each division) likely include
items that were not funded in previous years. A review of the detailed budget
proposals shows that only 8 divisions out of 37 with proposed operating budgets
were consistent with the historical trends. If the City limited its total 2008
General Fund operating budget to a 1.6 percent increase, the savings would be
approximately $734,000."

..."the City’s 2008 budget proposal represents a 13 percent increase
from 2007"
..."the City’s average annual increase in
total operating costs from 2005 through 2007 was only 1.6 percent. "

A review of the detailed budget
proposals shows that only 8 divisions out of 37 with proposed operating budgets
were consistent with the historical trends."
"If the City limited its total 2008 General Fund operating budget to a 1.6 percent increase, the savings would be
approximately $734,000."

The increases in the budget were from safty forces were they not? The economics here is the issue. And the policy which rewards and encourages waste. Fat is cut from where it exsists.

Fire
"Lakewood’s wage and benefit expenditures are higher than the peer average."

"Lakewood’s operating costs are higher than Cleveland Heights and Euclid."

" Lakewood’s is only entity that has separate Fire and EMS staff."

"Lakewood’s staff per 1,000 residents is higher than peer average while total calls per FTE are lower than Euclid and Kettering."

"The SBTFR proposes asecond scenario that would save approximately $2.0 million annually. This is based on eliminating overtime, 12 firefighters, 6 EMS technicians, and selling equipment and requires the City to fully staff the Madison Avenue Station and
minimally staff the Goldcoast and Kenilworth Stations."

Police
"The SBTFR also concludes that the Police Department staffing levels
are adequate and crime is declining within the CoL;..."

THis is all info from the Autior of State. They can not be accused of being angry can they?

The Auditor of State said this is where the fat is, not me.

Getting these bloated departments to the Auditor of State recommended levels would give Mayor FItzgerald even more then the 2 million (annually) he says he needs. Bring Lakewood inline with compairable cities. And still provide residents with superoir public safety services.

Any dispute of the facts should be brought to the Auditor of State's attention so they can revise their findings.

[Jim DeVito]

"Lakewood’s staff per 1,000 residents is higher than peer average while total calls per FTE are lower than Euclid and Kettering."

No offence to people who do but I would not want to live in either of those city's. I am happy to live in a city who pays a little bit more per capita in order to ensure stellar response when things do go wrong. Having lived in the right next door to the scene of a major armed major stand off I can say the response of the city is stellar.

[Shelley Hurd]

The point being discussed here pertains to what Mayor Fitzgerald said:

...

we are looking at either spending down our surplus or finding another $2 million in reductions.

Mayor FItzgerald paid out big money to get the input of the Auditor of State.
Alot of time and resouces went into the SBTFR.

Mayor Fitzgerald was told and told and shown and shown where the fat is to cut by the Auditor of State and the SBTFR.

Mayor Fitzgerald choose to ignore the Auditor of State and the SBTFR cost effective cuts in favor of his own agenda. This has left Mayor Fitzgerald 2 million dollars short of where he wants to be.

Mayor Fitzgerald's ideas failed and came up short.

Would doing what the Auditor of State and SBTFR advised him to do be tuff, hard, but the right thing to do? Yes, yes it would.

His agenda failed and left him short of where he wants to be.

Now he should adhere to the advice the Auditor of State and SBTFR and make the cuts where the fat, waste and unnecessary spending is. The grossly bloated public saftey departments. Or are we to belive the Auditor of State and SBTFR made recomendations that would put the residents of Lakewood in danger?

The Mayor wants 2 million dollars. He will take it.

This time will Mayor Fitzgerald listen to the professionals he thought so highly of as to pay them for their educated, experienced opinion?

Will the intrests of the City and her residents come first this time?

Or will he once again do what suites his agenda?

Where will the 2 million come from if not from where the Auditor of State and SBTFR points to as where the waste and bloated unnecessary spending is?

Where will Mayor Fitzgerald find the 2 million more he wants to bleed out from the residents of this city?