COW Meetings

[Jim O'Bryan]

Until we start our new section, "Observing City Hall"

NOTICE OF MEETING – COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

The Committee of the Whole will meet Tuesday, January 21, 2014, at 6:45 PM in the Jury Room of Lakewood City Hall, 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, Ohio. Following interviews of candidates, Executive Session may be called. The agenda is as follows:

1. Council Operations

2. Boards & Commissions; Appointments -

Lakewood Hospital ex-officio councilmembers (2)

Animal Safety & Welfare Advisory Board ex-officio councilmember (1)

Audit Committee (2 vacancies)

Charter Review Commission (5 vacancies)

Lakewood Hospital Association Governing Board - Special Trustee (1 vacancy)

Lakewood Hospital Association Governing Board - Community Trustee (1 vacancy)

Expected Vacancy on Board of Zoning Appeals (1 vacancy)

3. January 21, 2014 Regular Meeting of Council Agenda Procedural Review

Mary Louise Madigan, Chair
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

[michael gill]

I was hoping this was about cows.

[marklingm]

I was hoping this was about cows.

Happy now, Michael?

Matt

[marklingm]

***

2. Boards & Commissions; Appointments -

***

Charter Review Commission (5 vacancies)

Jim,

Do you have to be pro-city manager to be appointed to one of these five positions?

Or ... staying with the cow theme ... should those of us wanting to keep an elected mayor ... who is accountable to more than just four councilpersons ... simply go cow tipping instead?

Matt

[Jim O'Bryan]

Matt

I am not sure. I know I am a total City-Manager fan, and was not asked to be on it.

I mean, Mayor Summers is the first with business cred, and we are finding out not
always the best. We have tried realtors, ex-nuns, law people, etc. I mean what is next
a landscaper?!

I know a couple people that applied, and know some are pro and some are not.

I do know that there are enough votes on council to get a City Manager change on a ballot.

The last really pro-city manager on councilman I know is Sam O'Leary.

I would just hate to see them shoehorn some "new manager graduate" in there.


.

[marklingm]

I know I am a total City-Manager fan, and was not asked to be on it.

***

I do know that there are enough votes on council to get a City Manager change on a ballot.

Well, I guess you will get your wish, Jimmy.

It should be easier for businesses to control City Hall even more now.

No more democracy for you, Lakewood residents!

Since everyone thinks that Mike Summers ruined the elected mayor position in the 'Wood - including Mike himself, why even waste time going through a city charter review process?

Matt

[Jim O'Bryan]

Matt

I do not even know where to start with this. And we have often spoke of this, so you know
it is not a new position, or even a change.

I would love to see Lakewood experiment with this. It would be fascinating to see what a
real city manager might do. In a city as proactive as Lakewood, it should be easy to keep
Council and thereby the City Manager representing the best interests of the residents.

While we loose the vote on "Mayor" I would say more by design from Ed on.

At the same time one of the best reasons is continuity in a city's progress and future, and I
fear this city is already to myopic in its running.

As for the Charter Revue, I could be wrong but I have always seen this as a cleaning up
of things that have cropped up like laws and such,and how they work now. It is also a
time to suggest changes to the Charter. I might be wrong but I think it is in the Charter
that it needs to be looked at every 6 years for Revue. I believe the suggestion for City
Manager was on the last two Reviews, a span of 12 years, the first one not presented, the
second time presented as an alternative.

I also think changes to the charter can be presented for a vote of the people at any time.
I know I was working with two groups ironically one mostly Rs, to recast a complete new
Charter for the city which also could be voted on by the people and adopted.

Here are the facts as I see it, I could be wrong, your specialty is government law. The
Charter Revue is needed every 6 months, Council and the Mayor can suggest people for
the 5 person panel, that looks at if for 6 months and suggest changes, that still go to a
vote of the people. They will certainly look for like minded people, heck many even political
or lodge buddies, and the entire formality will be gone through.

Some good names in the volunteer list, and I see at least two names that will never do
anything they do not think is right, and have a ton of experience in this thing.

Would we vote for a Superintendent?

.

[marklingm]

Well, Jimmy ...

... the system of government/administration for public schools was/is established by the Ohio General Assembly and is codified in the Ohio Revised Code ...

... but now that your "red herring" has been addressed ...

... let's talk about this city manager charade ...

If a city manager is so great for Lakewood, why are you the only one willing to openly talk about it (other than me)?

Think about just how badly Mike Summers must really be doing as an elected mayor for everyone to be in such a rush to blow up the position - including him.

But, it's already a done deal.

That's why you have turned tail on mayoral democracy.

I understand "City Hall & Friends" wanting to keep power and control in the hands of the elite few ... but shame on any "founder" of The Lakewood Observer whose hands are tainted in this coup d'état ... including you.

Matt

[Jim O'Bryan]

Well, Jimmy ...

... the system of government/administration for public schools was/is established by the Ohio General Assembly and is codified in the Ohio Revised Code ...

... but now that your "red herring" has been addressed ...

... let's talk about this city manager charade ...

If a city manager is so great for Lakewood, why are you the only one willing to openly talk about it (other than me)?

Well

Matty, I believe it is the tone of this discussion, the same excuse often given on the Deck,
as one gets dug in calling others out. While you and I seem ready to rumble at any time
others, look and say, "Why bother."

What you and I see as learning opportunities for ourselves and others, is not always shared
by others, to a certain extent I can understand. However to let things go unchallenged
always takes me back to the Martin Luther King Quote, "History will have to record that
the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the
bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people." or maybe this one applies as
well, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” or,
“Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”

So to use your logic on this. You have decided that Mayor Summers should have a 2nd,
3rd and 4th term? It had seemed to me that you of all people should be somewhat
excited to even have the possibility of replacing the regime, which in its current form is
more of a Oligarchy with a little Totalitarian, a pinch of Authoritarian and dressed as Republic.

I have turned to thinking it is certainly worth look at, as so many of the recent leaders
seem to either not understand Lakewood and its strong points, so then charge off like Don
Quixote fighting little windmills while explaining to us they are battling giants. If Lakewood
politics, on all levels has one problem is that it is too inbred, and the public has decided
it just doesn't matter. You vote for a guy in that is against, whoring the city out, wants
good clean living for residents, and a way to keep Lakewood's individuality, and he is
smiling at the ribbon cutting for QSL, 5 Guys, Taco Bell and CVS.

It has occurred to me that many Lakewoodites forgot why they moved here, why they
originally fell in love with Lakewood. It has also occurred to me that many of Lakewood's
politicians have forgotten the most important parts of Lakewood, that make Lakewood
what it is, the residents. It is easy to see how this happens. A republican mindset descends
on City Hall with the ultimate evil being asking for a tax raise. Something the citizens
would have gladly given the city at the start of the FitzGerald administration. We had
identified a number of about $325 a year at the time, that the average Lakewoodite would
have voted through to keep the city unique, safe, clean, and a top shelf brand. Instead
as Ed was looking for higher office, and would not do well as a tax and spender, decided
it would be best to homogenize Lakewood into Cleveland. Dragging trash to curb to save
$40,000 a year in 8 years time. Pushing the outright lie that "Economic Development"
will reduce taxes or at least fill the gap as we move forward. To this date residents still
carry business instead of the other way around.

So, maybe it is time for a PROFESSIONAL. I pray they do not trot out some "Oh now he
has credentials in 'city management'" and push it through. Maybe, the charter review
takes a nice hard look and says, "3 FULL TIME At-Large Council members is all we need
with the pay increased to $70,000, and a City Manager budget of $200,000." As that is
what we would need to get someone with enough experience and quality to run this city.

Being a mayor as a hobby, or to fill in a blank on your resume or history seems to not be
the best way to run a city.

At the end of the day, both the City Manager and a Mayor are people that are open to the
same influences, and myopic vision that has effected Lakewood for a decade or more.

But, we would have to vote it in as a community, and we could always go back should it
not work out.

I simply am tired of City Hall not understanding what they have or had.

What I am beginning to understand, elected offices desperately need strong oversight
by the residents that voted them in.

.

[Bill Call]

I was hoping this was about cows.

Meats meat

[marklingm]

I was hoping this was about cows.

Meats meat

But, some meat is gamier than others, Bill.

[marklingm]

So to use your logic on this. You have decided that Mayor Summers should have a 2nd, 3rd and 4th term? It had seemed to me that you of all people should be somewhat excited to even have the possibility of replacing the regime, which in its current form is more of a Oligarchy with a little Totalitarian, a pinch of Authoritarian and dressed as Republic.

"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't," Jimmy.

Although I suppose we know Butler and Siley, too.

I must admit that it is interesting to observe the "dream team" steal democracy away from us while the 'Wood sleeps.

Matt