The Observation Deck

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Shelley

You seem very passionate about this topic.

I have been a Lakewood resident on and off my entire life.

I too treasure back yard pick up.

Do you have any dog in this fight?


.

Are you asking that of me or Lakewoods finance director?

If you are asking me the answer is yes.

The Automated service is a waste of money.
Back Yard service is a valued service

And isnt Lakewood in a budget crisis?

Every resident has "a dog in this fight" its our money they plan to waste and yet another of our services they plan to gut. City hall needs clean up waste where waste is. And stop blowing smoke to divert attention.

No department (fire department) deserves a "Golden Parachute". Or dont you argee?

And I hope every resident checks out the flyers for Automated service.


http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/streets/doc ... 07_000.pdf

http://www.west-hartford.com/TownServic ... onFAQs.pdf

Shelley Hurd wrote:Are you asking that of me or Lakewoods finance director?

If you are asking me the answer is yes.

The Automated service is a waste of money.
Back Yard service is a valued service

And isnt Lakewood in a budget crisis?

Every resident has "a dog in this fight" its our money they plan to waste and yet another of our services they plan to gut. City hall needs clean up waste where waste is. And stop blowing smoke to divert attention.

No department (fire department) deserves a "Golden Parachute". Or dont you argee?

And I hope every resident checks out the flyers for Automated service.


http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/streets/doc ... 07_000.pdf

http://www.west-hartford.com/TownServic ... onFAQs.pdf

I am asking you not Jen.

We all have dogs in all of these fights you are correct. We are residents in a budget crisis. However, it would seem with recent talks, backyard pick-ups could continue for an additional fee if you are interested. Also those that could not do it because of some limitation, can get a waiver. I am not sure why one of the waivers for backyard pick up was "low income."

As for the golden parachute...

I am for honoring fairly negotiated contracts. If they are stupid, lop sided, or bad deals, but negotiated in good faith, the should be honored. You hold the person that wrote the bad contract responsible, not the workers.

FWIW


.

Picture your self asking your neighbor if you can put your extra garbage in their can

[quote="Jim O'Bryan ...
I am for honoring fairly negotiated contracts. If they are stupid, lop sided, or bad deals, but negotiated in good faith, the should be honored. You hold the person that wrote the bad contract responsible, not the workers.

FWIW


.[/quote]

Fire Department lay-offs to bring us in line with staffing levels and is still "honoring fairly negotiated contracts."

And would have a much greater impact on our "budget Crisis"

@7 fire fighters make 100,000 - 117,697
@15 fire fighters make 90,000 - 99,999
@ 31 fire fighters make 80,000 - 89,999
none make below 62,227.82 (2 paramedics though do make @57,000)
So we would need to lay off at least 2 refuse workers to equal just 1 fire fighter.

Or to put it a better perspective:

The whole of “Public Worksâ€

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Picture your self asking your neighbor if you can put your extra garbage in their can

Silly!

Sounds naughty when you say it!

Shelley Hurd wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Picture your self asking your neighbor if you can put your extra garbage in their can

Silly!

Sounds naughty when you say it!

Jim is my neighbor

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Shelley Hurd wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Picture your self asking your neighbor if you can put your extra garbage in their can

Silly!

Sounds naughty when you say it!

Jim is my neighbor

Ah!

i really doubt any of my neighbors are going to let me put bags of doggie doo-ddo in their trash. and if anyone will let me then i might be more worried about that neighbor than the automated truck. LOL.
and today after our little snow, slush, ice thing we had going on, i almost killed myself just walking in my driveway with batman. i swear my knee is going to be replaced sooner than i wanted....then what will i do? who will carry out my doggie doodie bags? aughhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote="Shelley Hurd"]And I also have issue with the whole "budget crisis"

Lakewoods finance director Pae:
She reports the city’s finances are looking up. The city received its latest bond rating in April 2007 (You can read the city's official announcement in the sidebar by clicking here).
“We’re an Aa3, which is actually really good.â€

Stephen Eisel wrote: Jim is my neighbor

Clicky

Charlie Page wrote:I’ve looked at Lakewood’s annual reports from 1999 to 2007. From this period, Lakewood General Fund revenues increased an average of 2.1% per year while expenses increased an average of 4% per year.

Expenditures for 2008 had to be cut by over 4 million over the proposed budget.

The budget crisis is real.

There seems to be an ongoing effort to convince people that $4 million budget deficits did not exist. The deficits did exist and had to be addressed. The administration and council have done a better job of dealing with that economic reality than many other cities. Even with the "cuts" the City has more employees than it had 20 years ago and more employees than our peer cities.

Is that disinformation effort just a bitter echo from the last mayoral election? If so, consider this: If the previous administration had taken this action four years ago the City would have $20 million in the bank and Tom George would still be Mayor.

Is that disinformation campaign related to the firefighters law suit against the City? Perhaps.

Bill Call wrote:

Charlie Page wrote:I’ve looked at Lakewood’s annual reports from 1999 to 2007. From this period, Lakewood General Fund revenues increased an average of 2.1% per year while expenses increased an average of 4% per year.

Expenditures for 2008 had to be cut by over 4 million over the proposed budget.

The budget crisis is real.

There seems to be an ongoing effort to convince people that $4 million budget deficits did not exist. The deficits did exist and had to be addressed. The administration and council have done a better job of dealing with that economic reality than many other cities. Even with the "cuts" the City has more employees than it had 20 years ago and more employees than our peer cities.

Is that disinformation effort just a bitter echo from the last mayoral election? If so, consider this: If the previous administration had taken this action four years ago the City would have $20 million in the bank and Tom George would still be Mayor.

Is that disinformation campaign related to the firefighters law suit against the City? Perhaps.

Bill Call and Charlie Page,

I am unable to follow what either of you are talking about. But sounds like I am missing many peices of the puzzle.

First to Charlie

After you looked at the annual reports from 1999 to 2007, what did you find as the “causeâ€

Shelley Hurd wrote:Does the fire department have a law suit against the city? If so for what ? And when and where is it filed?

See This

http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/AuditSea ... yahoga.pdf

Page 6-10 contains the nugget "the union has filed a grievance on the issue" on minimum staffing. Peer cities have a minimum staffing level of 16 or 17. Lakewood has 24. The administration reduced the minimum staffing levels rather than pay overtime to cover for employees who call in sick. The union is asking for $1 million per year to make up for lost overtime.

Bill Call wrote:

Shelley Hurd wrote:Does the fire department have a law suit against the city? If so for what ? And when and where is it filed?

See This

http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/AuditSea ... yahoga.pdf

Page 6-10 contains the nugget "the union has filed a grievance on the issue" on minimum staffing. Peer cities have a minimum staffing level of 16 or 17. Lakewood has 24. The administration reduced the minimum staffing levels rather than pay overtime to cover for employees who call in sick. The union is asking for $1 million per year to make up for lost overtime.

I am speechless. Which trust me ... is saying alot

Have been spending the last couple hours trying to both digest and investigate this information.
I see a filing on the Cuyahoga County Court site pertaining to the fire department ( Jeffery Wilson and Mathias Brooks) is this the law suit?

Bill Call wrote:

Shelley Hurd wrote:Does the fire department have a law suit against the city? If so for what ? And when and where is it filed?

See This

http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/AuditSea ... yahoga.pdf

Page 6-10 contains the nugget "the union has filed a grievance on the issue" on minimum staffing. Peer cities have a minimum staffing level of 16 or 17. Lakewood has 24. The administration reduced the minimum staffing levels rather than pay overtime to cover for employees who call in sick. The union is asking for $1 million per year to make up for lost overtime.

Also, do you know what is responsible for the the 3 million dollars over budget?

City of Lakewood 2007 Comprehensive Budget January 1 - December 31,
2007Fire Department
2007 Adopted Budget Total expenditures 7,129,761
2007Comprehensive Budget

2007 Actual Total Expenditures 10,367,982
2008Performance Audit
Difference
3,238,221

Where did this 3,000,000 discrepancy come from in 2007 ?

And Where do I find fire department financial info for pervious years?
Looking to see when their budget got so out of control and why and how.

Thanks