The Observation Deck

Posted: **Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:04 am**

It’s an open secret that “City Hall and Friends” don’t trust the citizens of Lakewood enough to elect a mayor.

As we know, Mike Summers was appointed mayor by City Council and then nobody in a politically conscious city of 50,000 plus residents wanted the job enough to run for it … other than Mike … so Mike was elected in an uncontested race.

So, what’s next?

Enter … The City Manager.

It’s coming folks.

A charter review committee/commission will soon be stacked with city manager huggers.

Posted: **Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:13 am**

Matthew John Markling wrote:
So, what’s next?

Enter … The City Manager.

It’s coming folks.

A charter review committee/commission will soon be stacked with city manager huggers.

Matt,

How do you know?

Scott

Posted: **Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:28 am**

I'm a mere Observer, Scott.

Just ask “City Hall and Friends” directly.

They will openly tell you how much they love the city manager concept.

Mike Summers can be reached at 1.216.529.6600 or mayor@lakewoodoh.net. See, also, http://www.onelakewood.com/Departments.aspx#1.

But, you need simply look back at a sampling of the threads on the Deck to see what’s coming.

For example, read http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9324.

Steve Davis is a big city manager hugger.

Maybe Steve will jump in on this discussion?

Matt

Posted: **Sat Dec 14, 2013 11:12 am**

One reason that the city manager huggers will try to make sure that this guy is the last elected mayor:

... "City Hall and Friends" are scared to death of this guy:

Jim O'Bryan for Mayor! ... assuming that option exists ...

Posted: **Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:24 pm**

Oh, and the answer is, “yes.”

It seems odd that any sitting mayor would admit that he can’t do his job - and that a city manager would do it better.

But, then again, "City Hall and Friends" are the same type of folks that openly post on the Deck that, “The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.”

I disagree.

The best argument for democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.

Posted: **Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:01 pm**

The beginning of the end starts with these five appointments:

From: Hagan, Mary [mailto:Mary.Hagan@lakewoodoh.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2014 1:06 PM
To: Hagan, Mary
Cc: [redacted]
Subject: Notice of Meeting (COW)

Notice enclosed & attached
Issued 1/8/14
NOTICE OF MEETING – COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

The Committee of the Whole will meet Thursday, January 9, 2014, at 5:30 PM in the Jury Room (room is subject to change please check with guard at front desk) of Lakewood City Hall, 12650 Detroit Road, Lakewood, Ohio. Executive Session is expected to be called. The agenda is as follows:

***

7. RESOLUTION NO. 8705-14 - A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, appointing_____________________to a position on the 2014 Charter Review Commission.

8. RESOLUTION NO. 8706-14 - A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, appointing_____________________to a position on the 2014 Charter Review Commission.

9. RESOLUTION NO. 8707-14 - A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, appointing_____________________to a position on the 2014 Charter Review Commission.

10. RESOLUTION NO. 8708-14 - A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, appointing_____________________to a position on the 2014 Charter Review Commission.

11. RESOLUTION NO. 8709-14 - A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, appointing_____________________to a position on the 2014 Charter Review Commission.

***

Mary Louise Madigan, Chair
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2014 12:38 pm**

Don't say you weren't warned, Lakewood.

... http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12391 ...

Posted: **Wed Jan 29, 2014 5:26 pm**

In the “City snow plows” thread at http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11475&start=105, Jim O’Bryan and I are discussing mayor versus city manager issues.

It has been suggested that we move the discussion to this thread instead.

Or, were we to move the discussion to the "COW Meetings" thread at http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=12391 instead?

In any event, discuss away.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Matt

If a position is filled with a human, you have the same issues.

Our last GREAT mayor is serving 1.5 years in jail right now.

On my long drive into work today, I pondered your question.

Maybe the term "mayor" is the problem.

Certainly we would demand more from a paid professional.

As you know in the business world, "but he is a nice..." gets you nothing.

http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11475&start=105

Jim,

You may have a good point.

The mayor is elected.

The mayor is paid.

Now let's work with your premise that the problem rests with the mayor being unprofessional.

So, which of the below City Hall paid professionals (for example) will we demand more from once the unelected, paid, professional city manager takes over and which of these paid professionals (for example) will lose their jobs to this unelected, paid, professional city manager?

So, by way of example only, which of our current paid professionals are responsible for the city snow plow problems if no blame falls at the feet of the elected, paid, unprofessional mayor?

Matt

Posted: **Wed Jan 29, 2014 7:39 pm**

Matthew John Markling wrote:Jim,

You may have a good point.

The mayor is elected.

The mayor is paid.

Now let's work with your premise that the problem rests with the mayor being unprofessional.

So, which of the below City Hall paid professionals (for example) will we demand more from once the unelected, paid, professional city manager takes over and which of these paid professionals (for example) will lose their jobs to this unelected, paid, professional city manager?

Director of Public Works
Finance Director
Director of Human Resources
Law Director
Director of Planning and Development
Director of Public Safety

So, by way of example only, which of our current paid professionals are responsible for the city snow plow problems if no blame falls at the feet of the elected, paid, unprofessional mayor?

Matt

Well

I we are to use my experience is working with Fortune 500 Companies. They all are
subservient to the City Manager/CEO.

In this analogy, the residents would be the shareholders, the council is like a Board of
Directors, and City Manager is CEO, with all of those positions under her or him.

Shareholders can get people on or off the board, and with enough outcry could cause the
City Manager to be fired. That person in order to save their ass, would make sure department heads deliver.

Right now you have elected official after elected official. 4 mayors over 12 years. Many if
not most brought their own crew with them. We have seen people get plum jobs like
Planning Director because they were friends, donors, or less. Dru Siley might be one of
the first that was not given the job for good behavior.

Out of the list I would say Finance Director Jen Pae probably deserves a raise, and the rest
are pretty unimpressive.

Building should probably be spun off from planning, as they are pretty self sufficient when
the mayor of the moment is not screwing with them. Which has happened for the last
two administrations. Ed gutted building department for what I believe were personal reasons.

As for the rest, good people, but we need more from them. We need better.

Why are parks closed? Why are services so down? Why hasn't the new taxes been figured
and assessed against new businesses? Why hasn't the city worked to spin off some SIDs
instead of always using mostly private tax dollars for business. Why the mistrust of the
residents? It is like they have lost touch with the city, and themselves.

.

Posted: **Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:12 pm**

Matt

I'll try to be gentle.

When you were at the schools, or in your business now.

An manager during business hours drives into a massive garage door while lighting
a cigarette in a rush, destroying the door.

Reprimanded?

Fired?

Drug Tested?

Cover for them?

I bet a city manager would do 3 of the 4.

While a mayor might only pick one.

.

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2014 6:59 am**

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Matt

I'll try to be gentle.

When you were at the schools, or in your business now.

An manager during business hours drives into a massive garage door while lighting
a cigarette in a rush, destroying the door.

Reprimanded?

Fired?

Drug Tested?

Cover for them?

I bet a city manager would do 3 of the 4.

While a mayor might only pick one.

.

Great hypothetical, Jim.

Again, I think it would come down to the person, not the position.

If either you or I were the mayor, we wouldn't do a cover-up.

Now, I have a hypothetical for you, Jim:

A city employee threatens to harm a citizen and her family.

The citizen makes a police report.

Which of the positions below would just cause the police report to disappear and no more?

Now, let's assume that the answer is the elected mayor position.

What next?

If an elected mayor would just cause the police report to disappear and no more, which of the below response(s) from come from City Council officials?

Now, let's assume that the answer is an unelected city manager instead.

What next?

If an unelected city manager would just cause the police report to disappear and no more, which of the below response(s) from come from City Council officials?

Okay, Jim, you may begin your examination ....

... now ...

Matt

Posted: **Wed Feb 19, 2014 4:22 pm**

Matthew John Markling wrote:Now, I have a hypothetical for you, Jim:

A city employee threatens to harm a citizen and her family.

The citizen makes a police report.

Jim,

While I wait for your answer to my hypothetical question, we know what a Mayor would do if a resident threatened him:

A hotheaded resident dropped in to have a word with the freshly minted mayor. It seems the man was unhappy with the way Summers had handled an earlier dispute between him and a neighbor. Summers, as councilman at the time, asked police to remind both parties to play nice.

The cops were needed again last week when the man started shouting that Summers “would pay” for his actions, according to the police report. He was arrested for aggravated menacing.

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-hea ... to-the-job

Different rules for different folks I guess.

Matt

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