The Observation Deck

Law Director Butler and City Hall have violated public records laws by failing to comply with the records requests below concerning "wind down" costs and appraisal of hospital assets mentioned in the Master Agreement they passed and signed December 21, 2015.

The Master Agreement gave away and destroyed Lakewood Hospital and hospital assets valued at more than $120M.

Summers and City Council (excluding Councilman Dan O'Malley) all voted for the Master Agreement and can't produce records or explain why they gave CCF over $70M in cash and property in exchange for nothing to be paid by CCF.

It has now been established that CCF will pay no wind down expenses and will make off with cash and property worth an estimated $70M million or more for FREE!

So Summers, Butler, Jen Pae and City Councilmembers who supported and voted for the Master Agreement have participated in the largest Fraud on taxpayers in Lakewood History.

Will anyone be held accountable?


Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>

Jan 9 at 2:54 PM

ToKevin Butler
Jeannine Petrus
Mary Hagan
CCMike Summers
Sam O'Leary
Ryan Nowlin
David Anderson
Cynthia Marx
and 5 more...


Dear Director Butler,

Please see below my records request from December 13, 2015, that I believe has never been fulfilled and I reassert herein as if fully rewritten.

In addition, please produce the following public records:

1. All records of communication of a threat by Lakewood Hospital Association (LHA) or any representative of LHA that LHA might file for bankruptcy protection;

2. All records of communication by LHA or any representative of LHA to any Lakewood City official or Lakewood elected leader that LHA would resist any effort by City Council to conduct a public bidding, listing, request for proposal and/or marketing of any or all of the assets used in the conduct of Lakewood Hospital;

3. All records of communication by any elected official requesting that LHA conduct a bidding, listing, request for proposal and/or marketing concerning any or all of the assets used in the conduct of Lakewood Hospital;

4. All records of communication whereby LHA responded to any communication by any elected official requesting that LHA conduct a bidding, listing, request for proposal and/or marketing concerning any or all of the assets used in the conduct of Lakewood Hospital;

5. All records concerning the potential of LHA filing for bankruptcy.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi


From: Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>
To: Kevin Butler <kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net>; Jeannine Petrus <jeannine.petrus@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Hagan <mary.hagan@lakewoodoh.net>
Cc: Mike Summers <mike.summers@lakewoodoh.net>; Sam O'Leary <sam.oleary@lakewoodoh.net>; Ryan Nowlin <ryan.nowlin@lakewoodoh.net>; David Anderson <david.anderson@lakewoodoh.net>; Cynthia Marx <cindy.marx@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Madigan <mary.madigan@lakewoodoh.net>; Tom Bullock <tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net>; Shawn Juris <shawn.juris@lakewoodoh.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2015 1:45 PM
Subject: Re: Public Records Request Concerning Wind-Down Costs

Dear Director Butler, Mayor Summers, Thomas Bullock and Mary Madigan,

Kindy produce the following public records:

1. All public records that are the basis of Mayor Summers' statements as reported on page E2 of the Plain Dealer dated 12/13/15 to wit "$12 million of the hospital's $78 million in wind down costs would be borne by the Clinic" and on page A2 of the Plain Dealer dated 12/13/15 to wit: "the Clinic could end up spending $12 million toward the $78 million in wind down costs."

2. All public record concerning estimated and/or anticipated wind-down costs for closing and winding down Lakewood Hospital per the terms of the proposed Master Agreement published on the City website May 10, 2015,

3. All public record concerning estimated and/or anticipated wind-down costs for closing and winding down Lakewood Hospital.

4. All public record concerning estimated and/or anticipated wind-down costs for closing and winding down Lakewood Hospital that may be borne by the Cleveland Clinic.


Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi

From: Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>
To: Kevin Butler <kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net>; Jeannine Petrus <jeannine.petrus@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Hagan <mary.hagan@lakewoodoh.net>
Cc: Mike Summers <mike.summers@lakewoodoh.net>; Sam O'Leary <sam.oleary@lakewoodoh.net>; Ryan Nowlin <ryan.nowlin@lakewoodoh.net>; David Anderson <david.anderson@lakewoodoh.net>; Cynthia Marx <cindy.marx@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Madigan <mary.madigan@lakewoodoh.net>; Tom Bullock <tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net>; Shawn Juris <shawn.juris@lakewoodoh.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2015 9:15 AM
Subject: Re: Public Records Request Concerning FHC Site Sale Agreement

Dear Director Butler,

Please produce the following public records:

1. The Title Commitment dated November 13, 2015 referred to in Section 5(b) of the FHC Site Sale Agreement.

2. The "survey" and the "lot split/consolidation plat" and/or any drafts of either of these documents which are referred to in the footnote on page G-1 of the FHC Site Sale Agreement.

3. All correspondence and communications by and among any City official or employee and First American Title Company and any Cuyahoga County Official or employee which correspondence and/or communications concern the planning and/or preparation for the transactions contemplated by the FHC Site Sale Agreement or any previous daft thereof, including the Lot Split Approval contemplated thereby.
4. Any records containing or referring to a projected, estimated or anticipated completion date of the Lot Split Approval referred to in the FHC Site Sale Agreement.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi

From: Brian Essi <bjessi@sbcglobal.net>
To: Kevin Butler <kevin.butler@lakewoodoh.net>; Jeannine Petrus <jeannine.petrus@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Hagan <mary.hagan@lakewoodoh.net>
Cc: Mike Summers <mike.summers@lakewoodoh.net>; Sam O'Leary <sam.oleary@lakewoodoh.net>; Ryan Nowlin <ryan.nowlin@lakewoodoh.net>; David Anderson <david.anderson@lakewoodoh.net>; Cynthia Marx <cindy.marx@lakewoodoh.net>; Mary Madigan <mary.madigan@lakewoodoh.net>; Tom Bullock <tom.bullock@lakewoodoh.net>; Shawn Juris <shawn.juris@lakewoodoh.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 13, 2015 8:35 AM
Subject: Public Records Request Concerning Section 9.9

Dear Director Butler,

Please produce the following public records:

1. All records of communications, agreements and/or payments by or among the City, any City official, LHA, any LHA trustee, and any employee or representative of the City and/or LHA including their attorneys and/or insurers concerning Section 9.9 of the 1996 Lease between LHA and the City, which communications, agreements and/or payments concern Edward Graham, et al. v City of Lakewood CV-15-846212.

Sincerely,

Brian J. Essi

Brian Essi wrote:It has now been established that CCF will pay no wind down expenses and will make off with cash and property worth an estimated $70M million or more for FREE!

So Summers, Butler, Jen Pae and City Councilmembers who supported and voted for the Master Agreement have participated in the largest Fraud on taxpayers in Lakewood History.

Will anyone be held accountable?

No.

City Council and our local media outlets are silent. The deal with the Clinic is nothing less than the theft of City assets. Another question: Does anyone care?

Bill Call wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:It has now been established that CCF will pay no wind down expenses and will make off with cash and property worth an estimated $70M million or more for FREE!

So Summers, Butler, Jen Pae and City Councilmembers who supported and voted for the Master Agreement have participated in the largest Fraud on taxpayers in Lakewood History.

Will anyone be held accountable?

No.

City Council and our local media outlets are silent. The deal with the Clinic is nothing less than the theft of City assets. Another question: Does anyone care?

Bill


Pssssssst, not all media outlets are silent in this. The other one, just laid off half of their staff, including Mayor Summers' favorite reporter.

Meanwhile the Observer launches two new projects. Let's stick to facts.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote: The other one, just laid off half of their staff, including Mayor Summers' favorite reporter.

Ah, the irony.
Mr. Geiselman spent a year dutifully relaying talking points for the Clinic, Summers, and Madigan.
That's what his bossess at the PD wanted.
What is his reward? He was kicked to the curb just like those 1,000+ Lakewood Hospital employees.

Michael Deneen wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote: The other one, just laid off half of their staff, including Mayor Summers' favorite reporter.

Ah, the irony.
Mr. Geiselman spent a year dutifully relaying talking points for the Clinic, Summers, and Madigan.
That's what his bossess at the PD wanted.
What is his reward? He was kicked to the curb just like those 1,000+ Lakewood Hospital employees.

...and Madigan
...and Bullock

I wonder how Colin and Rick are doing.

Dan Alaimo wrote:I wonder how Colin and Rick are doing.

Colin has been smart enough to keep his name out of all this.
Somehow Jen Pae got duped into being the official Mouthpiece at City Hall.
She is the first "Finance Director/PR Flak" in the history of government.


Rick Uldricks has been very busy lately...he posted some propaganda on the SLH Facebook page a couple days ago.
As usual, he's been conversing with himself via sock puppet accounts over on the other message board. #sybil

Michael Deneen wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:I wonder how Colin and Rick are doing.

Colin has been smart enough to keep his name out of all this.
Somehow Jen Pae got duped into being the official Mouthpiece at City Hall.
She is the first "Finance Director/PR Flak" in the history of government.


Rick Uldricks has been very busy lately...he posted some propaganda on the SLH Facebook page a couple days ago.
As usual, he's been conversing with himself via sock puppet accounts over on the other message board. #sybil

When you know his style, those posts are pretty easy to pick out. If it weren't so sad - for the City, for the residents, for the Buzz - it would be kind of funny. There are entire threads that are almost all Rick.

Bill Call wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:It has now been established that CCF will pay no wind down expenses and will make off with cash and property worth an estimated $70M million or more for FREE!

So Summers, Butler, Jen Pae and City Councilmembers who supported and voted for the Master Agreement have participated in the largest Fraud on taxpayers in Lakewood History.

Will anyone be held accountable?

No.

City Council and our local media outlets are silent. The deal with the Clinic is nothing less than the theft of City assets. Another question: Does anyone care?

I have to believe that the people of Lakewood care (!), far more than the people who work for the people and are supposed to take care of the people's assets!

I have to believe that the people of Lakewood will relish the chance to overturn this ordinance and force those "public" servants to get back to the drawing board.

I suppose one of the many "biggest disappointments" is that under oath there was no other hospitals looked at, and no real effort to save the hospital. All that talk of studies, and stuff was just a fabrication. As I pointed out when announced the decision was made before hiring Subsidium.

It was just another charade.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:I suppose one of the many "biggest disappointments" is that under oath there was no other hospitals looked at, and no real effort to save the hospital. All that talk of studies, and stuff was just a fabrication. As I pointed out when announced the decision was made before hiring Subsidium.

It was just another charade.

.

I am curious to learn what Summers testified to the other day, but I recently obtained some startling new information.

This deal was "greased" from the beginning, the source said.

Brian Essi wrote:[This deal was "greased" from the beginning, the source said.

I forget who posted it but some said, "We are being played." even all the way back in February, hmmmmmm.


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Brian Essi wrote:[This deal was "greased" from the beginning, the source said.

I forget who posted it but some said, "We are being played." even all the way back in February, hmmmmmm.


.

The Observer has been a strong advocate for the truth. I'm sure the Build Lakewood crowd has tried to make the Observer pay a heavy price.

The real fault is not the Mayors. You have to blame City Council. I think they knew the truth about all the dishonesty and deceptions. They were so afraid of a fight they gave up without a fight.

Bill Call wrote:The Observer has been a strong advocate for the truth. I'm sure the Build Lakewood crowd has tried to make the Observer pay a heavy price.

The real fault is not the Mayors. You have to blame City Council. I think they knew the truth about all the dishonesty and deceptions. They were so afraid of a fight they gave up without a fight.

Bill

Actually the Observer comes out stronger than before. Three cities have asked us to come to their communities by their city hall. Also most of the Lakewood community see the Observer for what it is, and town square. It is only the myopic small minded people that think, "If I owned the Observer I would tell these people..." Crazy talk. They also think we are all conspiring together! INSANE!

HOWEVER THE FAULT IS THE MAYOR's.

Mayor Summers owned the bully pulpit. Mayor Summers was one of the most respected and loved mayors in Lakewood's history. He had good reasons for what he has done, many I agree with. But he never trusted the people that trusted him enough to vote for him, and that is just wrong. Mary Louise and Bullock were along for the rides, they were not involved in day to day negotiations. Once you talk with people at LHA you find out there was a "star chamber" working on this in secret for years. Bullock and Madigan simply weren't sharp enough to be in those discussions.

Sadly we found out Mayor Summers wasn't either. Another huge disappointment, he didn't level with the people way back in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 when he was caught.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:uote="Bill Call"] Once you talk with people at LHA you find out there was a "star chamber" working on this in secret for years. Bullock and Madigan simply weren't sharp enough to be in those discussions.

.

If that is true then our leadership on all levels failed their fiduciary duty.

Who was on the Star Chamber?

If others on the Board where aware if it's existence why didn't they speak up?

If members of Council had doubts about the Mayors actions why didn't they speak out?

Was the title so important to them that they kept silent to keep it?

Where are the now? If they are confident they took the correct action why don't they speak up?

The group that sins together, wins together! It appears to be all about the money!!!!!!