The Observation Deck

One of the first resolutions newly appointed Council President tried to pass on January 4, 2016 was to appoint replacements to the LHA board of trustees.

However, as on January 4, 2016, it is clear that O’Leary didn’t understand that per the Master Agreement, City Council would have no further representation on the LHA board:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swg0478EXQY

Also, as of January 4, 2016, Butler still didn’t understand that per the Master Agreement the City Council would have no further representation on the LHA board.

Butler affirmatively stated that Council needed to and could fill vacancies per the Master Agreement--Butler was Dead Wrong!

https://youtu.be/Swg0478EXQY?t=23m50s

As of January 4, 2016, there was at least one citizen who had read and understood the Master Agreement and that citizen told City Council that it had no further rights to appoint anyone to the board of LHA—the city gave up all of those rights on December 21, 2015 when the Master Agreement was signed.

https://youtu.be/Swg0478EXQY?t=58m57s

Shortly after the citizen spoke at City Council, Mr. O’Leary gave up on his resolution related to appointing LHA trustees. It was later learned that Mayor Summers and Tom Bullock resigned from the LHA Board because they would have committed Ohio Ethics violations since as elected officials they could not serve on a board of trustees with adverse interests to the city.

Unlike Nancy Pelosi---Butler and O'Leary passed Ordinance 49-15, but still didn't know what's in it after it was passed.

Last week we also learned that Butler was Dead Wrong about the city having no rights against the Clinic under the 1996 Agreements.

Butler doesn't even understand the 2015 Master Agreement that he supposedly "negotiated."

What else are our Law Director and Council President Dead Wrong about in the Master Agreement?

As of late, for a number of reasons, I fear public officials in Lakewood read nothing. Nothing. I'm not a lawyer, but I would read the bylaws of an organization before I make public statements regarding that organization. I am quite honestly astounded by the seeming ignorance of public officials. No conspiracy. They seem to just not read much and/or explore beyond what is spoon fed to them.

Sigh.

An atrocity has been committed upon the financial and healthcare assets of the people of the City of Lakewood.

It appears that Mr. Anderson's "unbiased and genuine advice to Council" - from what appears to be compromised counsel - failed to impart this clear, immediate, and decisive outcome of the DA to those on Council and staff who agreed to the DA.

They passed 49-15 to find out what's in it, but then they never read the Master Agreement after they passed it.

Sam O'Leary testified under oath that the Master Agreement did not exist on December 7, 2015.

O'Leary testified under oath that Council decided to proceed with legislation to pass the Maser Agreement even though it did not exist.

That sort of explains why they didn't feel the need to read it or understand it after it was passed and signed.

Since this was the most important agreement in Lakewood in over 100 years, what does that say about our public officials reading less important agreements?