13-85 Investigate Ohio Bell Telephone Rates

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-ORDINANCE NO. 13-85 BY: Brown, Chinnock, Gallagher, Graham, McBride, Salmon, Wendling AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE authorizing and directing the Mayor for and on behalf of the citizens of the City of Lakewood to participate in and enter into an agreement with the City of Cleveland to investigate, analyze and put forth evidence with regard to the current Ohio Bell Telephone rate proceeding Case No. 84-1435-tp-air WHEREAS, there is a need to protect the residents of the City of Lakewood and the city government itself against an unreasonable increase in the rates which the Ohio Bell Telephone Company is seeking by virtue of application filed by the Ohio Bell Telephone Company in the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio under Formal Case No. 84-1435-tp-air, and WHEREAS, telephone service is a necessity of urban life; and WHEREAS, the Ohio Bell Telephone Company is the principal supplier of telephone service in the cities of Lakewood and Cleveland, and WHEREAS, the Ohio Bell Telephone Company has filed an application for an increase in rates of $137 million, and WHEREAS, the proposed increase should be examined in the greatest possible detail to determine the fairness, equity and need for the increase in particular types of service; and WHEREAS, this ordinance constitutes an emergency measure providing for the immediate preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, CUYAHOGA COUNTY, STATE OF OHIO: Section 1. that the Mayor be and he is hereby authorized for and on behalf of the residents of the City of Lakewood to participate in and enter into an agreement with the City of Cleveland to investigate, analyze and put forth evidence with regard to the current Ohio Bell Telephone rate proceeding Case No. 84-1435-tp-air whereby the City of Lakewood shall furnish the sum of $2,000 for the purpose of employing consultants and expert witnesses who will secure and furnish necessary technical information to assist the City of Cleveland in opposing the rate inCrease requested by the Ohio Bell Telephone Company and retain special counsel to serve as legal representative for the purposes of the Ohio Bell Telephone rate proceedings, which effort will inure to the benefit of the City of Lakewood, city government and general business community. Section 2. To authorize the Mayor of the City of Lakewood to authorize the Cleveland city attorney or his designate and such special counsel as may be retained by the City of Cleveland to serve as special legal representatives for purposes of the Ohio Bell Telephone rate proceedings. Section 3. That for the purposes of paying the costs thereof, the expenditure of $ 2,000from the General Fund is hereby authorized. Section 4. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this ordinance were adopted in an open meeting of this Council, in that all such deliberations of this Council and of any of its committees that resulted in such formal actions were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code. Section 5. That this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure for the reasons stated in the preamble hereof and provided it receives the affirmative vote of two thirds of all members of Council, it shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its adoption and approval by the Mayor. Otherwise, it shall take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law.