12.16.2019 MEETING MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council Monday, December 16, 2019 Page 21 Congratulations Dr. Parker. Dr. Parker asked, can I say a few words? Mayor Bodnar replied, yes, please. Dr. Parker stated, I don't know how to follow that. Thank you very much Mayor. It was very nice words. I was trying to think about what to say tonight and it's really hard to compress three decades of living in Mayfield Village and over 20 years of being involved in service as a Councilman into just a few words. Time has a way of flying by when you go about your everyday way of life and this has passed very quickly. No doubt Mayfield Village is in many ways a different place than when I first became involved in the community. We had a part-time Recreation Department, a fairly dilapidated Fire and Police station, Village Hall, and I can recall my first seating on Council in the old Village Hall being told by one of the old-timers; it might have been Councilman Busa, Ferrante or someone, that I better not move my chair back too far, I just might fall off the back of the riser. At the time, I was the youngest on Council. Over the last 20 plus years, we have seen economic growth and expansion of our economic foundation, greenspace, building and services in our departments and it has truly been a pleasure to be a part of helping Mayfield Village be better in some tangible and intangible ways. I would like to thank the residents of Mayfield Village for allowing me to serve the community, for trusting me to make the right decisions, decisions that I always tried to put the best interests of the whole community first, at times it was the interest of the whole but sometimes it was the interests of the individual and that's important in our government. There's been a lot of change over the last 20 years but one consistent and constant factor that has refused to change or die away is the sense of a small, wane, caring Village and its residents that truly care about each other and the values that make our Village and our nation great. I want to thank the many members of Council, the Mayor, Department Heads, of course our wonderful Council Clerk, I don't know what we would do without you as Councilpeople and such wonderful staff that I had the privilege to work with. They are the glue that binds our community and ensures its residents are served in so many ways. We have by far the best, and I mean the best, Department Heads, departments and staff of any community. I leave my position as Councilman knowing that our Village is in good and caring hands and that it will continue to build on the past and forge a new future. Mayfield Village has been an amazing community to live in and to raise my family and I want to thank all of you for helping to make it that way and for allowing me an opportunity to do a small part. Thank you very much. Mayor Bodnar stated, thank you very much Dr. Parker. And now, last but not least, I will read into the record a Proclamation honoring our Council President Joseph Saponaro. And Joe, it's very fitting tonight that you are joined by your wife Monica and your son Matthew because I don't think it's specified in here, but your family has always been your top priority to you and that is to your credit. Council President Saponaro stated, thank you.