03/02/2010 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 03-02-2010 _ Councilman Mahoney said I would indicate that there is nothing that prohibits the union a~ and the Administration from doing everything that he said. This is an enabling piece of legislation, nothing more. Council isn't making a choice, in my opinion, whether to recommend accepting a Fact Finder's report or not. You have an absolute right to go to conciliation if that's your choice. It's under the law, and I support that completely and totally. The difficulty we face is based on the tardiness of the Fact Finder's report, I'm in a position where I have to put the best ;interest of the city first and make sure that the law in regards to the budget process is upheld. The Administration has delayed the budget process so far as we go into March. We could have started the budget process in January, he could present it in February; we were patient and everybody waited for the Fact Finder's report. I'm saddened by the notion we are up against the gun. But, a Finance Committee meeting is set for Thursday; a Finance Committee meeting at length is set for Saturday this week. I can see no reason to move those -none whatsoever. I'm not even pointing out the idea that it goes back to November of 2008. Our duty is to the residents of this city to come forward with a balanced budget. We have one regular two weeks from tonight in order to achieve that. In terms of suspending this and only giving it twenty minutes, again my opinion would be that this is just a fact of the matter and I wouldn't point the finger at anybody. That's my thought on the suspension of the rule issue that was brought up by Mr. Peters. Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane said he was in a prior meeting and recalled the Safety Director recommend that the Ordinance be amended. Is there language that has to be amended? He questioned the protocol of emergency passage before making a motion to amend. Councilman Mahoney made a motion to amend Ordinance 2010-29 Section 2 so that it reads as follows, "That the organization of the Division of Fire, except for the Secretary 1, shall consist of employees who are certified paramedics when hired". The amendment would be the addition of the language "when hired". The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. Roll Call: Mahoney, yes; Williamson, yes; Orlowski, no; Barker, yes; Kearney, no; Jones, yes; Brossard, yes. Ordinance 2010-29 amended 5-2. Tim Smith, 6053 Sherwood said he spoke out last year when there were layoffs in the Police Department, Fire Department, and Service Department. He realizes they're in the ninth hour and the Mayor's hands are tied, he has to push forward and the budget needs to be passed by March 31. He is hoping this is not the last Ordinance. The city needs money and needs concessions from the union. You're also looking at jobs and people's livelihood and their families. There has to be something else that can be done. This is the safety of the citizens, and there were already layoffs last year. If this is going to cause more firefighters to be off the street, then he's concerned about the safety. He hopes this is not the final word and that the city can retain jobs and keep the safety of the citizens of North Olmsted. Councilman Mahoney moved for adoption of Ordinance 2010-29. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. Roll Call: Mahoney, yes with comment. One has to start to go to the beginning to find out what type of a situation we're in. The city's 10