03/01/2011 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 03-01-2011 Resolution 2011-31 was introduced and placed on first reading by Council Member Orlowski on behalf of himself and Council members Kearney, Mahoney, Williamson and Brossard. A Resolution opposing and discouraging the state legislatures' support of Senate Bill 5's attack on organized labor, and declaring an emergency. Councilman Orlowski made a motion to suspend the rule requiring three readings and formal committee review. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kearney. Roll Call: Orlowski, yes; Kearney, yes; Mahoney, yes; Schumann, abstain; Williamson, yes; Barker, no; Brossard, yes. Motion to suspend rule requiring three readings and formal committee review passes 5-2. Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane said this is one of the most misunderstood Senate Bills that he's read in a long time. The fact is he opposes Senate Bill 5 because he is a tax payer and does not want to see binding arbitration leave the table with the Taft- Hartley Law still intact; allowing organized labor to go directly to court and get decisions from a judge that normally would be established in a binding arbitration environment. It will hurt every tax payer in the State of Ohio. If an administration of any organization has the power of the employer, the balance of power is different; the judge will be more apt to award attorneys fees if the State loses the case to labor. Senator Grindell, a Republican, has already said that this will create a litigation nightmare for the State. This does affect North Olmsted directly. Councilman Orlowski moved for adoption. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kearney. Roll Call: Orlowski, yes with comment. SBS is not just an assault on organized employees, it is an assault on the middle class which organized labor helped to create. This bill will lead to a reduction in wages and benefits to middle class employees. Their net take home pay will be reduced through larger co-pays on retirement and health insurance benefits. Issues which affect the bargaining units will also affect all non- bargaining employees and middle management employees. The middle class is the largest group of tax paying individuals in the country -the same group of people who keep the economy moving by purchasing automobiles, clothes, essentials and paying taxes. Since North Olmsted is a retail Mecca, the fallout from this type of mean-spirited legislation may affect and harm our City more than most other cities. Roll Call continued: Kearney, yes; Brossard, yes; Barker, no with comment. Number one, most of the people in the audience know my history on votes on Resolutions. Number two, as Mr. Groden has mentioned, it's not a completed Bill. Number three, I have heard neither pros nor cons from any residents of Ward 2 except for tonight. My vote is no. Roll Call continued: Mahoney, yes with comment. Local governments and legislators frequently testify before the General Assembly. Different types of organizations frequently testify before the General Assembly. Congress has legislative hearings where all they do is take testimony as to the merit to propose legislation before the U.S. Congress. The Senate holds hearings on legislation all of the time. In my professional life, I know there were many hearings on the Adam Walsh Act, Amber Alert System and the clean air and cleaning up our lakes had hearings also. I really don't see this Resolution or any Resolution that we pass or don't pass on a particular issue as a way for local governments and legislators to weigh in on subjects like this. I don't have a problem with passing Resolutions on things that are of importance and particularly because this is important to 9