05/15/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of 5/15/2001 .,~ cotrect number of tickets? If there are ten violations, do we only issue five citations? If that's what certain Councilmen believe, then they need to sponsor legislation that provides for the correct number of tickets and watch the quota system they just created be challenged in court. The issue is not the number of tickets, but rather whether they were justified. And we have not heard of unwarranted tickets as a result of this program Also, what does the speed limit mean? That was brought up last evening. If a sign reads thirty milers per hour, does that mean we can drive forty? If so, then Mr. O'Grady needs to sponsor legislation that allows drivers to exceed the posted speed limit. Finally, the number of tickets issued is far outweighed by the benefits of the STOP program which has already successfully served to create a safer environment in our city protecting women, children and families by preventing the commission of serious crimes and, using the example of the most recent accomplishments of a STOP officer, preventing the infiltration of cocaine into our neighborhoods and neighboring communities. Residents of North Olmsted are not at risk when officers are on the street, doing their job and when drugs are kept from our children and speeders are stopped before they hurt a child. Mr. O'Grady responded to Mrs. Kasler's comments: • In regard to the committee meeting that dealt with Ordinance 2001-55, he did not incorrectly report her statement. At the beginning of the meeting, Mrs. Kesler commented that the Ordinance is not for convenience. Yet, near the end of the meeting, Mrs. Kesler did comment that it was for convenience, and she said to let the record show that was the first time that she said the ordinance was for the convenience of the residents. Mrs. Kesler responded to Mr. O'Grady's comments: • Mr. O'Grady's comments are absolutely incorrect. She said let the record show it was the first time she used the word convenience, but it was not to say that the ordinance was written for convenience of residents. The word was used in a different context. Mr. O'Grady continued responding to Mrs. Kesler comments regarding the STOP program: • Mrs. Kesler said it was deplorable that he would question and criticize officers. He has not questioned and criticized officers. What he has done is question and criticize the program That is his responsibility as an elected representative of the citizens of the city. Mrs. Kesler said it was inappropriate that we get together and we hold a meeting where residents of the city can come in and voice their opinions. It is never inappropriate for an elected representative to give the residents of this city the opportunity to come in and voice their opinions. Mrs. Kesler accused him of traipsing over the line where he is starting to take on the responsibilities and do the job of the administration, again that is inaccurate. He has, at no time, through legislation or in any other way, told the administration how to do their job. What he did with that meeting is provide additional information in a very timely fashion to the people in the administration that have to make the decision with regard to this program. And he has done that further in a very definitive way by the memo that will ,,. 7