01/16/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 1/16/01 Councilman Gareau made the following statement: "Tonight, I formally announce that January 20, 2001 will be my last day as the Council representative for Ward II. As most of you are aware from my earlier announcement, my wife Karla and I are expecting our first child and we decided to relocate to another home in the City of North Olmsted which is outside of Ward II. As I said earlier, while it is a difficult decision, it's one that I felt was best for my family. To be sure, service to community is a very noble and worthy calling, but I think most will agree that it's no greater a calling than one's calling to the family. With that, I resign my position. Serving on City Council over the past three years has, in my opinion, been a privilege and a very high honor. I remain humbled by the choice the electorate made in 1997 by placing their faith in me and entrusting me with this very important public position. I want the residents of North Olmsted to know that I was at all times motivated by the belief that I was acting in their best interests and the best interests of the community generally and, in specific, the best interests of the residents of Ward II. I hope that I satisfied their expectations. They certainly should know that I gave it my best. I would be remiss tonight if I did not say that I am honored to have served with my father, Michael Gareau. Few people have devoted so much of their lives to the betterment of our lives in the City of North Olmsted. In my mind, his career in public service started out when I was a mere 3 years old watching the tail lights disappear from the view as I gazed out the window when he went to his first Council meeting. His career ends this year when he attends his last Council meeting in December. From that very beginning as a small child to this night tonight, is a very long, long time. It was an honor to work with him. Working with him will no doubt be my greatest memory. We, as residents, should be grateful for his leadership, his guidance and his example of what it means to be a public servant. He was my role model. As for myself, in the weeks and days to come, you might ask what will become of Michael Gareau Jr.? Well like that recent presidential loser, Al Gore, I have a fence to mend, although my fence is real and it sits on Barton Road in a place that my wife Karla and I will call home with my son or my daughter. There is plenty of fixing up to do, and I'm sure it will keep me very busy. But I want you to know I couldn't be happier. Once life settles down, my wife and I will decide when, not if, I return to public service. Much work remains to be done. When the time is right, I shall return and in some capacity I will continue my work on the people's business. Thank you." Councilman Gareau received the appreciation of all present. All members of Council wished him good luck. Councilman McKay moved that Council adjourn into executive session for the purpose of discussing the acquisition of property. The motion was seconded by Councilman Gareau and passed unanimously. Council adjourned into executive session at 8:14 p.m. Council reconvened at 8:39 p.m. Councilman Gareau made a motion to direct the Law Director to prepare legislation and to enter into negotiations for the acquisition of real property for the purpose of constructing a library. The parcels are: the Canepa property, the Dunphy property, the Dier property, the Davis property, the James Lumber property and the Speedway Super ;~~.. 2