12/03/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12/3/2002 money. Ms. Allega noted that has been the case in the past, and it will continue to be the case for this year and next year. Ms. Allegra was asked if anyone had difficulty in paying the fee as it exists at $35. She answered that anyone who has a difficulty paying the fee can apply for assistance. The application for assistance and waiver of the fee is accepted and processed here in North Olmsted. It was noted that the court costs, should a juvenile choose not to come to the youth diversion program but instead go to Juvenile Court, would be approximately $85. Any additional fines and possibly attorney's fees would take it well above the participation fee of $70 that has been proposed by the program. The committee unanimously recommended approval. Councilman Gareau: A resident who frequently attends the Recreation Commission meetings has inquired as to whether or not there is a right of the people who attend the meetings to have audience participation. That question was sent to the Law Director who has answered that the meetings are open to the public. However, being open to the public doesn't necessarily mean there is an audience participation portion of the meeting unless it is on the agenda. He will ask the commission to discuss amending the agenda to allow for audience participation. He believes it would be a good idea. LETTERS AND COMMUNICATIONS A letter was received from the members of the Local AFSCME 2681 and president Al Herman explaining their position with regard to the city's current financial situation. Many of the employees grew up in the community and/or still live here and do share concerns in providing the residents with good, expedient, professional services. The local has served the community for over 30 years. When asked for suggestions, they have responded. They are the people who chip through forests of brush, mow acres of grass and fields, plow and salt miles of roads. They shovel off tons of hot and cold asphalt to keep the roads driveable and make sure sewers are open and flowing, catch basins are rebuilt, repaired and cleaned to prevent residential flooding, slag the sides of asphalt roads to make it safe to pull off and pave whole roads. They have repaired city equipment, including vehicles, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, Springvale equipment and Recreation Center equipment. They maintain a 24-hour waste treatment facility. They make rounds, collect samples for laboratory tests, check and maintain all pumps and operating equipment. They also check pumping stations and start equipment during emergencies. They work as a team to protect the environment. The secretarial pool processes mountains of paperwork and computer storage. Inspectors help keep up property values. They maintain signs and traffic control devices, pick up trash that BFI does not pick up, sweep the city streets and sidewalks and pick up appliances. They load thousands of tons of salt into the storage bin and then into the salt trucks. They answer police emergency calls during the day and during the night shifts. They maintain miles of open ditches to prevent residential flooding. They maintain city cemeteries and parks. They maintain all city buildings. They have done everything they have been called on or asked to perform-many times giving up their holidays or personal family time. They realize they are here to serve the residents, and they do so as they would their neighbors and friends as many of them are. In return, all they ask for is a chance to serve and to be '~ paid a prevailing wage on par with other communities. Over the past 30 years, they have 7