12/21/2004 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 12-21-2004 the dumpster trash facility. Also, there was some landscape irrigation. An existing non- functioning light pole was required to be removed and outdoor seating along the Lorain Road area was reduced for safety considerations. The committee unanimously recommended approval subject to the various boards and commissions. Councilman Gareau moved that Council approve the site development plan for Rosati's Custard subject to the recommendations of the various boards and commissions. The motion was seconded by Councilman Limpert and passed unanimously. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Joseph Bowman, 23950 Gessner Road, commended the Mayor for calling on Congressman Kucinich to help with RTA problem. He also attended the press conference, and he is really dedicated to seeing that we are not run over by the Goliath, in this case RTA. He offered to help in the organization of Town Hall meetings in the effort to put pressure on RTA and also the Plain Dealer. Congressman Kucinich can be a huge help to us, but the citizens of North Olmsted must lead the fight. Robert Whiting, 215 Brookfield Road, Avon Lake, Ohio, president of AFSCME Local 3517, thanked the Mayor, Law Director and Council for their support of NOMBL. The union members are concerned about the wording of the resolution in that they would like the goals stated to be the reopening of negotiations for afive-year operating agreement. He and the members appreciate being told the negotiations are being done in their best interests, but noted that they had not been asked what they felt that might be. They fully support the negotiations and hope the lines of communication will stay open during the 90 day extension. They extend their best wishes to Congressman Kucinich and thank him for his support. Mayor Musial commented that the resolution was revised to reflect the goal of a renewal of the operating agreement. Law Director Dubelko said he would be sure to continue to keep the union advised of what is going on. The negotiating team wants to make sure that, however this ends, all 65 employees have jobs. Mr. Whiting said that, at the RTA board meeting, Mr. Calabrese had made a statement to him as the president of Local 3517 that he felt was "out of bounds." He will share that information with the Law Director in private. Marty Gelfand, representative of Congressman Kucinich, said that Mr. Kucinich had received communications from various groups from the city and he takes the NOMBL situation very seriously. He understands how transit systems work, and he wants to state unequivocally that he supports the position of the City of North Olmsted in keeping its transit system. North Olmsted has nearly three-quarters of a century history of excellent service to the people of North Olmsted and the surrounding Westshore communities. He commended the city, and NOMBL in particular, for being able to mobilize the ridership to attend RTA public meetings to protest cuts in service. There are many businesses in this city which generate revenue for the 1 % sales tax. Based on Council's calculations, that adds up to about fifteen to twenty million dollars a year in revenue for RTA and for the system as a whole. RTA proposes that they're going to save a million dollars or so by consolidating the administration of the bus system. What they don't really understand is that this fifteen to twenty million dollars is approximately 10% of the entire running of 9 x~~ . ~ ..M~ ~ , ,~ ~ ~,~.~.