08/02/2005 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 8/2/2005 something in the formula changes or we get some additional justification from the Chief of Police on that issue. Councilman Miller asked that information on the funds be provided as Council appropriated the money. He would like to know where the funds are if that position is not being filled. Finance Director Copfer answered that it was budgeted to be a replacement position, but that replacement was for someone who had already retired in 2002. She thinks the Mayor is wisely questioning making those replacements from 2002 and restaffing it. The funds are still currently in the police wage budget. Mayor O'Grady commented that, as far as he is able, he does not rely on his opinion or his preference. He tries to get some substantiation. That's specifically why, with the Chief raising this issue as soon as he came into office, he had a review done of our neighbors on the Westshore. With the numbers where they are, we already appear to be high. It didn't seem to him that there was sufficient justification from the Chief to require this position. At this time, he has not intention to move forward unless something in the equation changes. Councilman Miller asked if the city was incurring overtime as a result of not hiring the additional officer, are there on-going costs and what is the anticipated use of the money. Mayor O'Grady said he could not give specifics, but it is his perception that not filling that slot is not having an impact on overtime. It is a question of justification of manning. There has to be some reason why our police forces need one more person. Until we answer that question, he can't justify taking the taxpayers' money and putting on ar~ther officer. Councilman Miller said he was concerned of the double effect because one jailer's position has also not been filled. He assumes that officers are being pulled off the street for those duties. Mayor O'Grady said that was accurate. Councilman Miller suggested he might take this into a future Public Safety Committee meeting for discussion, and the Mayor said he would be welcome to do so and he and the Chief would attend the meeting. Councilman Nashar asked the Mayor if the street rehab project will be dune before school opens. Mayor O'Grady answered that the construction cycle will go beyond the opening of school and into the fall. However, we will not have a conflict as we did last year with Butternut Ridge Road right in front of the Middle School. Councilman Tallon inquired as to the criteria for the study of Police Departments in neighboring communities. The Mayor said the comparison was resident population versus the number of officers. Law Director Dubelko: 1) Prosecutor's reports for June and July: There were 259 cases in July; 301 in June. In each report, about 75% were traffic and the other 25% were general offenses. 2) We received notice from the Ohio Civil Rights Commission on June 29 on the case of Debra Sefcek vs. the City of North Olmsted. She was a former NOMBL employee who filed a discrimination complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission approximately six years after the alleged event occurred, and it was dismissed by the Commission for a lack of jurisdiction. 5