02/15/2005 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 2/15/2005 AUBIENCE PARTICIPt~.TION Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, expressed concern about the proposed cuts in municipal funding by Governor Taft. He wondered why some communities, are being cut at 20% and others only at 10%. Someone needs to inquire about this. Finance Director Copfer said that the Ohio Municipal League and Mayors and Managers are all over it. They are working toward fighting that down, and they have fought it before and will not treat this problem lightly. Councilman Gareau read from a recent Ohio Municipal League Legislative Bulletin which spoke to this issue and noted the local government fund cuts proposed by the Taft administration work off the freezes in local government funds as their base. The freeze would remain in effect until January 2006. The freeze level would then be cut by 20% for cities and counties, 10% for villages and townships and 5% for libraries through the end of the biennium (June 30, 2007). Law Director Dubelko commented that he has heard the Governor is proposing additional cuts on estate tax laws which are supposed to generate another 20% drop in estate tax revenues to local governments. The Ohio Municipal League fights these battles year after year. Robert Whiting, 215 Brookfield Road, Avon Lake, Ohio, president of AFSCME 3517. The union membership is divided in what they feel is important to their job security and best interests. Some people are not ready for retirement and have concerns about continuing job security. Other people are ready for retirement now and want to be sure they receive all the benefits earned in the years of service. Others are planning for retirement in about five years and are concerned that the benefits they have earned will be lost. However, all the groups fully support and understand their role as public servants to the City of North Olmsted. He has asked over the course of the discussions between RTA and the city for detailed information about the differences and the points of views in trying to reach a new operating agreement. He feels that not enough information has been provided. There are ten employees who are going to retire at the end of February and believes that would be a savings of at least $589,000. Is this reduction of ten employees in the work force the number of reductions RTA is looking for? Is this alone enough to save NOMBL for the city? Is there the possibility of other savings to the city? The employees are not sure, but they would like to be involved in the process. It is a request of AFSCME that, when Council is called into executive session to be fully briefed and brought up to date, that they also be included in that session. On January 6, AFSCME wrote to the Mayor asking to open the collective bargaining agreement. If AFSCME can find a way to save the bus line that does not jeopardize the city budget or the citizens, then they owe it to all involved to come to an agreement. The NOMBL employees are asking for the support of Council. They know that difficult decisions have to be made and sacrifices have to be made. To this point, they have not been given a chance to answer the call for sacrifices. On a personal note, thank you to the Mayor for the invitation to be co-chairman of the Town Hall Committee. It was a pleasure to serve with Councilman Limpert, and it was a great honor to represent the citizens of North 6