12/16/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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`' Council Minutes of 12/16/2008 how we do chipping and do it two times a year, those costs can go into that fund. But that is a very small cost to the General Fund, and it's not going to save 14 '/Z jobs. If you eliminate the leaf pick-up and move those funds, it's a very small amount. It's two weeks worth of the Service Department's work. You can shift costs, and the administration has certainly done that. They have moved expenses out of the General Fund into Hotel- Motel. Council expanded the uses of the Hotel-Motel Fund, which isn't a vote of the people. That legislation is legislation passed by Council. That's why they can change things such as the EMS fund and redirect those monies because that was just introduced and passed through legislation locally. The 15% is a vote of the people of this city; and, therefore, Council just can't change where that monies goes. Councilman Ryan further explained, if there is not enough money in the Solid Waste and Recycling Fund, we would have to go to the General Fund to cover it. We have to be very careful of these funds. For example, if fuel costs increase and the cost of trash pick- up goes high and beyond the 15%, then we have to turn to the General Fund. Council is trying and has been very careful. They have looked at different issues, and what they are asking from the administration is for specific proposals as they go through the process. He has 14 points he is going to bring up and discuss with the Mayor at the right time and place. For the record, he did say publicly that he was willing to serve being paid nothing. He does take this seriously as a resident of this community for 37 years. All of Council knows how serious this is. Several times he has heard the comment that they are not willing to do something. Yes, they are. This is not easy. He is just pleading with everybody to understand they are trying to do the best they can. Mayor O'Grady commented that the fact that virtually everything that is being brought forward has already been considered does not diminish the value of the suggestions. The administration has brought four balanced budgets to this Council over four years and will bring a-fifth one this year. They are meticulous in their analysis to make sure that they have it right. Then the Council does a very good review. But it doesn't mean that an idea can't come from the outside that's something we hadn't thought of He encourages citizens, if they have an idea to continue to contact the administration or him directly. They will look at every possible option. 9) Bill Saringer, 6256 Surrey Drive, wanted to publicly thank everybody who came out in support of the employees who may be losing their jobs and thanked the union staff representative, state FOP president, the Eighth District trustee, and their legal counsel from Columbus for their support. He is asking Council to prioritize their commitment to public safety. He urges Councilman Gareau and the Finance Committee to go through the budget line-by-line to try to find money in the General Fund. He introduced the five officers who were being laid off: Eric Tuisku, Rob Drake, Matt Beck, Ann Jindra, and Kyle Leonard. These are five fine police officers. He would hate to lose these officers to another city. In an economic downturn, crime rises. The reason why we haven't had fatal shootings in North Olmsted in years is because of officer presence and visibility. 10) Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, said, as a citizen, he does not want to see anything cut in this community. He thinks it's a bad situation when we have a feeding 11