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Council Minutes 10-21-2008 pay cuts to save their jobs. They have a hard time deciding on whether to buy gas or food or how will they be able to pay their mortgage. I am a business owner who has had to make some tough choices to help keep my business going since 2002. It has been pay cuts of 20 to 40% and also raising deductibles on our hospitalization to $3,000 per person before Medical Mutual kicks in. We do not have prescription, dental or eye-care. I mentioned earlier my letter to the previous administration. Back then, I mentioned wage freezes, pay cuts for everyone, less hours worked for the week. I had a few people come up to me and say, "you want to take money from my pocket." I said no, I want to save your job. This Council and previous Councils .have been pretty frugal in giving themselves raises, quite less that what employees of the city have received. Why you ask? Because it was the intent of those and this Council to set an example to say, hey things aren't real good. But as you can see, those warnings weren't taken seriously. To cut someone's pay is not an easy thing to do. But when you have cut and trimmed in all possible ways, I think a pay cut is the last resort before you have to let people go. We have heard for quite a while: more with less. I totally understand that, but I'think we have reached less is less. We haven't replaced people who have retired from our city. To quote President Kevin Kennedy: "No one ever leaves because of low pay and bad benefits." Our residents see three major things that our city does for them: that is, street repair, snow removal and brush pickup. In the past few years, those services are not what they used to be. Why you ask? Because we don't have the personnel we once had in Service or the money that we used to have to do all of those jobs efficiently. We have made strides with hospitalization, workers comp, and contributions from employees, outside engineering and so on. But, the cost of doing business keeps going up and the revenues are down. But let's give everyone a raise. In my opinion, in doing that, some may not have a job next year. I am the Councilman for Ward 2; but, when I sit up here and make decisions, I am one of seven trying to do what is best for the residents, not the employees of North Olmsted. I am not just going to look out for a few. We need to see a plan, and until I see one I would rather see the almost `paltry' $16,000 that came from the sale of used oil which hardly affects a $22 million budget go towards ADA improvements at Springvale than to supplement a few people at City Hall. Mayor, we all need to work together to solve the upcoming financial crisis. Presenting us with small pieces that you feel will help f x the big problem and expect our support without seeing a plan is not going to work. Communication between the two bodies of government to help solve huge problems for 2009 is needed. It needs to be done now, not at the end of the year. To my seven colleagues, remember this, we are ultimately responsible for the financial condition of this city. If things go south at the end of this year or into next, it will be Council not the Mayor that will be blamed. My vote is no." The motion failed with four no votes and three yes votes. Ordinance No. 2008-121 is not adopted. Mayor O'Grady asked to be recognized as he felt some statements made were inaccurate and the administration had a responsibility to address them. President Kennedy ruled the votes had been cast, the legislation was not going to be discussed, and the meeting was going to move on. Councilman Mahoney asked for a moment of personal privilege and said, "I wanted to indicate as it pertains to 2008-121 and this will be my final comment, Mr. President. I 11