09/01/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 9/1/2009 S) Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, spoke about health care and the possibility that Medicare and Medicaid may go under. That will leave a lot of seniors without health care under the current system. He thinks Mr. Barrett touched on a very valid point regarding the pension funds. They are subsidizing health care. And that's something that may go the way also with the increase in costs of health care. Until these costs are re- spread under the President's plan, it may come back to haunt Council as well. They may want to rethink about voting and maybe supporting what the President is trying to do-a universal health care plan-so by the time they are ready to retire, there will be something left. 6) Tim Smith, 6053 Sherwood, said that for the better part of a week or more, WOW Cable has not been broadcasting the government channel. He thinks citizens need access to the channel and feels more community events should be on the channel. He would like the Council meetings to be televised. President Kennedy explained the reason for the problem was that a piece of equipment went down. Mayor O'Grady agreed and said the equipment was one that allows us to interact with WOW. We've been working diligently to correct the problem and get the system back up. It's not just the city, it's also the WOW Cable system. If you have Time Warner Cable, the channel is still there. LEGISLATION Resolution No. 2009-85 introduced by Mayor O'Grady on behalf of himself and Councilman Orlowski was given its third reading. A resolution in support of the Federal Administration's health care reform principles and declaring an emergency. Councilman Mahoney moved for adoption, and the motion was seconded by Councilman Orlowski. Roll call: Mahoney, no commenting he would first commend the Mayor for bringing forth this resolution. This is an important issue for all of our citizens, not only here in North Olmsted, but in the State of Ohio. His concern first is that we would really be stepping out in a unique situation as a municipality. No other municipality or city government has adopted a resolution of this nature. For him, more importantly, though he may personally be in favor of this and though he might support the President and his efforts and the efforts of the Democrats in Congress right now, he views this as primarily a federal issue and not an issue for a local government. So his vote is no. Roll call continued: Orlowski, yes with comment that the same people who are against change or reform in health care are the same people who brought us deregulation of the utilities; the Iraqi war; $4.50 per gallon gasoline prices; prescription drug prices which are less expensive in Canada where the costs are regulated; insurance companies managing and controlling the health care industry; and the mortgage debacle with all of the foreclosures, loss in property values, unemployment, furlough days, zero pay increases, and large loss in city property taxes and city income tax which affects every community. Roll call continued: Brossard, no; Gareau, no with comment that he previously expressed his opinion with respect to resolutions concerning matters such as this. He believes his vote is consistent with that recent voting pattern with respect to these types of resolutions. His vote is no. Roll call continued: Kearney, yes; Jones, no; Barker, no. The motion failed with two yes votes and f ve no votes. 8