01/20/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 1/20/2009 believes there would be nothing else to reduce other than looking at options such as layoffs, furloughs, all the things that have been floated about and reviewed. Mr. Gareau read from the minutes of the previous Council meeting: "Mayor O'Grady thanked Councilman Gareau for the report that he said was accurate. The income tax credit reduction does not affect the layoffs that have already occurred. They are separate. The income tax credit reduction passage does affect future layoffs. The administration has done everything they could do to control costs. They are down to very bare bones and there is no maneuver room left. His administration and the Finance Director have brought together a good, sound financial recommendation to Council that this additional revenue is needed. Without it, there will be additional layoffs." He didn't put a caveat that if some other factor happens. Mr. Gareau just wanted. to be sure there are no additional layoffs. Mrs. Copfer answered that the budget that is being presented tonight does not include any additional layoffs. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION 1) .Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, said he is not a union member or city employee of North Olmsted and was going to correct an official record from a SERB opinion (2006-009) that was issued regarding an unfair labor practice filed against the fire fighters union by the city. He read from the SERB arbitrator's decision: "Additionally, city employee and union member Dennis Lambert stated in part at the public meeting: `Over and above the individual concerns and respect he has for arbitration, Council can take a position. on this issue. He believes from what he heard tonight, this is an opportunity for Council to generate legislation to enact an employee involvement program He believes that Council. has an obligation and. the power to at least go in. committee and to consider an employee involvement program. that includes sensitivity training on management's part and better understanding of where employees fit into the picture.' " The quote stands true today as we go through problems. The city has 8S% of its expense in the operation of employees. It would be almost ridiculous to consider that this community would be at odds with the employees that they have to work with to make the city work. He still stands on what he said. Somehow he became part of a decision that was rendered by SERB. He brought this up to bring a little humor into a rather serious issue and also to bring up some serious issues that Council has a right to do--to look at bringing people together. 2) Brian Shlapack, Wellington, Ohio, member of IAFF Local 1267. For the first time in this city's history, what was once thought to be unthinkable has happened-North. Olmsted has laid. off safety forces. It is his sincere desire that the idea he presents tonight can help bring them all back to work. They are deeply needed and they are missed. He would like the idea of a mayor's court to be considered where offenses such as speeding tickets could be heard in the same city where the offenses were committed. The Police Chief has stated that between five and six thousand violations are given annually. The city only receives $35 out of the approximate $135 fine. The other $100 per violation goes to Rocky River, which. is where the court that currently handles these violations is located. Based on those numbers of violations, North Olmsted annually takes in between $].75,000 and. $210,000. If North Olmsted held its own mayor's court, the $1.00 per 7 Y