01/06/2009 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 1/6/2009 has been done, and there is no time for political shenanigans. He feels the citizens should vote on the tax increase. We need money to pay people to do the jobs, and we need these people to get the job done. We need the Safety forces to protect us; we need the services that the community has and let the people make that decision on a property tax and temporarily pass some way to fund it. He is sick and tired of the politics and of the abuse that Mr. Ryan has gotten when he tried to sound an alarm. All the political pundits have done what is best for themselves but not what's right for the city. Mayor O'Grady said he agreed-we are in a comer. If there are not changes to the income tax credit to have the reduction this year and next year that brings in additional revenue and if any bump occurs along the road, particularly a change in the local government fund, there will be massive layoffs. Council absolutely should not rush into a decision with regard to this legislation, but should consider the amendment as it is needed to protect jobs and to protect the safety and service to our citizens. Councilman Gareau said he had conversations with Councilman Ryan and told him his view of the future was good. Recently, he told Mr. Ryan that he had sounded the alarm the loudest and he had turned out to be the most accurate in his predictions. He has not attacked Mr. Ryan on this issue. He is not painting the Mayor into a corner but believes Council is being painted into a corner has they have been asking the Mayor for a plan since May. The answer from the Mayor was a plan would be presented by the end of the year. He does not think a plan existed until December. City Council is given one choice-to raise taxes. If the tax issue passes tonight, if it passes in two weeks, it doesn't bring back one single person that has been laid off. He understands the bargaining units and the administration are attempting to do that. In terms of the country's financial condition, the worst thing to do would to ask people to pay more taxes. The tax credit adjustment should be the discussed last when there is nothing else left to do. Mr. Lambert said the legislation could be passed with a contingency that it goes strictly for the purpose of salary and protecting our safety forces. 2) John Daniels, 4000 Fielding Drive, spoke at a previous meeting about the layoff of fire fighters and police officers. From his understanding, it seems that Mr. Ryan had a budget plan and came up with something that might have helped, but he was shot down. He suggested that sharpening the pencil should begin with cuts at the top with the people making the most money. Bringing more development of cluster homes into the city is great, but it brings more people into the area when there are less safety forces. 3) Adam Hudak, 3473 Tree Lane, felt that the Mayor was talking out of both sides of his mouth when he says he is willing to do anything to stop the layoffs but will not sit down at the negotiating table with the fire fighters. It's curious to him that someone who is so active and so busy doing other things, traveling the world and wanting to go to Washington, has such a little insight as far as what is going on right here in this town. He would appreciate it if the Mayor would stay here and work for the people who are trying to work for him. 4) Patrick Rice, 31109 Lorain Road, had previously spoken at a meeting regarding the layoffs. On December 23, he slipped on ice on the walkway to his home and hard to call for help from the Fire Dept. While lying in the back of the ambulance, he realized the 15