12/15/2020 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

December 10, 2020 Via Email to the Clerk of Council To be read publicly at the Meeting of Council on Dec. 15, and put into the minutes of that meeting. To all of council.- It has been reported that there is a disagreement between some members of council and the administration over what will be done to fill the Safety/Service position vacated when Don Glauner retired. Now, I am not addressing the Charter change that allow the 2 director's positions to be combine as one. What I am addressing is the fact that this is no time for a political squabble over the details of what to do over that recent vacancy. This City, being actively Commercial, has and is still facing revenue shortages. The future is uncertain especially for retail and food services and more borrowing and city debt is not the solution. The public expects you to be prudent in how you handle this and everything else. If that vacancy is still 2 separate positions, past practice had allowed one person to fill them. There is no doubt that the Service position still needs an on -duty, active, and experienced overseer to maintain the variety and complexities of North Olmsted's service needs. It's a full time job. But, the Safety Director's job is far more simple because of the experienced Chiefs who oversee the Police, Fire, and EMS functions. In other cities and I'll cite Fairview Park as an example, the Safety Director's position is now filled by the Mayor. He or she makes only the business decisions, with the assistance of the Law Director and Finance Director, and leaves the day-to-day operation to the Police and Fire Chiefs. That says to me, "part-time". That is one simple example of how this can be handled. Let's not make a big deal out of this. This needs to be settled quickly and quietly. If there are political motivations behind this, they will be exposed. So, just do your jobs effectively and efficiently and be done with this. Dennis Lambert 25057 Carey Ln. North Olmsted