"GOOD-BY YELLOW BRICK ROAD" elton john

Pretty much a normal Monday Council Meeting.  Community Block Grants were voted on. Anyone want to bet against where the money will be spent? Most of it will go to property owners in downtown Painesville. This along with a new entrance to Recreation Park.

A report from the Finance Director on the current city finances.  The Chief of Police report on the methlab on South State St.

Then Council-President Hada dropped what I consider the announcement of the night.
Councilman Hada will not seek a ninth term this November. Choking up a bit He and Wife Mary together have combined to served the community on the school board as will as city government for over 50 years,.

Joseph has served with three different city managers, 38 different council people and has served the people of Painesville on council for  half his life.

He wanted to make this announcement early so other candidates could get their campaigns in order.

"IV'E GOT TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE" eddie money

Well I found out about this earlier this week, I have been wondering what we as a community do?
Recently a Church in the North end of Painesville was  visited by our esteemed building department employee Nowell Yomen.
Seems "someone" complained about a small house in the rear of the property. The citation included roof, gutter, window replacement all to repaired by May 25,2013.  Or a court date with Judge Michael A. Cicconetti will be forthcoming. Bet he can't wait for this one? Let's find them guilty and fine a poor church?

Seems the Pastor of the church Eddie Coburn has been ill for some time this along with no money in the church budget (where have we heard that before?)  No repairs or demolition can be made.
A Reverend O'Neal met with Ward I councilman Flock and asked if he could somehow receive assistance from the city?
I don't see that happening, but there is a chance residents in the community could get together to repair or demolish this building.
I have been made aware that all council people as well as the administration have been made aware of this situation. Maybe with the help of a truck and someone who knows about demolishing we could help this Pastor before the Judge has to ask the city. "Really"?

Please contact this site if anyone has any ideas?

"I KNOW THE SECRETS THAT YOU KEEP" romantics

There sometimes seem to be a concerted effort between the city administration and the News-Herald as to what we would like to see reported in the newspaper.
A good example was an incident that was told to me by a city resident.
Last Monday on the 200 block of S.State St. Oh, forget about it. The old D'Abates grocery store near the tracks a person was burned allegedly do to this building becoming a Meth Lab. Now he was life flighted to a Cleveland hospital burn unit. This along with two Painesville officers taken to Tri-Point to see if they had any medical issues after they entered the building.

Is this news the community should be made aware of? Or do we only read fluff pieces from Jen Reed about downtown Painesville.
Is FESTiville becoming METHiville?

What happened to the fourth estate?  Will the administration as well as the News-Herald dictate what in Painesville is news. I have checked the newspaper since Monday and maybe I'm blind but I didn't read about this story.
At last Mondays council meeting a News-Herald reporter was in the audience and in the article of the hiring of the new city manager not one word was mentioned about Painesville-Concord Twp. purchasing a 22 year old fire Truck.

Did you ever see a story in the News-Herald about Painesville sending AMP-OHIO a check for 2.1 million dollars? I guess that's not news worthy?
Yet at the same time they do three stories about chickens in Painesville?

The News-Herald is on the brink of bankruptcy
I think I know why. Do they hire reporters or memo collectors?

I'm sure someone out there will tell me about on  going investigation. It would be interesting to hear the administration's side of this. So ignore the fire the man burned in the fire as well as two officers sent to Tri-Point.

Please it seems the administration ignore my email but could someone in WardII point out to the city the high grass at the former Coe Manufacturing Co.? If I remember correctly the former city manager sits on that board.

Someone else in Ward III  report the high grass on Cedarbrook across from East Ct.

I know it's not as interesting as purchasing 22 year old fire trucks. Even the News-Herald agreed.

Sorry, Just being my old antagonistic self.

Have a future story coming about our building department issue's with a Painesville Church. Thank's Nowell you make this job fun.

"SINGING IN THE RAIN" ciara joan brown

Just a heads up This coming Tuesday night May 21, at Chestnut Elementary School there will be a water and storm sewer meeting that includes the Chestnut/Cedarbrook area of learn what the city has found out about our flooding problems and solutions since they last spoke with all of us.

Don Ware has setup this meeting between residents and city officials. The meeting will start at 6:00 pm in the cafeteria.

All city residents are invited  to attend.

"BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING 05/13/13"

Well last night I learned how to take lemons and turn them into into lemonade.
First my reasoning for not naming the Superintendent before the recent renewal levy. They must have figured no use in upsetting anyone? This with the BOE knowing their choice was not the people's first choice. So to avoid  a confrontation with people at the BOE meeting lets announce our new superintendent a few days ahead of the BOE meeting. Not at the BOE meeting as many were told. Lets  diffuse the situation. This is our guy live with it. Forget about all about that transparency talk, we wanted your input. Look all we really want is your money.

Now I lay none of this at Mr. Shepards feet he just applied for a position. I am sure he had no knowledge of being used along with others as a pawn.

In other news the BOE and told us about Dr. Hanlon's $45,000 supplemental check to help us in this time of transition. I always love it when someone pays out $45,000 and tells me it didn't cost us anything! Didn't need to make that public before an election.

We also learned of the resignation of Assistant Superintendent Denise Ward.
The hiring of;
 Mr. Zachary Cousins  Principal at Maple Elementary School.
Mr. Joshua Englehart  Principal at Elm Elementary School.

We also learned of the Heritage Middle School Girls track coach termination effective 04/18/13. We didn't discuss any of the  allegations surrounding that action. Along with no use stirring up old memories from earlier why rehash bad memories? Look they had had four special meetings since the last meeting we could have included this in one of them or even had another special meeting. The most I heard out of that was 'It takes two to tango'  Great its the middle school kids fault? Something else you didn't need to know before the election.

To tell you I'm disappointed in the action of the BOE is an understatement. The best that can come of all this is that Mr. Shepard does an outstanding job and maybe then I for one will trust these people again.

Let's finish on a positive note,

The Central YMCA as received a grant to help at risk children with a summer school program Mr.Ehrbar  from the YMCA and Mr. Bull representing the school district I believe will do everything possible to make the program a success. Now if  only the parents sign their children up?

"THAT'S THE WAY I ALWAYS HEARD IT SHOULD BE" carly simon

In the last week we have found out who our new city manager as well as school superintendent will be. Much research went in by both city council as well as the board of education.

First the city reported hiring Anthony Carson as Painesville's new city manager. Now if I met him on the street tomorrow I would never spot him.
The council-president gave a short Bio. of him as to growing up in Northeast Ohio and presently living in Maryland.
We could have hired Johnny Carson or even Kit Carson for all we know.
The council kept the decision close to the vest never really telling who or how many they even were interviewed.
We could have interviewed the greatest city manger and then  let them slip through our fingers. But we will never know. Here's our guy we feel confident in our decision.
Not faulting their system at all. It's there way of selection.

Now the Painesville School Board took a different approach. They interviewed as many as twenty candidates and came down to three finalists. These three were the ones at the 'meet and greet' in April.
Now I believe this process was all intended to be transparent.
But in the process something backfired. The community didn't view the finalist as the BOE.
I had one board member explain that it was pretty even in the way the three groups viewed them.
I have no idea what meeting he attended but it wasn't the way I viewed the candidates at the meeting.
Now I could be wrong but even before the meeting I believe the  BOE had decided on who was going to be their next superintendent.
Problem was the community as well as staff didn't see it the same way.
First you offer the job to someone who turns it down. Then you are left with what?

Now Mr. Shepard is coming into a fire storm created by whom? May have had good intentions but in the end who's happy.
I expect Mr. McWreath to look for opportunities elsewhere, I also expect Mr. Shepard to also run into unneeded opposition.
Remember what happened is neither Dr. Moore, Mr. Shepard, or Mr. Mcwreath fault. In the future the BOE SHOULD  know, no MUST know the desires of the community better.

"KNOCK KNOCK KOCKIN ON HEAVENS DOOR" bob dylan

TAKE THE TIME AND VISIT THE PAINESVILLE CITY SCHOOL SITE
Mr. John Shepard has been named our new Superintendent timing is everything?
Isn't it Board President Costell?

This email I received today was a letter sent out by a well known and respected Painesville teacher.
I left their name off of it for numerous reasons. One being it could  and should have been written by a number of Painesville teacher's.

Both yesterday & today I spoke with a community member? friend whose two children graduated from Harvey. She & her husband have remained involved, have attended some BOE meetings, & attended the community focus group for the superintendent search. Although she was unable to attend the Saturday candidate interview sessions two weeks ago, she did google  each of the candidates & did hear firsthand from several people, both residents & teachers alike, that Mr. McWreath was clearly the frontrunner.

Yesterday she e-mailed Steve Costell inquiring about the delay in choosing a superintendent, her reluctance to support  another levy & request for community input that seems to then be ignored. He responded that the timing of the levy & superintendent choice was purely coincidental & that the BOE values & welcomes community input & used said info in making their decision.

As a long-time resident of Painesville & strong supporter of PCLS, she asked if PCTA had endorsed Mr. McWreath, I told I was not aware that they had. As educators, we frequently receive candidate/ endorsement from the OEA. As teachers whose future evaluations will be tied to student achievement, can/will PCTA take a stand  & endorse a candidate, who clearly turned Harvey around from day one, who has returned the focus to academics, who consistently enforces the rules, who has increased accountability among both students & staff, and who deals with the transparency we so desperately need & crave?

Attendance at Monday's BOE meeting is surely to be increased. Several residents are intending to speak. Can/will PCTA take a stand  & demand their voices be heard? Can they afford to not do so?
Thanks,
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Now as a community we have been ask to do our part. We pass levies when others districts do not. In the end will our elected official's listen to us ? Or we knocking on a door that doesn't want to answer us or feel no need too?