"COUNCIL MEETING 04/20/09"

Almost forgot tonights council meeting seems lite on the agenda, but we will get a report from the Finance Director. Hope council has some good questions to ask him. How much has revenue fallen in the first quarter of this year to the citys income tax collections? Will report on the meeting tomorrow, with NO bias.

Council meeting didn't get off to to great a start. Heisley Park residents have now threated the city, and Ryan Homes with a lawsuit over the water in their basements, stateing enough is enough. Law Director Gurley told them they could do what they wanted, and take a Cavalier approach if they wanted. A Heisley resident said thats O.K. he was tired of taking a Pirate approach to the flooding in his basement. A resident brought up the city newsletter about being a respossible good neighbor. He stated that the good neighborhood policy didn't seem to be working to well and what other ideas the city had to make your neighbors more responsive. I asked about the 170 nanufacturing jobs in the city. I was told as of this week there were 133 jobs of all kind in town. Full time, part time, service jobs, nurseing jobs and the city only reported what was on the employers web site. Good enough.
Finance Director Andrew Unetic gave the first quarter report, Painesville is still above water even with a 15% drop in income tax revenue, and a 40% drop in investment revenue. Police overtime was down 30% and Fire Department overtime was down 43%. The city was aware that revenue would take a hit this year and all city departments were working it into their budgets. We did purchased that $190,000 camera for the sewer lines, lets hope that finds an issue before it becomes a problem.
Gristmill residents should get their money and be able to move on by the end of the month. Millstone residents are the only ones left to make whole. There seems to be problems there that make a quick settlement unlikely.
The Cobblestone Apartment fire and E.M.S. problem seems to have flared up again with the city manager agreeing there is not agreement with Grand River Fire Depatment or anyone else for that matter.[ back to page one] The Fire Chief claims he can get a unit there in about seven and a half minutes. I heard its a little over nine minutes to get there. seven, nine its still to long. Council President Joe Hada seems to think Painesville Township has some responsibility because the children go to the township schools? I'm still trying to figure out his logic out on that one, but the people living there should be everyone first concern. Arlene Becks stated that if residents see tennis shoes tied together and hanging from a utility line to call the city. That is the sign of possible gangs active in that neighborhood.