"THE WAY WE WERE" barbra streisand
"How much we've changed in less than two decades?"
Below you will find minutes from a council meeting from 1993. Maybe it's time Painesville went back to the future.
UTILITIES AND SERVICES COMITTEE
MONDAY - MAY 3, 1993- 7 :00 pm
The meeting was called to order by Utilities and Services Committee Chairman Joseph Hada, and the council convened in a special meeting at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The following were present: John Clair, Abby DelaMotte, Ron Graham, Lillian Kerestman, Gregory Klucher, Wendell Walker, Joseph Hada, City Manager Lester Nero, Finance Director David Miller, City Engineer/Service Director Gary Paine and Clerk of Council Shirley Onderisin.
Mr. Hada noted that bids were taken recently on the City's refuse collection system in an effort to obtain the best possible rate for our customers. He asked City Engineer Gary Paine to elaborate.
Mr. Paine explained, in taking bids, three levels of service we looked at were a bag and toter systems, and the current unlimited service. All levels included all bulk items, including refrigerant items such as refrigerators and dehumidifiers at no extra charge. This also includes yard waste until December 1,1993, when it will no longer be accepted at the landfill. Recycling will likewise cost nothing additional, as money will be available from the County through the 592 Board. Under the new system, billing would be done by the hauler, instead of the city. They would bill quarterly in advance, with the customers notifying the hauler of their choice of level of service. Delinquencies over 90 days old will be submitted to the Finance Director for follow-up twice a year. Code section 955 is still in effect and will be coordinated and enforced by the Public Service Department.
The City will save $19,000 by going with the County for recycling, but the downside is the contractor may or may not pick up on the same day as the customer's regular pick-up. The Cities of Mentor and Eastlake will not be joining the County's program, which is a three year contract.
For those who choose the bag system, the bags will be available for purchase at City Hall, and each Ward in the city will have a convenience store that will sell them.
Mr. Paine noted the bids will have to be analyzed to determine the best deal.
Mr. Hada said he believes we should go with the tiered system, based on consumption, because it's fair to both the large families and single residents, and it gets us away from the mandatory requirement.
Mr. Paine noted he had received a call from Anthony Torre, who commended City Council for going with this system, which he supports wholeheartedly.
There were no further comments. Motion by Mr. Clair, seconded by Mr. Graham, that the meeting be adjourned. All members agreed. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.
Shirley A. Onderisin CMC Joseph Hada Jr.
So it appears less then twenty-years ago everyone was in the loop. So what happened in that span of time to turn everything over to the City Manager and Why?
Time is now for Council to take some responsibility.
posted by terminator1 @ 9:48 AM
30 Comments
30 Comments:
This is an interesting piece of history. A few years ago there was an attempt to establish a citizen's advisory committee for utilities but it apparently died a quiet death and was buried. Too bad as it was a good idea.
In the last administration I could call city hall and have a conversation with someone regarding a problem. I felt I was heard. Not so with the current one. The people are way too tight lipped or spin the topic off into space.
This indicates a real problem with the integrity of the current leadership. I have been around long enough to know when leadership gets like this, something is going on that the stakeholders, or residents in this case, are not getting what they signed up for.
The committee idea helps keep things above board - not a bad idea for a public organization. Secrecy in public organizations often leads to corruption.
3:14 Odd you have to ask? I believe you know the answer.
Also odd the two people who negotiated the last WM contract are now both retired.
Secrecy vs. Transparency
Yes, but you avoided one of the comments...In the last administration I could call city hall and have a conversation with someone regarding a problem. I felt I was heard. Not so with the current one. The people are way too tight lipped or spin the topic off into space.
This indicates a real problem with the integrity of the current leadership.
YES, there is a major problem with the new man in charge. Don't ask the employees. Whoever said there is a gag order is correct. And heads will roll if anything wrong is said. Just look at how many have been fired in the past.
Council, you brought in Putin, now wake up and find a creative way to get rid of the man. He has shown he will thumb his nose and tell you NO. Insubordination.
11:42 Well, it was discussed at the POC meeting and everyone almost everyone was in agreement he is a vast improvement. Along with believing maybe council was the problem? Maybe your looking at it from a employee viewpoint instead of a resident?
Sorry, not an employee, not a POC member or council person, Just a Very concerned citizen at what I see and hear at council meetings, on this blog and what my own eyes and hear on the streets of downtown Painesville. You are so jaded you cant open your eyes or mind to what is happening right under your nose. All the CM has to do is make you happy and your his bud.
3:12 Maybe just two people that see things differently? First off I have yet been told a half truth by Mr. Carson and as screwed up as things are around here maybe someone had to tell lies?
Just myself I have been shown more transparency from this administration than the last?
No where near the amount of onion peeling. We are presently better served.
Onions stink and so does whats going on here.
drove through fairport last week their roads are fine, same with township, geneva etc. somebody should do an audit of Painesville down to the penny because theres' no reason our whole town should be shi*t
1:52 When you cut a budget for any reason over the past 20 years it soon catches up with you.
Budgets have been cut but we passed two levys. One a road and one a fire. Our roads are worse now than ever.
6:51 Twenty plus years of neglect are not going to be repaired overnight. I think it will take at least twelve years before we even get major roads done as well as starting on side streets. Plus some good roads will fall into disrepair along the way. This road levy will be up for renewal every five years. The city didn't even see the first of the levy money until February 2014.
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The roads have not been as neglected as they have in the past couple of years. Do you see all the cracks in the roads? Those should be filled so this can help with the pothole problem. Water fills up the cracks making more damage. When has anyone filled in these seams?
But since the workers are all pulled for the streetscape, there's no one to take care of the everyday business they need to. Unless, you pull the 2 in a city truck just sitting in it-not doing a thing but sitting there. (Term,where were you on this one?)
1:06 I beg to differ on your assessment of the roads in the last couple of years. Second the current city manager had nothing to do with the whole streetscape project it was decided before he even got here. A simple Main St. project goes south because let's face it the contractor hired didn't even come close to finishing the job on time. Instead of rebidding what was left he decided to have the city finish it. Your concern is really leveled at the wrong people in this case. I believe he made the best of a very bad situation.
I believe if one keeps drinking the koolade that's constantly being served well, you know full well what happens.
I was told by a city employee, that the fake brick sidewalks [18 in total] were the new City Managers idea. I always thought that that was part of the streetscape project and the idea of Rita and Joe. Anybody know for sure?
"The 2 in a city truck just sitting in it-not doing a thing but sitting there", are Electric Plant supervisors.
StreetScape, Several calls have been made over the past 2 weeks to the state. Wonder by whom and what was found out if it will shock the Painsvillians? Hoping several people will have to eat their words. And hopefully wont choke on them.
Walnut between the Metropark path and Liberty is scheduled to be rebuilt this year. Construction hasn't started and I don't know when it will. But the street is unsafe. Drivers have to slow down and swerve and dodge the craters because they are so bad. When a street gets this bad it's not a maintenance issue, it's a safety issue but the leadership can't see that way. We don't need pretty crosswalks right now - we need safe streets. The potholes on Walnut should be filled from the east city boundary to Mentor regardless of the status of a small portion of Walnut being scheduled for a rebuild. They should have been filled before they started the crosswalks. We don't need pretty crosswalks - we need leadership that knows how to prioritize and spend money wisely.
3:03 And you know this how?
Pins and Needles, me I need a good shock every now and then. I've been choking on streetscape since the start. Nothing on this goofy project will surprise me. It should have never even been proposed!
3:35 Yes it does seem our priorities seem screwed-up. The red sidewalks could have waited.
Now to Walnut St. can't find an argument with your statement but it doesn't compare with others State St. for example. Your going to get mad at this statement Walnut and Bank St to Walnut should have been last. Why? Who uses Walnut between Mentor Ave. and the City limits? Who uses Bank St. between Liberty and Walnut the most? Yes Township residents cutting through town. With the traffic flow the way it is the State of Ohio should be responsible for Walnut and Bank St. between five-point and Walnut. Also heavy St coming into the city. Why no one has proposed this is a surprise to me? trucks should be prohibited between Walnut and State. Think my theory is wrong watch the cars heading down the hill .
There are plenty of Painesvillians that use Walnut Street. High school, LEC, the factory and Redi-Go traffic: kids, parents, employees. From he corner of Liberty/Walnut to Tropical Village is horrendous. Second to Erie headed to Perry.Why cant the city patch the holes?
6:09 Agreed now you watch the cars headed down the hill to the bridge and tell me who uses Bank and Walnut the most. A good example all Riverside school buses heading to Melridge, Buckeye St. Gab's ',and LaMuth use Bank St. twice a day never mind the High school kids. Are we subsidizing the township?
Erie St. should be done by July of this year.
Pins & Needles this have anything to do with Trumbill County?
Walnut has been patched, I can go 20mph instead of 5 now. Yeah!
NO It has to do with the StreetScape. Too bad you don't put the same amount of effort and get to the bottom of this as you do some of the other things here. You take some lip service as gospel but not the things you should.
Trumbull county? Isn't that where the current city manager got his start? The elsewhere?, elsewhere?, Maryland? here and now plans to return to his roots?
5:19 Streetscape? O.K. now where do I look? If I'm to get to the bottom of this. I take lip service? Maybe from you. Point me in the direction please.
Use your moral compass and head in that direction. There have been numerous posts regarding this debacle with fingers pointing in the direction to go. You don't ask or need instructions with the problems you want to figure out, this one is no different. You had no trouble taking the last city manager to task, this one should be no different.
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