I attended the COW meeting on 12/5 and here's what I saw
Darlene's request to retire and come back part time after a cooling off period. i think this is good for Village finances and doesn't risk double dipping (still legal in Ohio). Further I think service will be maintained overall. It also allows us to trim slightly the number of full time employees. I think step 1 of creating the job in the salary ordinance is reasonable and I support it.
Cortney
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Council 11/14
2/2 failed postings. Again sorry for the delay. Remarks exactly as originally submitted on 12/6
Cortney
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I attended Council on 11/14 and here’s what I saw.
Stop Sign overusage. I think we’ve been too aggressive with placemnt of signs. For my part I’ve always supported, but I need to rethink this going fwd. Stopsigns are cheap and effective, but they’re ugly and pollute the landscape visually. And while I’m not a lawyer, I think our use of them is flirting with inappropriate since they do control speed.
Overnight Parking. I think our enforcement ought to evolve to a paid sticker program. If you want to park on the street, there’s a fee associated. We ought to explore an annual fee that neutralizes the costs to manage the program. Maybe not “profit”, but at least cover expenses.
State resolution opposing centralization of income tax offices. I dislike emergency legislation and am not sure it was necessary. I may have voted differently thinking back. However I think outsourcing the office to a lower efficiency provider is not a smart decision. So I supported the resolution.
New member of ARB. I am glad for Village volunteers, and I am sure Paul Allen will do great. However, I am concerned on how the vacancy was created. The Mayor sent a note to Frank Raeon, 10 years on ARB saying his time on ARB was done. This is terribly concerning for 4 reasons: 1)Frank has more relevant experience in his little finger than all of us on Council COMBINED. 2)we should cherish and celebrate volunteerism when it happens – this is not how you treat volunteers. 3)council should have received a copy of the termination letter in the packet. This was done under the radar. 4)Dissent is necessary, patriotic even. Frank disagreeing with the Mayor is the cause for this, and I think it’s terribly small, petty, and vindictive. Council should be informed. I am frustrated by this – Council, our residents and our volunteers deserve better.
I voted in the affirmative on all votes, as all but the Tax office were procedural in nature.
Cortney
Icrctv.com
Cortney
-------------
I attended Council on 11/14 and here’s what I saw.
Stop Sign overusage. I think we’ve been too aggressive with placemnt of signs. For my part I’ve always supported, but I need to rethink this going fwd. Stopsigns are cheap and effective, but they’re ugly and pollute the landscape visually. And while I’m not a lawyer, I think our use of them is flirting with inappropriate since they do control speed.
Overnight Parking. I think our enforcement ought to evolve to a paid sticker program. If you want to park on the street, there’s a fee associated. We ought to explore an annual fee that neutralizes the costs to manage the program. Maybe not “profit”, but at least cover expenses.
State resolution opposing centralization of income tax offices. I dislike emergency legislation and am not sure it was necessary. I may have voted differently thinking back. However I think outsourcing the office to a lower efficiency provider is not a smart decision. So I supported the resolution.
New member of ARB. I am glad for Village volunteers, and I am sure Paul Allen will do great. However, I am concerned on how the vacancy was created. The Mayor sent a note to Frank Raeon, 10 years on ARB saying his time on ARB was done. This is terribly concerning for 4 reasons: 1)Frank has more relevant experience in his little finger than all of us on Council COMBINED. 2)we should cherish and celebrate volunteerism when it happens – this is not how you treat volunteers. 3)council should have received a copy of the termination letter in the packet. This was done under the radar. 4)Dissent is necessary, patriotic even. Frank disagreeing with the Mayor is the cause for this, and I think it’s terribly small, petty, and vindictive. Council should be informed. I am frustrated by this – Council, our residents and our volunteers deserve better.
I voted in the affirmative on all votes, as all but the Tax office were procedural in nature.
Cortney
Icrctv.com
Council 11/28
pls excuse my delay in posting this. I tried unsuccessfully on 12/6, assuming it went online. Here is a direct Copy/Paste from my remarks on 12/6
Cortney
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I missed Council on 11/28 due to a family vacation. However, I read through the minutes, and here’s my take on the Dale Park potential acquisition for a Community Center idea. I was asked by a NKU student for my opinion and here’s what I shared. How did the idea of a community center first come up? IDEA HAS BEEN MENTIONED CASUALLY FOR A FEW YEARS. IDEA BROUGHT UP BY OUR MAYOR IN NOVEMBER.
What are the steps that need to go about to get a community center? FOR ME, IT'S PURELY A COST/EXPENSE EXERCISE (UP FRONT THEN ONGOING), THEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RESIDENTS TO CONFIRM INTEREST AND DETAILS AND WILLINGNESS TO FUND (TAXES). WE AREN'T STAFFED TO WRITE GRANT PROPOSALS, BUT IF POSSIBLE THIS WOULD HELP WITH THE FINANCIALS.
What are the positives and what are the negatives of having one? SAVES AND REPURPOSES AN HISTORIC BUILDING WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND OUR HISTORIC VILLAGE, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR MEETINGS/ACTIVITIES. KEEPS RESIDENTS IN THE VILLAGE VS HAVING THEIR EVENTS OUTSIDE OF THE VILLAGE.
WE HAD A COMMUNITY CENTER AT ONE TIME, AND IT'S NOW A CHURCH. NOT SURE WE NEED GIVEN THE CHURCH'S SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SCHOOLS ALSO OPEN UP FOR THE PUBLIC.
COST OF MAINTAINING AN HISTORIC BUILDING IS HIGH, AND WE CAN'T BALANCE OUR BUDGET TODAY PRE THIS PROJECT, PRE THE STATE BUDGET CUTS (UP TO 15% OF OUR REVENUE GONE IN 2 YEARS). I AM CONCERNED THIS IS COST PROHIBITIVE GIVEN OUR SHRINKING REVENUE
Why will the school have to give up a part of the building to the city for the center? SCHOOL HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL CLOSE AND VACATE THE SCHOOL IN 2012. WE WILL HAVE A LARGE VACANT BUILDING IN 2012 AND NEED A PLAN FOR IT....
What are your feelings about the center and the complications that come along with it? I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA WORTH DISCUSSION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BUT I FEEL THE BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS WILL BE GREAT, AND PROBABLY BE TOO GREAT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
Cortney
ICRCTV.com
Cortney
-----
I missed Council on 11/28 due to a family vacation. However, I read through the minutes, and here’s my take on the Dale Park potential acquisition for a Community Center idea. I was asked by a NKU student for my opinion and here’s what I shared. How did the idea of a community center first come up? IDEA HAS BEEN MENTIONED CASUALLY FOR A FEW YEARS. IDEA BROUGHT UP BY OUR MAYOR IN NOVEMBER.
What are the steps that need to go about to get a community center? FOR ME, IT'S PURELY A COST/EXPENSE EXERCISE (UP FRONT THEN ONGOING), THEN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RESIDENTS TO CONFIRM INTEREST AND DETAILS AND WILLINGNESS TO FUND (TAXES). WE AREN'T STAFFED TO WRITE GRANT PROPOSALS, BUT IF POSSIBLE THIS WOULD HELP WITH THE FINANCIALS.
What are the positives and what are the negatives of having one? SAVES AND REPURPOSES AN HISTORIC BUILDING WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND OUR HISTORIC VILLAGE, PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR MEETINGS/ACTIVITIES. KEEPS RESIDENTS IN THE VILLAGE VS HAVING THEIR EVENTS OUTSIDE OF THE VILLAGE.
WE HAD A COMMUNITY CENTER AT ONE TIME, AND IT'S NOW A CHURCH. NOT SURE WE NEED GIVEN THE CHURCH'S SPACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SCHOOLS ALSO OPEN UP FOR THE PUBLIC.
COST OF MAINTAINING AN HISTORIC BUILDING IS HIGH, AND WE CAN'T BALANCE OUR BUDGET TODAY PRE THIS PROJECT, PRE THE STATE BUDGET CUTS (UP TO 15% OF OUR REVENUE GONE IN 2 YEARS). I AM CONCERNED THIS IS COST PROHIBITIVE GIVEN OUR SHRINKING REVENUE
Why will the school have to give up a part of the building to the city for the center? SCHOOL HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL CLOSE AND VACATE THE SCHOOL IN 2012. WE WILL HAVE A LARGE VACANT BUILDING IN 2012 AND NEED A PLAN FOR IT....
What are your feelings about the center and the complications that come along with it? I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING IDEA WORTH DISCUSSION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BUT I FEEL THE BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS WILL BE GREAT, AND PROBABLY BE TOO GREAT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
Cortney
ICRCTV.com
Council 12/12
I attended Council on 12/12 and here's what I saw.
Armed Robbery in the Village. This is very concerning, and unfortunately the Police can't be everywhere. My ask of the citizens - report criminal activity immediately. in this case, it wasn't reported for 1+ hours, and it hurts the Police's chances of finding the bad guys.
Darlene's move to part time. I appreciate Darlene's creative solution to our ongoing budget problems. And this appears to avoid the worry of a double dip scenario. I am supportive of this setup and I think we should take this oppty to keep 1.5 full time equivalents in the tax office vs 2.0 today.
Appointments - lots of volunteering is a great thing for the Village. It's pretty easy to support these instances.
Frank Raeon termination on Arch Review Board. I believe Council should be informed when a volunteer is let go. Volunteers are hard to come by and we should be made aware.
I voted in the affirmative on all votes as they were procedural in nature. Darlene's part time role within the salary ordinance was the exception, however I think part time is a reasonable request and good for the Village.
Cortney
ICRCTV.COM
Armed Robbery in the Village. This is very concerning, and unfortunately the Police can't be everywhere. My ask of the citizens - report criminal activity immediately. in this case, it wasn't reported for 1+ hours, and it hurts the Police's chances of finding the bad guys.
Darlene's move to part time. I appreciate Darlene's creative solution to our ongoing budget problems. And this appears to avoid the worry of a double dip scenario. I am supportive of this setup and I think we should take this oppty to keep 1.5 full time equivalents in the tax office vs 2.0 today.
Appointments - lots of volunteering is a great thing for the Village. It's pretty easy to support these instances.
Frank Raeon termination on Arch Review Board. I believe Council should be informed when a volunteer is let go. Volunteers are hard to come by and we should be made aware.
I voted in the affirmative on all votes as they were procedural in nature. Darlene's part time role within the salary ordinance was the exception, however I think part time is a reasonable request and good for the Village.
Cortney
ICRCTV.COM
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