Talked with a Council Alum and he informed me of the danger of losing as well as the oppty of further growing our Industrial base. It's not an area I've thought much about, frankly. But it surely powers the Village. Search out grant money, revitalize the area, lure and keep businesses. He said focus on industrial base, as it's so much bigger contribution. I need to learn more, fast!
Cortney
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Debate a success
I'm very pleased with how the debate went last night. We had 6 of 7 Candidates participating, each answering Citizens' questions (beforehand). Questions ranged from Budget Deficit closing ideas to keeping Seniors in the Village.
I feel I had pondered each question ahead of time, and for the most part, I answered pretty clearly. And I got a lot of positive feedback after the event.
Who noticed the cheese plate?
Cortney
To view: www.icrctv.com after 10/30
I feel I had pondered each question ahead of time, and for the most part, I answered pretty clearly. And I got a lot of positive feedback after the event.
Who noticed the cheese plate?
Cortney
To view: www.icrctv.com after 10/30
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Compiled list of citizen budget ideas!!
Here's a list of all the responses I received from my July email, enlisting the help of the Citizens to close our budget gap. These ideas are often small individually, but I firmly believe a lot of small ideas add up to BIG SAVING! This is excellent - thx for taking the time to write/call. I'll fwd this list on to Bill E and Paul T as they work through their By-Department savings ideas.
Cortney
----------------------------
ACCOUNTING
-budget crunch is in the General Fund, not in the Permanent Improvement Fund. We have enough reserves to cover most expenses we might expect for Capital Items in the next few years, not including anything major such as a new Fire Truck or major (needed) improvements to the Administration building. There will be pressure on the Permanent Improvement Fund over the next 4 years or so, as we will need to spend at least $150,000 to remove and replace the Village owned Ash trees (22 of 160 village owned Ash trees this Oct). Prudent spending on other capital budget items will make this increased expenditure of $40,000 to $50,000 per year over the next 3 or 4 years possible.
INCOME
-Cars fly down Miami Road, Wooster Pike, Plainville Road, etc. It's a real safety issue. We should issue more citations, not for 3 or 4 miles over the posted speed limit, but for significant speeding. We don't want to be known as a speedtrap (that's Fairfax' job :), but let's enforce the laws on the books.
-How much money does Terrace Park raise through their pancake breakfast...or is it a dinner?...regardless, they raise money.
-renting Village space for events and gatherings? With temporary event liquor licenses, the Lagoon shelter would be rented often (not at all today)
-The cameras that monitor traffic lights and issue tickets should be installed....need less police AND get more revenue from tickets.
-Williams Meadows residents should be allowed to join pool
REDUCE COST
-combining the Maintenance Department with that of Fairfax. Our Maintenance department is essentially in the middle of Fairfax already. Presumably there could be some reduction in the number of personnel working in the combined department. There is likely much duplication between the two departments in expensive equipment, and, as some equipment is retired it would not need to be replaced.
-Consult Chief Phifer to see what reductions in the number of fire personnel are reasonable and possible. It may be that reducing the number of full time fire department employees and increasing the number of part-time fire department employees would accomplish some savings. If not, he must consider which days/shifts can tolerate a reduction in the number of people in the building on duty, and the savings from such reduction.
-Review Employee Salary Raises. Understand greater contribution on Employee health care, but we need a soln. Aso, ask employees what they prefer: layoffs, less $
-General Administration: employee hours could be reduced somewhat. Mayor needs to stop "dictating" letters.
-Maintenance currently has a new employee who is on extended probation (whom the Mayor will not let the Supervisor fire). This position should be eliminated, probably saving $50,000 per year in salary and benefits.
-Mayor + Council Members salary reduction/elimination
-The Police department has not replaced a senior officer who retired, saving approximately $80,000 per year in salary and benefits. They have also quietly eliminated one crossing guard position, and reduced the number of paid hours of the remaining four crossing guards, saving an additional estimated $10,000 per year. We should not expect more cuts in this department.
SPEND TO SAVE
-additional incentives for more businesses to come to Mariemont so that we have more tax revenue? Specifically, the key space in between the movie theater and Graeter's, as well as the spaces by The Snooty Fox.
-We really need a village administrator: Jenny Kamineris is said to save Fairfax bundles
-Village Council considered commercial development along the block across from Marielders, but decided against it because that would entail additional surface parking, which seems to make sense.
SPENDING CONTROLS
-Competitive Bids on all work
-If the mayor authorizes spending beyond what is set i.e. blacktopping a parking lot over the PW Comm.'s stated monetary outlay, he should have to reimburse the village.
-benchmarked / can we benchmark our staffing and compensation in each department against other similar towns? Typically that info is essential to organizations looking to restructure, "right size", create a strategic plan, etc.
TAXATION/FEES
-Garbage Stickers $2+
-reduce the earnings tax credit by 1/4%
-residents be charged an ark tax to go for trees, upkeep of parks, etc.
-taxing non-earnings? If a resident works a typical job for 40+ hours a week, they are taxed; if a resident lives off investment income, they are not taxed.
-increase the income tax rate. nearby communities: Cincinnati 2.1%, Fairfax 1.75%, Madeira 1% ,Silverton 1.25%, Blue Ash 1.25%, Newtown, 1%, Anderson Township 0% [townships cannot levy an income tax by law], Montgomery 1%, Indian Hill 0.4%, Norwood 2%.
WASTE
-Can Fire department take on other responsibilities during down-time....it kills me to see them hanging out killing time.
-dump the paper. It's money we don't need to spend. Mayor's Bulletins are Tweets (Twitter) or emails. Council's Meeting packets are electronic only
-Mariemont Tax Office spends over $1000 each month in rent. Negotiate a better rate or move to a new building. The Old Town Square has store fronts for $500 per month. Assume $100 for utilities (unverified), and thats $400 x 12mo = nearly $5000 savings each year! Further, lock in a 10 year lease at a low rent, taking advantage of this touch economic time.
-When it comes time to replace the police chief's car- no more inefficient expensivce SUV
-policemen and firemen cross trained for both jobs? Since firemen spend so much time waiting for emergencies, such a fires and medical emergencies, to happen, perhaps having one fewer firemen on duty for selected shifts, with one policeman for that shift cross trained as a fireman, would save on costs.
Cortney
----------------------------
ACCOUNTING
-budget crunch is in the General Fund, not in the Permanent Improvement Fund. We have enough reserves to cover most expenses we might expect for Capital Items in the next few years, not including anything major such as a new Fire Truck or major (needed) improvements to the Administration building. There will be pressure on the Permanent Improvement Fund over the next 4 years or so, as we will need to spend at least $150,000 to remove and replace the Village owned Ash trees (22 of 160 village owned Ash trees this Oct). Prudent spending on other capital budget items will make this increased expenditure of $40,000 to $50,000 per year over the next 3 or 4 years possible.
INCOME
-Cars fly down Miami Road, Wooster Pike, Plainville Road, etc. It's a real safety issue. We should issue more citations, not for 3 or 4 miles over the posted speed limit, but for significant speeding. We don't want to be known as a speedtrap (that's Fairfax' job :), but let's enforce the laws on the books.
-How much money does Terrace Park raise through their pancake breakfast...or is it a dinner?...regardless, they raise money.
-renting Village space for events and gatherings? With temporary event liquor licenses, the Lagoon shelter would be rented often (not at all today)
-The cameras that monitor traffic lights and issue tickets should be installed....need less police AND get more revenue from tickets.
-Williams Meadows residents should be allowed to join pool
REDUCE COST
-combining the Maintenance Department with that of Fairfax. Our Maintenance department is essentially in the middle of Fairfax already. Presumably there could be some reduction in the number of personnel working in the combined department. There is likely much duplication between the two departments in expensive equipment, and, as some equipment is retired it would not need to be replaced.
-Consult Chief Phifer to see what reductions in the number of fire personnel are reasonable and possible. It may be that reducing the number of full time fire department employees and increasing the number of part-time fire department employees would accomplish some savings. If not, he must consider which days/shifts can tolerate a reduction in the number of people in the building on duty, and the savings from such reduction.
-Review Employee Salary Raises. Understand greater contribution on Employee health care, but we need a soln. Aso, ask employees what they prefer: layoffs, less $
-General Administration: employee hours could be reduced somewhat. Mayor needs to stop "dictating" letters.
-Maintenance currently has a new employee who is on extended probation (whom the Mayor will not let the Supervisor fire). This position should be eliminated, probably saving $50,000 per year in salary and benefits.
-Mayor + Council Members salary reduction/elimination
-The Police department has not replaced a senior officer who retired, saving approximately $80,000 per year in salary and benefits. They have also quietly eliminated one crossing guard position, and reduced the number of paid hours of the remaining four crossing guards, saving an additional estimated $10,000 per year. We should not expect more cuts in this department.
SPEND TO SAVE
-additional incentives for more businesses to come to Mariemont so that we have more tax revenue? Specifically, the key space in between the movie theater and Graeter's, as well as the spaces by The Snooty Fox.
-We really need a village administrator: Jenny Kamineris is said to save Fairfax bundles
-Village Council considered commercial development along the block across from Marielders, but decided against it because that would entail additional surface parking, which seems to make sense.
SPENDING CONTROLS
-Competitive Bids on all work
-If the mayor authorizes spending beyond what is set i.e. blacktopping a parking lot over the PW Comm.'s stated monetary outlay, he should have to reimburse the village.
-benchmarked / can we benchmark our staffing and compensation in each department against other similar towns? Typically that info is essential to organizations looking to restructure, "right size", create a strategic plan, etc.
TAXATION/FEES
-Garbage Stickers $2+
-reduce the earnings tax credit by 1/4%
-residents be charged an ark tax to go for trees, upkeep of parks, etc.
-taxing non-earnings? If a resident works a typical job for 40+ hours a week, they are taxed; if a resident lives off investment income, they are not taxed.
-increase the income tax rate. nearby communities: Cincinnati 2.1%, Fairfax 1.75%, Madeira 1% ,Silverton 1.25%, Blue Ash 1.25%, Newtown, 1%, Anderson Township 0% [townships cannot levy an income tax by law], Montgomery 1%, Indian Hill 0.4%, Norwood 2%.
WASTE
-Can Fire department take on other responsibilities during down-time....it kills me to see them hanging out killing time.
-dump the paper. It's money we don't need to spend. Mayor's Bulletins are Tweets (Twitter) or emails. Council's Meeting packets are electronic only
-Mariemont Tax Office spends over $1000 each month in rent. Negotiate a better rate or move to a new building. The Old Town Square has store fronts for $500 per month. Assume $100 for utilities (unverified), and thats $400 x 12mo = nearly $5000 savings each year! Further, lock in a 10 year lease at a low rent, taking advantage of this touch economic time.
-When it comes time to replace the police chief's car- no more inefficient expensivce SUV
-policemen and firemen cross trained for both jobs? Since firemen spend so much time waiting for emergencies, such a fires and medical emergencies, to happen, perhaps having one fewer firemen on duty for selected shifts, with one policeman for that shift cross trained as a fireman, would save on costs.
learned about levys at Council last night
Mr. Bevis helped me & Matt Weinland understand a bit more about how the Levy process works, and Council's role in it. I assumed that a 5-1 vote in favor of the Levy is implicit support. Actually, the support is to have the public weigh in via voting. So it's not fair to say Council is supporting the levy. Thx Mr. Bevis - our quick chat was a help.
Related, I sense that nobody's for it. Mr. Bevis was very clear in his opposition, and I respect that. But the question I'm trying to wrestle with is: if a majority on council think it's a bad idea (no data here just a "feeling"), why go to the trouble of a ballot initiative? I appreciate the democracy ideal, for sure. But if it's not a "good idea", then shouldn't an alternate idea be floated? Still noodling with this one.
Cortney
Related, I sense that nobody's for it. Mr. Bevis was very clear in his opposition, and I respect that. But the question I'm trying to wrestle with is: if a majority on council think it's a bad idea (no data here just a "feeling"), why go to the trouble of a ballot initiative? I appreciate the democracy ideal, for sure. But if it's not a "good idea", then shouldn't an alternate idea be floated? Still noodling with this one.
Cortney
Thx Kiwanis for the chance to speak
I spoke this morning and enjoyed meeting the Kiwanis members. Lots of good discussion. I shared the floor with John Altman and got to know his positions better. While I did get my points across, a member pulled me aside after and gave me a couple public speaking pointers. Speaking in Public is not the same as Public Speaking :) These types of events are a great way to grow and improve. Thanks very much for the pointers. Hope to use them tonight at the Debate.
Cortney
outline of my talk same as I used at the Town Meeting Caucus, posted back in July.
Cortney
outline of my talk same as I used at the Town Meeting Caucus, posted back in July.
Debate tonight!
Pls come to the Town Crier Candidate Forum tonight (Tues 10/27) 7:00PM at Mariemont Elementary
Cortney
Cortney
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
nice converation w/ Yes on D Organizer
Had a long chat this morning and learned more about D. I'm reassured that our visions of Mariemont are very similar. Vibrant Mixed Use, expanded Business District, trolleys/trains get me excited about Mariemont's future. While we don't agree on this ballot issue, I'm excited about partnership opptys if I'm lucky enough to get elected.
Cortney
Cortney
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