Monday's New Philadelphia City Council meeting could be a classic case of "I don't know." Had you been there, you would have seen a display of irresponsibility which, quite possibly, will push the city budget into the red for years to come.
Two of the four contracts for city workers have been completed, the second, for the Firefighters Union, accepted by default last night. In a procedural maneuver, in which Councilman Rob Maurer blocked a possible reexamination of the fireman's contract, the city was committed to increases in wages and benefits that the city may find difficulty in paying.
With two contracts, fire and police, now in effect the first of the year, the financial question of how we are going to pay for them still hasn't been answered. In the Finance Committee meeting, which preceded the regular council meeting, the inability of the administration to answer basic financial questions by council members, showed a lack of preparation, planning, and understanding of city finances.
Money, as usual, was the focus of the questions. When the Mayor was asked what the cost of the new contract was going to be, he was unsure. When the City Auditor was asked the same question, she didn't know, replying that there were too many variables. When the Safety Director was asked what the projection was for over-time costs in the next year, he replied he didn't know because it "changed every day." When Mr. Seyer, the city's representative during the Fact Finding session, was asked about financial considerations, his answers were evasive. When all was said and done, the city, and its residents, were saddled with another contract which will increase city salaries above the ability of the city to pay.
For those members of the administration who couldn't find the budget figures, a question. How, without knowing the costs, could you enter into contracts which will increase the cost of city salaries in the immediate future? And how, Mr. Mayor, do you plan to pay for it. Ah, yes. I remember. During the Mayoral debate at Kent University two years ago, the then Candidate Taylor told us he would raise taxes to pay for such matters.
Well, just so you know what Mayor Taylor, Auditor Gundy, and the city's negotiator Mr. Sayer, couldn't find, didn't ask about, or knew and didn't make a case for with the Fact Finder, here are some of those figures.
Receipts into the City's General Fund, that's the fund with which we operate the city on a daily basis, have been decreasing over the last nine years. Comparing this November's income to 2008, there was a seven percent decrease in General Fund income, a loss of $362,270.
Income Tax receipts for November were down $89,000, which puts the income tax loss for the year at $451,000 when compared to 2008.
The Safety Forces Fund is down $133,831 comparing this November's figure to November 2008, and $219,221 below November of 2007.
Then there is the money from investments we have made as a city, mostly in bank deposits, and you know what the economy has done to interest rates. For the city it meant a $148,000 loss to the city's income in November alone when compared to a year ago.
We are in a deepening depression. City funds and income are decreasing. But according to the Fact Finder, New Philadelphia is in good financial condition and can afford pay raises to city employees. If you read his report, his findings are based on 2008 financial figures. Does this mean the Mayor and Mr. Seyer did not have the figures from 2009 available? Or if they had them available they didn't present them to the Fact Finder? Or does it mean that sending an inexperienced team to deal with the professional negotiator from the Firemen's Union was poor judgement for which we are going to pay dearly?
The negotiations of both the police and fire contracts were poorly handled. The contracts are unreasonable, both in salaries and benefits. It is time to get professional negotiators who have the legal expertise and experience in dealing with professional Union negotiators to represent the city in union negotiations. It is time the City Auditor provides accurate financial information to City Council instead of "I don't know" and "I didn't figure that." It is time that the Mayor honors his pre-election promise to better communicate with City Council. It is time that City Council fulfills its obligation to provide full representation of its citizens by looking into issues before voting on legislation. And it is time the citizens become involved in their city and watch, question, and confront both the Administration and City Council.
Two of the four contracts for city workers have been completed, the second, for the Firefighters Union, accepted by default last night. In a procedural maneuver, in which Councilman Rob Maurer blocked a possible reexamination of the fireman's contract, the city was committed to increases in wages and benefits that the city may find difficulty in paying.
With two contracts, fire and police, now in effect the first of the year, the financial question of how we are going to pay for them still hasn't been answered. In the Finance Committee meeting, which preceded the regular council meeting, the inability of the administration to answer basic financial questions by council members, showed a lack of preparation, planning, and understanding of city finances.
Money, as usual, was the focus of the questions. When the Mayor was asked what the cost of the new contract was going to be, he was unsure. When the City Auditor was asked the same question, she didn't know, replying that there were too many variables. When the Safety Director was asked what the projection was for over-time costs in the next year, he replied he didn't know because it "changed every day." When Mr. Seyer, the city's representative during the Fact Finding session, was asked about financial considerations, his answers were evasive. When all was said and done, the city, and its residents, were saddled with another contract which will increase city salaries above the ability of the city to pay.
For those members of the administration who couldn't find the budget figures, a question. How, without knowing the costs, could you enter into contracts which will increase the cost of city salaries in the immediate future? And how, Mr. Mayor, do you plan to pay for it. Ah, yes. I remember. During the Mayoral debate at Kent University two years ago, the then Candidate Taylor told us he would raise taxes to pay for such matters.
Well, just so you know what Mayor Taylor, Auditor Gundy, and the city's negotiator Mr. Sayer, couldn't find, didn't ask about, or knew and didn't make a case for with the Fact Finder, here are some of those figures.
Receipts into the City's General Fund, that's the fund with which we operate the city on a daily basis, have been decreasing over the last nine years. Comparing this November's income to 2008, there was a seven percent decrease in General Fund income, a loss of $362,270.
Income Tax receipts for November were down $89,000, which puts the income tax loss for the year at $451,000 when compared to 2008.
The Safety Forces Fund is down $133,831 comparing this November's figure to November 2008, and $219,221 below November of 2007.
Then there is the money from investments we have made as a city, mostly in bank deposits, and you know what the economy has done to interest rates. For the city it meant a $148,000 loss to the city's income in November alone when compared to a year ago.
We are in a deepening depression. City funds and income are decreasing. But according to the Fact Finder, New Philadelphia is in good financial condition and can afford pay raises to city employees. If you read his report, his findings are based on 2008 financial figures. Does this mean the Mayor and Mr. Seyer did not have the figures from 2009 available? Or if they had them available they didn't present them to the Fact Finder? Or does it mean that sending an inexperienced team to deal with the professional negotiator from the Firemen's Union was poor judgement for which we are going to pay dearly?
The negotiations of both the police and fire contracts were poorly handled. The contracts are unreasonable, both in salaries and benefits. It is time to get professional negotiators who have the legal expertise and experience in dealing with professional Union negotiators to represent the city in union negotiations. It is time the City Auditor provides accurate financial information to City Council instead of "I don't know" and "I didn't figure that." It is time that the Mayor honors his pre-election promise to better communicate with City Council. It is time that City Council fulfills its obligation to provide full representation of its citizens by looking into issues before voting on legislation. And it is time the citizens become involved in their city and watch, question, and confront both the Administration and City Council.
Mr. Conner,
ReplyDeleteWhile you were acting as Jimmy Eichel's campaign manager during his unsuccessful run for Mayor of NP, you told me that, if he was not elected, ___ didn't get Council President, and ___ didn't get elected to Council (or was it Treasurer?), that the city would go down the toilet and, as soon as your term on Council was up, you were going to move out of the area. Are you now going to honor your pre-election promise?
David Carrick? Isn't he the preacher from First Christian Church who is the Fire Department Chaplain? Hum.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. Non-anonymous citizen, David Carrick. And your name?
ReplyDelete