There is an old saying, there is more than one way to skin a cat. It appears that the Public Works and Economic Development Committee of New Philadelphia City Council, PWEDC, has found a new way to get approval for extending the runway at the New Philadelphia Airport.
Last Monday, September 27, 2010, at the regular city council meeting, Resolution 47-2010 was read for the first time, of three required readings, on the floor. Resolution 47-2010, is another attempt to approve the Airport Master Plan to extend the runway at the New Philadelphia Airport. Despite assurances by Committee members to the contrary, passage of 47-2010, by its wording and intent, will pave the way for implementation of the Master Plan.
Section 1 of 47-2010 is explicit in its wording. “City Council wishes to acknowledge, support and cooperate with the New Philadelphia Airport Commission for the continued operations of the Harry Clever Field as a valuable tool and asset for not only the City of New Philadelphia but Tuscarawas County, Ohio as well.”
The important words in Section 1 are "acknowledge, support, and cooperate" with the Airport Commission. Should this resolution be passed by the City Council, two undesirable actions will take place.
If approved, City Council will agree to the proposed Airport Master Plan, which includes extension of the runway, taking of personal property by eminent domain, moving of existing grave sites, closure of at least two existing streets, and the taking of property of Schoenbrunn village. The PWEDC can deny that these actions are included in 47-2010, but other authorities disagree. Consultations with grammarians and legal council confirm that the wording in Section 1 is such as to allow implementation of the Airport Master Plan without further legislation by the City Council.
Approval of 47-2010 will shift legislative action, as applies to the Airport Master Plan, from the New Philadelphia City Council to the Airport Commission. By agreeing to acknowledge, support, and cooperate with the Airport Commission, the City Council will be committed by legislation, 47-2010, to agree to the desires of the Airport Commission regardless of what those desires may be.
This is another attempt to breakdown the division of responsibilities between Administrative and Legislative Branches, the first being Council President Day's appointment of himself as Chairman of an ad hoc committee to study pay increases for elected and appointed officials (See blog New Philadelphia Council President Oversteps Legal Authority, 9/2/2010).
In a statement before City council, a concerned citizen, Mr. Michael Bolinsky, spoke for a number of concerned citizens, expressing his concern for the lack of information provided by the Public Works Committee. According to Mr. Bolinsky passage of 47-2010 will approve all eight options of the proposed Airport Master Plan, a comment with which we agree. He also expressed concern that New Philadelphia citizens have not been told the whole story about the effects approval of the Airport Master Plan will have. His concern about the closing of Delaware Drive is best expressed by his request for the Public Works Committee to provide him with a copy of the letter from the Federal Aviation Committee which states that Delaware Drive should be closed. He also asked the Committee to provide information on how the city was going to provide financing for the airport renovation and the costs associated with taking property by eminent domain.
The presentation of Resolution 47-2010 to City Council is done at a time when many questions are still unanswered. It is apparent that the interests of the the citizens of New Philadelphia have not been considered by the sponsors of this legislation. No information is presented how the residents of New Philadelphia will prosper from this action. No economic advantage to New Philadelphia have been presented. The sole justification given for this proposal is a desire by Lauren Corporation to house a larger jet aircraft at the city airport, a justification which is not valid according to the FAA (See blog titled New Philadelphia Airport Runway Extension To Be Discussed dated 9/15/2010).
The handling of the proposal of the Airport Master Plan by the Administration has been poor. The full impact of the implementation of the plan has been withheld. Questions asked by members of city Council have gone unanswered. Citizen concerns have been ignored. Financial questions have gone unanswered. There has been opposition to the plan from the historical society.
Last Monday, September 27, 2010, at the regular city council meeting, Resolution 47-2010 was read for the first time, of three required readings, on the floor. Resolution 47-2010, is another attempt to approve the Airport Master Plan to extend the runway at the New Philadelphia Airport. Despite assurances by Committee members to the contrary, passage of 47-2010, by its wording and intent, will pave the way for implementation of the Master Plan.
Section 1 of 47-2010 is explicit in its wording. “City Council wishes to acknowledge, support and cooperate with the New Philadelphia Airport Commission for the continued operations of the Harry Clever Field as a valuable tool and asset for not only the City of New Philadelphia but Tuscarawas County, Ohio as well.”
The important words in Section 1 are "acknowledge, support, and cooperate" with the Airport Commission. Should this resolution be passed by the City Council, two undesirable actions will take place.
If approved, City Council will agree to the proposed Airport Master Plan, which includes extension of the runway, taking of personal property by eminent domain, moving of existing grave sites, closure of at least two existing streets, and the taking of property of Schoenbrunn village. The PWEDC can deny that these actions are included in 47-2010, but other authorities disagree. Consultations with grammarians and legal council confirm that the wording in Section 1 is such as to allow implementation of the Airport Master Plan without further legislation by the City Council.
Approval of 47-2010 will shift legislative action, as applies to the Airport Master Plan, from the New Philadelphia City Council to the Airport Commission. By agreeing to acknowledge, support, and cooperate with the Airport Commission, the City Council will be committed by legislation, 47-2010, to agree to the desires of the Airport Commission regardless of what those desires may be.
This is another attempt to breakdown the division of responsibilities between Administrative and Legislative Branches, the first being Council President Day's appointment of himself as Chairman of an ad hoc committee to study pay increases for elected and appointed officials (See blog New Philadelphia Council President Oversteps Legal Authority, 9/2/2010).
In a statement before City council, a concerned citizen, Mr. Michael Bolinsky, spoke for a number of concerned citizens, expressing his concern for the lack of information provided by the Public Works Committee. According to Mr. Bolinsky passage of 47-2010 will approve all eight options of the proposed Airport Master Plan, a comment with which we agree. He also expressed concern that New Philadelphia citizens have not been told the whole story about the effects approval of the Airport Master Plan will have. His concern about the closing of Delaware Drive is best expressed by his request for the Public Works Committee to provide him with a copy of the letter from the Federal Aviation Committee which states that Delaware Drive should be closed. He also asked the Committee to provide information on how the city was going to provide financing for the airport renovation and the costs associated with taking property by eminent domain.
The presentation of Resolution 47-2010 to City Council is done at a time when many questions are still unanswered. It is apparent that the interests of the the citizens of New Philadelphia have not been considered by the sponsors of this legislation. No information is presented how the residents of New Philadelphia will prosper from this action. No economic advantage to New Philadelphia have been presented. The sole justification given for this proposal is a desire by Lauren Corporation to house a larger jet aircraft at the city airport, a justification which is not valid according to the FAA (See blog titled New Philadelphia Airport Runway Extension To Be Discussed dated 9/15/2010).
The handling of the proposal of the Airport Master Plan by the Administration has been poor. The full impact of the implementation of the plan has been withheld. Questions asked by members of city Council have gone unanswered. Citizen concerns have been ignored. Financial questions have gone unanswered. There has been opposition to the plan from the historical society.
Approval of Resolution 47-2010 by City Council is not in the best interests of the City of New Philadelphia. Urge your council representatives to vote against this resolution.
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