If this is the Case, why the dog & pony show
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Council
Forum Description: Discuss individual members and council as a legislative body.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2677
Printed Date: May 05 2025 at 12:27pm
Topic: If this is the Case, why the dog & pony show
Posted By: Pacman
Subject: If this is the Case, why the dog & pony show
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 6:24am
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If Council must put these levies on the ballot as Landen implies, why do we have this dog & pony show of getting Council's approval for levies? Who is the one to sue the city if they voted down the Library Levy, the Library, the employees, the citizens? Sounds like a little intimidation at play here.
Personally I will be voting "NO" on the librabry vote.
"Council members will be asked to endorse a substitute school tax levy issue for the Middletown City School District that would generate $18.3 million annually. If approved by voters, the levy will replace two emergency levies expiring in December that respectively generate $14.3 and $4 million annually.
Council members also will vote on whether to place a 0.75-mill property tax levy for the Middletown Public Library. As the library’s taxing authority, the council has the final say in whether it goes before voters
In a memo to City Council, Law Director Les Landen said the council has a “legal duty to put the issue on the ballot.”
“Failure to place the levy on the ballot could expose the city to a lawsuit and the resulting costs and attorneys’ fees,” Landen wrote.
City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. today in Council Chambers on the lower level of the Middletown City Building, One Donham Plaza." |
Replies:
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 7:11am
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That'll make at least two no votes on the library issue. I've decided to take Spider's advice and "starve the beast" by voting no on every levy offered by the city and schools. Gotta force the issues since the city nor the school board will listen to the people who live here. Hard to hurt some of the potential recipients of the money, but they've forced our hand and pushed us too far with their one-sided agendas.
I'd like 'ole Leslie to show us where the city has a legal duty to place these levies on the ballot. Exposing the city to a lawsuit and resulting costs and legal fees? Is that just him poppin' his gums or is that actually written somewhere? Talk to us, Leslie Eugene! 
Oh, by the way.... that's some more disrespect toward a city official, Murdock, in case you wanted to comment here. Like Armbruster, Leslie hasn't earned it yet either. |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 10:08am
| Les Landen's legal opinions seem to be flexible according to what The Council wants. |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 11:17am
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Points to consider:
1. Even a stopped clock is correct twice a day!!! I believe Les is correct on the LIBRARY levy. Council must put the levy on the ballot. However, council does NOT have the obligation to pass it as an EMERGENCY, since the library board was at fault for not submitting it in time (even WITH a council liaison!!!)
2. Council has no other authority over the library. That's just one more reason that it's so stupid for council to appoint a liaison.
3. Since Armbuster urged the library board to go for a 0.75 mil levy instead of the 0.70 that they actually wanted, there is NO DOUBT that a conflict of interest exists!!! If Armbuster does not abstain from both the discussion and the vote on this issue, then it will be an ILLEGAL VOTE, council will be derelict in their duty to the library, and the City will be vulnerable for a lawsuit!!! ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: Bill
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 11:36am
| wasn't it Picard who suggested the board go for .75? |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 11:41am
------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Bill wrote:Posted By: acclaro
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 12:29pm
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Its about time organization is put in place to ensure the defeat of the school levy and the library levy. Next year, as council and the city has the strategy they believe is winning- just slam on a public saftey saftey, works everytime. Do any of you think the levey for the library does anything for the unemployed? get real. Same for the school system- think passing that is going to elevate your greatly depressing property values? Think again. Now, next year, the city thinks its going to get all those people in the nursing home, and others, to vote to raise the tax to...a guarantee- 2.% When does this insandity stop, and people begin organizing, collecting money, putting a stop to this? Time to put action behind the key strokes.
Oh...does anyone think even having a levy on ballot next year will do anything positive to Middletown, that is, make it more attractive to new residents and commercial parties, when values are so much in decline? I cannot fathom how people sit idly and swallow this stuff weekly. As for Mr. Landen, I would think his reference ould be voters would have to vote on an increase, not that the city would be sued if it did not place a library levy on the ballot, but I haven't pulled up the Articles or ORC. Wake up Middletown.
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Posted By: Hermes
Date Posted: Feb 16 2010 at 5:52pm
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I would like to suggest an idea that would ease the burden of these school levies. Most prisons require inmates to work in some capacity, some make furniture,repair vehicles and even some inmates work as telemarketers. I would suggest the schools do the same thing and at the same time it would teach kids the value of working and prepare them for a job when they graduate. It would supplement cost for the school and teachers and administrators could take their pay raises out of these profits. ------------- No more democrats no more republicans,vote Constitution Party !! |