Airport

People of Middletown:

Perhaps this is the last straw.

Certainly, there are two sides to every story.  Certainly, the emails which are the subject of this thread tell only one side.  However, I have had great reservations about several of the decisions that the present City Manager has made during her tenure here in our fair city.

Perhaps it is time for City Council to examine the facts of this issue, and then to explore their alternatives in the Human Resources area.

Subject:  Senior City staff performance

 

Lady and Gentlemen of Council:

Certainly, you are all aware of the emails that have been posted on MiddletownUSA.com regarding the airport and the City's dealings with the FBO and the skydiving company.

While I realize that there are two sides to every story, and these emails tell only one side, I have had great reservations about several of the decisions made and actions taken by the City Manager during her tenure with our fair city. I feel certain that it is debatable whether or not many of these decisions and actions have been in the best interests of the greatest number of our residents and our city as a whole.

I am not alone in holding these opinions. Identical and similar opinions are held by many, including some of our most prominent (though less vocal) residents. Many will not speak out for fear of retribution due to the vindictive nature of some members of senior City staff.

I am sending this email simply to let City Council know that they would have the support of a number of citizens if Council should decide to make changes in the management of senior City staff, including, but not limited to, the City Manager.

I have no fear of retribution, and would be pleased to speak out if Council feels vocalization by the citizenry would be of aid in any actions. I am certain that I could muster several other citizens to do likewise. (However, I am scheduled to be away from town on some dates in September due to prior commitments.)

No reply to this email is necessary. I would prefer to see a reply by action of the City Council.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Who knew what, and WHEN???

I long have held the position that this business of council members on all of these city boards and commissions is nonsense.  Granted, there are a couple of cases where council members are mandated either by our City Charter or by the Ohio Revised Code to be members, but darn few.  For the most part, in my view it is nothing more than resume building and ego boosting. 

Worse than that, it is an obvious conflict of interest.  If one examines the City’s codified Ordinances, the bulk of these boards and commissions have a single purpose:  To advise City Council on the matters pertaining to that board or commission.  For a Council member, even a non-voting  Council member, to sit on a board or commission that reports to Council is not only the very definition of a conflict of interest, it is a slap in the face to the members of the board or commission and the rest of the community, suggesting that the board or commission cannot properly function without a member of Council on hand.  Again, that is my view.

Every time I have raised these points, there have only been two counterpoints offered:

A) Having a Council member on board is the only way Council can know what is going on.

This is hogwash since every meeting of these boards and commissions is a PUBLIC meeting and ANY interested member of Council is free to attend and see for themselves what is going on...they don't have to be a specially appointed "member" of that particular board or commission.  Additionally, if the board or commission does not “advise” Council, as is their purpose, Council certainly has the authority to replace the members who refuse to “advise” them with members who will do so.  Also, all such boards and commissions are required to keep minutes and submit same to Council.   If they don’t, they should be replaced.  If Council doesn't bother to read those minutes to know "what is going on", then shame on Council.

B)  All the other cities do it, too.

This “all the other kids get to do it, so I should get to do it, too” logic is so juvenile, that it does not even deserve a response.  In my view, it is more of an arguement to replace the person making it (whatever their position), than it is an arguement for having Council members on boards and commissions.

Let me assure the citizens of Middletown of four things:

1)     If I am elected to City Council this November, I will accept NO appointment to ANY board or commission that is not explicitly authorized by the City Charter, the Codified City Ordinances, or the Ohio Revised Code.  (I will not even accept one then, unless no one else will accept it.)

2)     At the first business meeting at which I am a member, I will move that legislation be prepared to put the force of law behind the spirit of my point 1) above.  The motion may die for lack of a second, or it may fail for lack of three more “aye” votes, but I will propose it if elected.  And I'll vote FOR it, too, unless someone makes such an unimaginably powerful arguement against it that I am forced to eat crow!!!  I can't fathom that happening, but as always, if I am proven wrong, I won't stay on the "wrong" side just to be bullheaded.

3)     At that same first meeting, I will move that legislation be prepared mandating that the time and place for ALL meetings of all boards and commissions be part of the published “community calendar” on the City’s web site, so that any Council member, and more importantly, any CITIZEN, who desires to attend will know where and when each and every meeting will be held.

4)     4) At that same first meeting, I will move that legislation be prepared mandating that all meetings of City Council, except executive sessions, be held in City Council Chambers and televised by the local access TV channel (as long as that channel exists) unless a meeting at a special location (such as a City park for a special occasion) is authorized by a vote of three quarters of the members of Council.  (NOT just the "members in attendance"!)

If elected, I hope that someone will remind me of these promises AT THAT FIRST MEETING, since I am old and I sometimes forget things.  With such a reminder, I SHALL NOT FAIL YOU on these promises!!!   You have my word here.  It is on record.