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'Wasteful spending' cited by council challenger
(by Sue Reid - October 14, 2009)
'Wasteful spending' cited by council challenger
By SUE REID
Keeping the city's income-tax collections high, aggressively implementing the master plan and maintaining a watchful eye on spending practices top the platform issues cited by the two candidates vying for the Ward 2 City Council seat in Solon.
Incumbent Robert N. Pelunis, who is seeking his third term on council, is being challenged by newcomer Alan Diamond on Nov. 3.
Mr. Diamond, an 11-year Solon resident, said Solon is a "nice, wealthy community" and should be more careful with what money it has and how it is being spent. "Wasteful spending" is the No. 1 issue he would address if elected, he said.
"The city wastes money for traffic surveys," Mr. Diamond said as an example. He said he would look at all of the ways the city is spending money and determine whether it has been successful with past spending practices. "I would see if we can put some of the money we waste to better use," said Mr. Diamond, who works in sales at Home Depot.
"The main issue we have is to keep our income-tax collections high," said Mr. Pelunis, an attorney in private practice in Solon who chairs city council's public works committee. "We have to really work with the businesses we have currently to keep them here and keep them happy, and we have to bring new business in."
Aggressively implementing the master plan, especially in the area of economic development, will help facilitate that, Mr. Pelunis, a 21-year resident, said.
Mr. Diamond, who holds a bachelor's degree in broadcast productions from the Ohio State University, said the city needs an "actual downtown with good retail and more restaurants." He said he would help to find people who are skilled with bringing that to fruition.
Mr. Pelunis said he would work alongside the administration to have the approval process move a lot quicker and more smoothly for the owners of property and potential purchasers of property. He said that is one of the main complaints he hears from developers and people who come before the city.
"I think we can really find a way to streamline the process," Mr. Pelunis said. "It can be done."
"I would also have a lot of consideration over how we can bring businesses into Solon with regards to grants and competitive programs with other cities," said Mr. Pelunis, who has served on the safety and public properties committee as well as on the Grantwood Golf Course board of trustees.
A graduate of Solon High School who earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio University in Athens and a law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law, Mr. Pelunis said he feels it is important to determine a focus of where the city is heading.
"We need to focus on a direction we want to go in for the city," he said.
A "fiscal conservative," Mr. Diamond said he is running because Mr. Pelunis was running unopposed "and I am personally opposed to such things.
"There should be an opponent in all races," he said.
Mr. Pelunis said he is seeking re-election because he enjoys working with the residents of Solon. "In a local government position, you are able to make a difference for the residents and for the community," he said. "It's a good feeling to be able to do that."
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