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Councilman takes issues into village newsletter
(by Sali McSherry - February 03, 2010)
Councilman takes issues into village newsletter
By SALI McSHERRY
Gates Mills Councilman Douglas Bletcher acted alone when he wrote an article for this month's Pink Sheet, the village newsletter that was sent to residents Monday.
Historically, village Treasurer and Tax Administrator Bob Reitman has written a monthly article about village finances, and Mayor Connie White has written articles and introduced letters from the police and fire chiefs and service director, as was done this month. Councilman William Barnes, who serves as finance chairman, wrote an article this month about the village's 2009 financial picture and 2010 budget.
In his article, Mr. Bletcher described some of the key questions he said council would need to answer this year, from gas- and oil-drilling issues and trash hauling and recycling to village finances and ways to improve communication with residents.
Mr. Bletcher said Monday he wanted to pose the questions to residents about issues that directly affect them. He said his mission was to encourage residents to express their thoughts to the questions. It wasn't to express his opinions, he said, and he didn't consciously separate himself from other council members by writing the article. While he didn't discuss the document line by line with other council members, he said he has discussed the topics with almost everyone on council.
No council members were notified of his plans to write the piece, according to Councilwoman Karen Schneider, who responded with a letter to residents in her position as president of council, to clarify and reflect on the issues posed by Mr. Bletcher.
"It is gratifying that Doug has manifested his commitment to his obligations as a member of council to serve the village's best interests. He joins a council committed to fiscal responsibility and sustaining village quality of life. Perhaps reflecting his lack of recent engagement with council, Doug appears to have overlooked several important facts," she said.
As an example, Mrs. Schneider referred to a multi-year contract for trash and recycling collection that was made last year and could not be altered without serious cost implications. The new cost for ambulance service was a significant motivation for eliminating village-paid refuse removal, she said.
In another example, regarding village finances, Mrs. Schneider said, "village cash management is the responsibility of the treasurer subject to approval of council. Opinions on that and all fiscal topics freely given is appreciated, but the background necessary to provide meaningful input is substantial and the issue is not up for consideration until later this year."
Mrs. Schneider said, "To the extent that Doug's questions seek to provoke discussion, they serve a purpose. Of course, all of these questions are discussed at appropriate times by village committees, which are open to all residents. Regretfully, recent citizen participation at these meetings and public hearings on more significant topics can best be described as poor. But perhaps we have miscalculated interest in these topics," she said.
Mr. Reitman, who recently assumed the additional responsibility of village treasurer, wrote about the obligations of residents.
A significant number of "friends and neighbors choose not to join those who express their interest and responsibility at the ballot box," he said.
"But too often we hear from those who trust the rest of us, that we are making a mistake. This frequently occurs just before an action is taken. The ability to impact a decision only comes through timely engagement and discussion not at the moment of decision, even when the course to be pursued may not be the best," Mr. Reitman said. He encouraged villagers to attend committee and council meetings and to talk to decision makers. He asked residents to be informed and get involved.
Residents are invited to call Village Hall and speak with Finance Administrator Jo Ann Lechman about areas of interest and if a meaningful number of people participate, "I believe council" would schedule meetings to hear suggestions and respond to questions, Mrs. Schneider said.
Mrs. Lechman can be reached at (440) 423-4405, ext. 126.
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