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Ward 5 City Council choice anticipated
(by Sue Reid - January 26, 2011)
Ward 5 City Council choice anticipated
By SUE REID
Solon City Council is to meet again tonight (Jan. 27) to deliberate the selection of a council representative for Ward 5. Following interviews and an executive session Monday, members had not yet reached a decision.
Mayor Susan A. Drucker said Tuesday that she's confident council would reach a decision Thursday. She said she wanted to thank all four applicants who interviewed for the vacancy: Lawrence R. Floyd, Nancy E. Meany, Charles H. Debordeau and Mary Sankovic.
The seat is vacant due to the resignation last month of Lon D. Stolarsky, who was appointed to the position of city prosecutor. The individual appointed will fill the remaining year left on his term and also sit on City Council's finance committee.
"Sitting on council is truly a difficult task," Mrs. Drucker said. "It's easy for people to criticize government and always tell you what's wrong with the city when they are sitting and watching from sidelines.
"It takes a courageous person to be willing to truly invest themselves in the city and actively take part in moving the city forward, and for that I commend all four people who stepped forward to do this."
Mrs. Meany, who was appointed to the planning commission last October, said being given the opportunity to serve on council giving back to her hometown would be "gratifying and humbling."
"I feel I can offer things to my ward, because I've lived here my whole life," said Mrs. Meany, who is retired from the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court.
Mr. Debordeau, a chartered financial consultant employed at H&R Block, said he wants to serve on council because of the new challenge it presents. "My whole career has focused on challenges and problem solving," he said.
Mr. Debordeau, who has served on the Solon citizens storm water committee since 2006, said the greatest strength he would bring to council is "dealing with problems and with people and coming up with compromises and workable solutions."
Mrs. Sankovic, special events coordinator for Girl Scouts in Solon with a background in retail management, said she is seeking the appointment on council because she always wants to be involved in the city. "I love this town," she said. "I want to move it forward."
Mr. Floyd, an attorney specializing in criminal law and former NAACP legal redress chairman, said Solon is a great city, and he wants to be a part of making "great greater."
"I am a hard worker, especially when it's something I'm passionate about," Mr. Floyd said. "Being African-American doesn't mean I am coming on council to be a maverick. That's not who I am. I am a coalition builder.
"My desire is to make Solon better," he said. "If you give me the opportunity to be one of your colleagues, I will work hard to make the city the best it can be."
All of the candidates cited the rezoning issue at SOM Center (Route 91) and Miles roads, as well as problems at Harper and Miles roads and development proposals for the Hawthorne Valley Country Club as some of the issues facing the ward.
Mrs. Meany said deer culling is something that needs addressed, and there is also a need for a "center of town."
"I would love to be able to somehow help in the revitalization of the shopping centers," she said.
A 13-year resident, Mr. Debordeau said he wants to be part of the city's continued prosperity and growth. "I have the capacity for hard work," he said.
Mrs. Sankovic said more retail areas are needed in the city. "Our consumers should not be going outside of Solon to shop," she said.
"We have to work on our downtown and make it the center point of the city," Mr. Floyd said.
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