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Despite lower tax base, village on solid ground
(by Sali McSherry - January 25, 2012)
Despite lower tax base, village on solid ground
By SALI McSHERRY
Running on a platform of maintaining a high level of service during a time when the tax base is shrinking, Moreland Hills Councilman Stephen Richman has retained his seat as Village Council president.
Mr. Richman was re-elected in November for a third term on council.
The village is up to the challenge of balancing fiscal responsibility and providing a high level of service, said Mr. Richman, an attorney. "The village will be successful by continuing and building upon what we are doing right." From securing grants and considering a regional approach to cost savings to being selective and creative in bidding for products and services, building up contingency funds and focusing on needs versus wants, the village is ready, he said.
Moreland Hills also is well positioned for the challenge as it will have few major infrastructure needs after the conversion of its sewage-treatment plants to pump stations is complete this year, Mr. Richman said.
The village has low debt, cash balances approximately equal to one year of operations and an aa1 bond rating, the highest for villages with less than 5,000 residents, he said.
Aggressively seeking grants will help in Moreland Hills' land-preservation efforts, such as expanding its park, while saving village funds, said Councilman Daniel Fritz.
A firefighter, Mr. Fritz has been instrumental in obtaining more than $480,000 in grant funding to the Orange and Bedford Heights fire departments.
As part of its organizational meeting earlier this month, Councilwoman Robin Cooper was appointed to continue as chairwoman of the planning and zoning commission. Mr. Fritz, who was returned to council by village voters after being off it for four years, also will serve on the commission.
New rules apply to council members missing meetings. If a member is absent from three or more committee meetings, the council president, who makes the appointments, has the authority to remove him or her from the committee. The rules also apply to village commissions, for which the mayor makes the appointments.
The village changed its committee structure by reducing them from seven committees to three.
Mayor Susan C. Renda said the committee of the whole and finance are grouped together, because it was believed that all council members should be involved in discussions involving financial issues.
The other committees are road and safety, chaired by Councilwoman Monica Sturgis, and facilities, chaired by Councilman Ted Buczek.
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