Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton City Council meeting held on Monday, April 11, 2016.
Description of Video:
April 11, 2016, 2016 – City Council Meeting:
The video covers a City Council
meeting lasting about one hour and twenty minutes. The video begins
approximately one and one half minutes before the meeting is called to order.
The Council meeting was to be
followed by an Executive Session which was not filmed as they are not open to
the public.
The stated purpose of the Executive
Session was “…to consider the employment of a public employee.” This is the
sixth Executive Session to be held since mid-January with the same stated
purpose “…to consider the employment of a public employee.
Councilmember Stephanie Werren was
not present for roll call and failed to show for both the Council meeting and
the Executive Session that followed. Her absence was excused and she will
receive her Council salary despite her absence from the meeting.
1:40 minutes into the video, the
meeting is called to order. The Opening Prayer is given by Reverend Mel
Lindberg followed by the pledge of Allegiance.
4:40 minutes into the video,
Council Roll Call is taken and Council votes to excuse Councilmember Stephanie
Werren. This is followed by an introduction of a foreign exchange student from
Germany who is doing an internship with the City. Council then approves the
minutes of prior Council meetings.
6:45 minutes into the video there
is a call for Recognition of Visitors (referred to as Public Speaks). Six City
residents speak:
7:25 minutes into the video, City
resident M.J. Albacete updates Council on his use of grant funds appropriated
through City Council to teach school children the principles of geometry
through art projects.
10:45 minutes into the video, City
resident Glenn Saylor presents his opposition on Councils proposal to remove
the North Canton Tagline “The Dogwood City” which has existed since 1963 and
now is to be struck down by Resolution No. 1-2016.
16:00 minutes into the video, City
resident Chuck Osborne presents research that reveals serious practical and
moral questions for taxpayers and the City’s School District regarding North
Canton’s CRA tax abatement program. Mr. Osborne finishes his remarks by
pointing out that a local millionaire developer is receiving an annual
abatement of $59,129 for fifteen years on a brand new 40-unit apartment complex
on North Main Street. Mr. Osborne presents a letter to Mayor Held asking that
the Mayor ask for the resignation of Eric Bowles who approved that abatement.
The text of Mr. Osborne’s remarks can be found at:
http://opengovernment4nc.blogspot.com/2016/04/north-canton-cra-tax-abatements-raise.html
21:15 minutes into the video,
Miriam Baughman presents her concerns regarding the City’s CRA program.
23:30 minutes into the video, City
resident Melanie Roll presents her concerns regarding the City’s CRA program.
28:30 minutes into the video, a
resident of Akron (did not catch the name) gave his views on the CRA program.
29:50 minutes into the video, North
Canton’s Superintendent of Permits and Inspection, Eric Bowles defends his
authorization of a 100 percent tax abatement for fifteen years to a well-known
millionaire builder/developer. Mr. Bowles references an ordinance passed
seventeen years ago (Section 7 of Ordinance 22-99) stating the ordinance gives
him the authority to approve property tax exemptions.
Mr. Bowles concludes his rebuttal
by saying he has been operating the City’s CRA program properly.
The abatement given to a local
millionaire developer has resulted in annual property tax exemption of $59,129
per year for fifteen years which will result in a total tax exemption over that
term of a minimum of $886,935.
Mr. Bowles did not challenge the
tax abatement figures I presented. And surprisingly, Mr. Bowles did not seem
embarrassed or apologetic that he has given away millions dollars desperately
needed by North Canton City Schools. North Canton City Officials seemed quite fine with the
loss of nearly $1.4 million of public money.
31:50 minutes into the video,
Council begins the legislative portion of the meeting. Council votes on six
pieces of legislation. Three ordinances were passed as “Emergency” legislation.
One received its 3rd Reading and two ordinances received their 1st Reading.
32:30 minutes into the video,
Council President Peters acknowledges that Councilmember Werren is not present
to present legislation (Ordinance No. 23-2016) she has lobbied for.
33:25 minutes into the video, two
CRA agreements are introduced for approval. Both agreements are tax abatements
for two businesses, one owned by another local millionaire.
49:45 minutes into the video, final
reports are heard from members of City Council and other City officials in
attendance. As they go around the room, each one speaks in glowing terms of
Eric Bowles after I had urged Mayor Held to ask for the resignation of Mr.
Bowles for his inept approval of a property tax abatement resulting in a tax
savings of nearly ONE MILLION DOLLARS to a local millionaire builder developer.
51:45 minutes into the video,
Councilmember Griffith announces the creation of a committee to find a
replacement for the City’s outgoing Finance Director.
53:30 minutes into the video,
Councilmember Cerreta talks about CRA tax abatements and to me it is clear that
he has no understanding of property tax abatements. And as best as I can follow
him, Mr. Cerreta attempts to justify the continued practice of abating property
taxes. Mr. Cerreta does acknowledge that the main purpose of the CRA is
directed toward the improvement of existing housing and yet he continues to
justify the abatement of new construction.
55:10 minutes into the video,
Councilmember Foltz offers his praise of Eric Bowles. Surprisingly, Mr. Foltz
appears to gloss over the million dollar tax abatement made to a local
millionaire explaining the removal of the mobile homes that had existed at that
location earlier were worth the abatement of taxes.
59:50 minutes into the video,
Council President Peters speaks in support of Eric Bowles.
1:07:35 minutes into the video,
City Administrator Mike Grimes offers praise of Eric Bowles.
1:11:00 minutes into the video,
Mayor Held addresses comments made about the City’s CRA and other incentives
used by the City to bring business to the City. And then expounds on the great
work of Eric Bowles.
1:19:25 minutes into the video,
City Engineer Jim Benekos comments on Eric Bowles.
1:20:25 minutes into the video, the
City Council meeting is concluded. City Council immediately reconvenes and
votes to go into Executive Session.
The video continues to run until
1:24:40 minutes as Councilmembers go behind closed doors for their Executive
Session.
Thank you,
Chuck Osborne
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