April 18, 2016 - Special Council meeting followed by a Committee of the Whole Meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone Having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government:

Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton Special Council meeting followed by a Council of the Whole meeting.

https://youtu.be/PhhKB6JEQT4

 

Description of Video: 

April 18, 2016, – Special Council Meeting followed by a Council of the Whole Meeting: 

The video covers a Special Council meeting lasting about forty-three and one half minutes followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting which lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The video begins approximately five minutes before the Special Council meeting is called to order.  

Tonight’s meetings of North Canton City Council were not expected to run much more than an hour in length for the two meetings. The combined length of both meetings ran nearly two hours exhausting the battery of the camera. Typically, a battery pack is brought along to handle meetings that are expected to run long. Consequently, the last ten minutes of the meeting were not recorded. A lesson learned by this videographer.  

The agenda for the Special Council meeting consisted of 2^nd Readings for two pieces of legislation:

·         Ordinance 33-2016 – Continuing two CRA agreements. One for LMD Property and a second for Reed Funeral Home. The agreements allow two corporations to continue to receive an abatement of taxes on their respective properties. LMD Realty, LTD is corporation owned by Bob DeHoff. Reed Funeral Home is a corporation owned by Dennis Reed.

·         Resolution 1-2016 – A resolution repealing and replacing Resolution 547-1963, which designated the City of North Canton as “The Dogwood City.” 

          5:00 minutes into the video, the Special Council meeting is called to order. 

          6:00 minutes into the video, North Canton Service Director Jim Davis introduces Walsh University Professor, Dr. Michael Dunphy, and his Chemistry students who, as a research project, are analyzing the salt content, along with other chemicals, of North Canton storm water. This presentation ended at 20:45 minutes. 

           20:45 minutes into the video, Council President Peters called for “Recognition of Visitors” and outlined the rules for speakers. 

           21:20 minutes into the video, the first speaker was Chuck Osborne.

 

          Mr. Osborne's remarks to City Council can be found at the following link:

http://opengovernment4nc.blogspot.com/2016/04/failed-tax-abatements-had-no-impact-on.html 

 

          Council President Peters wasted no time calling out that my five minutes were up. Having literally only about 10-12 words to complete my presentation, I attempted to complete my presentation which I did. 

          My remarks to City Council generally do not paint Council in a good light and they are only too happy to make me pay a price for my well-researched remarks. Their treatment of me has grown more personal, hateful, and vindictive, especially under the current makeup of City Council. I am not treated equally as others who speak before Council and that is well known to all who have ever attended a North Canton City Council meeting. Most especially, Council's treatment of certain individuals is harsh and unreasonable.  

          Council President Peters had a melt-down at the City Council meeting of February 1, 2016, and was very heavy-handed with a North Canton senior citizen and threatened to have the police escort the senior citizen out of the Council Chamber. The Senior Citizen, stunned by the hostility of Council President Peters elected to leave out of disgust. 

          A week later at Council’s next meeting on February 8, 2016, Council President Peters begins the meeting apologizing for his own conduct at the previous Council meeting. Mr. Peter’s apology for his conduct at that February 8, 2016 meeting can be seen at 3:18 minutes into the video of that meeting which can be found at the following link:   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFx9lhSFTiI&feature=youtu.be 

Returning to the current meeting being described:  

           27:00 minutes into the video, Miriam Baughman addresses City Council with her concerns on the proposed expansion of the City’s CRA Program. 

           31:35 minites into the video, Melanie Roll addresses City Council with her concerns on the proposed expansion of the City’s CRA Program. 

            36:45 minutes into the video, Dan Fonte, a Canto resident, follows up on a request he made to Council at a March 14, 2016, meeting asking that North Canton City Council pass a resolution in opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement, commonly referred to as the TPP Free Trade Agreement. 

           38:50 minutes into the video, Council President Peters feels the need to berate me for my attempt earlier in the meeting to finish the remaining 10-12 words left in my prepared remarks to Council. Mr. Peters follows up his public reprimand of me by asking if I would like to remove myself from the meeting.  

           I do not know why Mr. Peters would not just move on with the meeting after the public reprimand but he then began to bully me and me stare me down for a time, as if daring me or calling me out. At this point, I reacted by very quickly sticking my tongue out for a half-a-second. Mr. Peters then laughingly verbalizes my childish action on the record and then orders me out of the Council meeting.  

           Mr. Peters obviously was cocked and ready tonight to challenge me. Three times North Canton Police had come up during the meeting and circled around outside the Council Chamber. Clearly, Council President Peters had used his silent call button to summon Police each time. The Police Department is just below the Council Chambers. The Police did not see any disturbance and on each occasion and simply returned to their department.  

          In my opinion, Council President Peters was overly sensitive and overly harsh. Mr. Peters just could not stop himself. He had to keep egging the situation further and further until he himself overreacted and demanded I leave the Council meeting. Mr. Peters, in my mind, misused and abused his power in this situation for no valid reason. 

          At this point in the meeting, I am viewing the meeting for the first time directly from the video. 

          40:25 minutes into the video, the Special Council meeting continued until concluding at 43:35 minutes.  

          43:35 minutes into the video, the Committee of the Whole meeting is called to order. The agenda consisted of one item:

·         Continuing discussion of tabled Ordinance No. 32-2016, the expanded boundaries for the Community Reinvestment Area. 

          On being given the floor, Marcia Kiesling, Chairperson of Community and Economic Development, immediately motions for a vote to allow outside speakers to address City Council.  

          One speaker is from CT Consultants and I believe her name was Mrs. Hopkins. The second speaker was from Evaluation Services and his name was Dan Miller. 

           45:20 minutes into the video, Mrs. Hopkins begins her presentation stating that communities can’t afford to not put protections in place to protect older neighborhoods Mrs. Hopkins also stated that as Planners, we must do whatever it takes to assure that older communities remain competitive in the retail market. 

           Mrs. Hopkins also told Council that many times existing housing stock can’t be retrofitted to meet the needs of what homeowners are buying in the contemporary housing market. Mrs. Hopkins concluded her remarks at 1:05:05 minutes. 

           1:05:15 minutes into the video, Mr. Dan Miller explained that his background was mostly in appraisal work. Mr. Miller concluded his remarks at 1:32:50 minutes. 

            The video concludes at 1:41:04 minutes resulting in no video for approximately the remaining ten minutes of the meeting.  

Thank you,

Chuck Osborne

 

 

April 11, 2016 - North Canton City Council Meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone Having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government:

Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton City Council meeting held on Monday, April 11, 2016.

https://youtu.be/X5Xk92OgjnU

 

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

 

 

April 6, 2016 - North Canton Planning Commission Meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone Having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government:

Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton Planning Commission meeting held on Wednesday, April 6, 2016.

https://youtu.be/LU5y7zBJ9kk

Description of Video: 

April 6, 2016 – North Canton Planning Commission meeting: 

The video covers a North Canton Planning Commission meeting that lasts approximately thirty-seven minutes and commences approximately two minutes before the meeting is called to order.  

Per Section 3.07(2) of the North Canton City Charter, the City’s Planning Commission is composed of five voting members and two- non-voting members. The City’s Director of Administration and a selected member of Council are mandated to serve as non-voting members and are required to attend all meetings of the Commission. 

Councilmember Marcia Kiesling is Council’s selected member to attend all meetings of the City’s Planning Commission. Typically, Marcia Kiesling fails to attend meetings of the Planning Commission and tonight was no exception. 

The Planning Commission was missing its Chairman, Dennis Flechtner, for this meeting and so the meeting was conducted with only four members present, with Vice-Chairman Tom Serra filling in for the absent Mr. Flechtner.   

The announced meeting agenda for the Planning Commission meeting consisted of one item for discussion:  

·        A request by IRG/Maple Street Commerce to vacate two City streets – specifically:

-         A portion of Orchard Street NE, from Witwer Street to Hower Street.

-         A portion of Orchard Street NE, from Orchard Street to Main Street. 

3:00 minutes into the video, Vice-Chairman Serra states the first order of

business is the approval of the minutes of the Commission’s last meeting held back on December 9, 2015, and makes a motion for approval of the minutes. 

Recently appointed member of the Planning Commission member,

Gary Fry expresses some reservations in approving the minutes as presented explaining that the minutes of the previous meeting may not be complete in terms of his participation at that meeting.

 

4:40 minutes into the video, Mr. Fry makes a motion that the vote to approve the minutes as presented be tabled.

 

I applaud Mr. Fry for his actions. 

I detail this in my description of this video because the rules of order were

not followed at this point in the meeting.  

When there is a motion made on the floor, proper procedure calls for another member to second the motion. If the motion is seconded, the Chair restates the motion saying, “It is moved and seconded to ….”  

At this point, members have the right to debate or discuss the motion.  

When the discussion is finished, the Chair puts the motion to a vote stating, “All those in favor say ‘Aye.’” Those opposed say ‘No’.”  

This did not happen. The rules of order for voting on a motion that had been made were not followed.  

North Canton’s Law Director, Tim Fox, was in attendance and at one point offered some advice to Mr. Fry on how he could review the audio of the meeting for needed corrections. Sadly, Law Director Fox failed to provide any guidance to Commission members to assure procedural rules were followed in the meeting.  

 In regards to the request to vacate portions of Orchard and Witwer, the

Planning Commission had previously ruled against vacation in an earlier meeting several months ago.  

          19:40 minutes into the video, input from residents in opposition to the closure of the two streets began. Brian Foltz, an East Maple Street resident, spoke in opposition to the vacation of the requested streets. Nick Gang, a Hower Street resident presented his concerns followed by Chuck Osborne. 

          33:25 minutes into the video, Vice-Chairman Serra asks for a motion on the requests to vacate. Commission member Jerry Geib makes a motion to vacate portions of the two streets and member Gary Fry seconds the motion. 

          36:10 minutes into the video, Vice-Chairman Serra repeats the motion now before the Commission and calls for a roll call vote. The vote was unanimous, 4 – 0, to recommend that Council vacate the streets as requested. 

          37:00 minutes into the video, the meeting is concluded. The video continues to run until 37:50 minutes. 

Thank you,

Chuck Osborne

April 4, 2016 - North Canton Council of the Whole meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone Having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government:


Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton City Council meeting held on Monday, April 4, 2016.

https://youtu.be/CHLAjLpF1fM

 

Description of Video: 

April 4, 2016 – North Canton Committee of the Whole meeting: 

The video covers a North Canton Committee of the Whole meeting lasting approximately fifty-four and one half minutes and commences approximately two minutes before the meeting is called to order.  

The announced meeting agenda for the Committee of the Whole consisted of three items for discussion:

1)    Continued discussion of tabled Ordinance No. 32-2016, establishing a City-wide Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) and designating a housing officer to administer the program.

2)      Discussion on the elimination of the Dogwood tag line from City property.

3)      City Engineer Jim Benekos gives a presentation on the East Maple Street Improvements Project called Westgate at Walsh University.   

        

          2:15 minutes into the video until 21:20 minutes, Councilmember Marcia 

Kiesling leads discussion as Chairman of Economic Development on the proposed ordinance to expand the City’s CRA to include virtually the entire City. 

          At last week’s Council meeting, members of Council were stunned to learn that two CRAs created in 1999 and in 2001 allowed abatement of property taxes on new construction. Council learned from Director of Permits and Inspection Eric Bowles that approximately four years ago, a property owner sold off a lot on Harmon Street and the purchaser of the lot built a brand new home and qualified for a 100 percent abatement of property taxes on the new home for fifteen years under the previously designated CRA boundaries. 

           I do not know why Director Bowles waited all these years to alert Council to this glaring loophole created in previous CRA legislation but it appears from the discussion that Council does not want to allow widespread misuse of the CRA program to mushroom and allow more new construction to qualify for abatement of property taxes.

          In an effort to thwart further abatement of property taxes on new construction, Council is omitting areas of the City where large numbers of new construction would obviously be underway such as in the Sanctuary, Monticello, and the seven new homes proposed for construction on Summit Avenue.  

           Word was also last week leaked last week that Waterside Park will not be developed as commercial property but will be developed into apartments. Consequently, Council intends to also exclude Waterside Park from inclusion in the expanded CRA. 

            Council is exploring if isolated scattered lots in the City could also be excluded from tax abatement on new construction.    

           21:20 minutes into the video until 27:15 minutes, Ordinance, Rules and Claims Committee member Mark Cerreta leads discussion on a proposal to eliminate the tag line, Dogwood City, from being used in the future on City property. 

           27:15 minutes into the video until 43:40 minutes, Finance and Property Chairman Dan Griffith introduces City Engineer Jim Benekos who gives a presentation on planned improvements on East Maple Street in the area of Walsh University that is called Westgate at Walsh University. 

           I might add some background at this point: On February 8, 2016, City Council passed Ordinance No. 14-2016 appropriating $250,000 for the East Maple Street improvements (Westgate at Walsh University project). The cost of the project has now increased to $410,000 and City Council intends to amend the previous legislation for the higher cost at its next legislative meeting. 

           The presentation by City Engineer Benekos was difficult to follow but piecing together remarks made by Mr. Benekos tonight and last week, it appears that traffic control is adding $150,000 to the cost of the project.  

           Councilmember Mark Cerreta seemed astounded at the increased costs of the project and asked what the City was getting for the increased costs. Engineer Benekos said the grassy median was not part of this project nor were sidewalks. 

           All I could understand was that the current curb-cut currently in use by Walsh University is going to be relocated.  

           With traffic control such a large cost of the project, I am surprised no member of Council asked how long East Maple Street would be under construction. No Councilmember asked! 

           43:40 minutes into the video, Councilmember Kiesling brings the discussion back to the CRA discussion until 46:30 minutes. 

           46:30 minutes into the video, the agenda of the meeting is amended to include a discussion about upcoming collective bargaining agreements. This discussion ends at 52:00 minutes. 

          52:20 minutes into the video, the meeting is concluded.  

          The video continues to run until 54:22 minutes as Council adjourns for an Executive Session. Executive Sessions of City Council are not open to the public, and the video ends. 

          I will add that the stated purpose of tonight’s Executive Session was “…to consider the employment of a public employee.” This is the fifth straight Executive Session held in the last three months with the stated purpose “…to consider the employment of a public employee.”

 

Thank you,

Chuck Osborne

 

 

March 28, 2016 – City Council Meeting followed by Special Committee of the Whole Meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government:

Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton City Council meeting held on March 28, 2016.

https://youtu.be/sdhk-4Z-I0E

 

Description of Video: 

March 28, 2016 – City Council Meeting followed by Special Committee of the Whole Meeting: 

The video covers a Council meeting followed by a Special Committee of the Whole meeting for the City of North Canton. The Council meeting concludes at 1:12:30 minutes. The video of the two meetings combined lasts nearly one hour and fifty-five minutes.  

The video begins with the Council meeting being called to order and last this portion of the video lasts nearly fifty minutes.  

2:50 minutes into the video, a Hoover High School’s Engineering Instructor and two students spoke to Council about their recent win at the Buckeye Regional Robotics Competition recently held in Cleveland. 

15:10 minutes into the video, Council President Jeff Peters announces that a proposed Ordinance No. 32 – 2016 would be tabled. This is proposal to expand the City’s Community Reinvestment Area (CRA). The idea has generated a great deal of discussion on Council and has caused concern among City residents. During the “Public Speaks” portion of the meeting four City residents raised concerns about the proposed expansion. 

16:30 minutes into the video, City resident Chuck Osborne spoke out in opposition to the proposed expansion of the CRA in the City. 

At Council’s meeting of March 14, 2016, Director of Permits and Inspection brought to the attention of Council that the average age of homes in North Canton was 72 years old. The concern with the CRA is that rather than targeting the older homes for tax assistance, that the legislation will allow reductions of property taxes for construction of new homes as well. Consequently, someone could build a new home in North Canton and NOT be required to pay ANY property taxes on their new North Canton home for as long as fifteen years.  

North Canton has had some pockets in the City designated as CRAs for several years but I did not know they also included new construction. I learned last night that a home built on Harmon Street approximately five years ago qualified for the abatement of property taxes under previous legislation for a CRA. 

It should be quite obvious to anyone that future abatement of property taxes for construction of all new homes in North Canton will have a devastating financial impact on the North Canton City School District.  

The discussions of this proposal over the last two Council meetings shows how little City Council understands this topic and further, that there is a great deal of misunderstanding and miscommunication on all of this. 

21:40 minutes into the video, City resident Glenn Saylor speaks to City Council regarding his concerns with the proposed expansion of the CRA. 

26:50 minutes into the video, City resident Melanie Roll speaks to City Council regarding her concerns with the proposed expansion of the CRA. 

30:10 minutes into the video, City resident Miriam Baughman speaks to City Council regarding her concerns with the proposed expansion of the CRA. 

34:05 minutes into the video, the current President of the North Canton Jaycees, Colin Riley, addresses City Council and urges continued support from the City for the Jaycees.

 38:30 minutes into the video, three individuals speak in support of assistance for designated areas in the City for Community Gardens. This same group spoke to City Council two weeks earlier on March 14, 2016, on the topic. 

41:30 minutes into the video, Council votes on three pieces of legislation.

 

Ordinance No 23-2016 – 2^nd reading to seek bids for contracting out Dispatch Services for Police and Fire Departments.  

Ordinance No 26-2016 – Passed on an “Emergency” a two-year management agreement to have the North Canton YMCA manage the City’s Dogwood      Pool.

 

           Ordinance No. 27-2016 – Passed on an “Emergency” an increase in rates for

           season memberships and daily admissions to the City’s Dogwood Pool. 

            47:48 minutes into the video, Council reports are made by members of Council and Department heads.

            58:15 minutes into the video, Director of Finance Karen Alger begins her report. Mrs. Alger reports that tomorrow is the last day for one of the employees in her department who is retiring. Totally unexpected, Mrs. Alger announces her retirement as the City’s Director of Finance. I apologize that my video did not capture her on camera at the moment she announced her retirement. 

            1:00:20 minutes into the video, Director of Administration Mike Grimes begins his report acknowledging Director Alger’s announced resignation and then remarks that he is still working setting up streaming videos of Council meetings. Mr. Grimes briefly updates Council on his efforts to solicit bids to outsource dispatch services and alludes to the fact that some services to citizens will be lost if that proposal is implemented. 

            1:03:00 minutes into the video, Mayor Held begins his report by wishing Finance Director Karen Alger well in her departure. Among several comments, Mayor Held announces the creation of a Main Street Advisory Committee to be headed up by Councilmember Mark Cerreta. The committee will be composed of two additional members of Council and two members of his administration. 

            1:12:30 minutes into the video, the Council meeting is concluded and the Special Committee of the Whole meeting begins. 

            Chairman of Community and Economic Development Marcia Kiesling had two legislative proposals on her committee. 

            The first ordinance discussed in her committee was to continuing existing CRA agreements with two businesses. 

            The second ordinance was a continuation of the discussion to expand the boundaries of the City’s CRA. Mrs. Kiesling heard from Eric Bowles that the North Canton City School District officials have some very grave concerns with the proposed expansion of the City’s CRA. 

            As I stated above regarding the discussions on the proposed expansion of the City’s CRA, it is quite apparent that members of City Council have little to no understanding of how the CRA program functions and of the financial implications it has for the City and the City’s School District. Councilmember Mark Cerreta brings this fact out into the open in his remarks at 1:16:00.  

            1:25:45 minutes into the meeting, Councilmember Dan Griffith asks, do we really need incentives for new construction? Mr. Griffith points out that a new house is being built on Ninth Street and no tax incentives were needed there.  

            Mr. Cerreta raises the same argument stating, people are buying homes in North Canton. Why should we give incentives to build new homes? 

            1:26:40 minutes into the video, Director of Economic Development Eric Bowls uses as an example a new house that was recently built on Harmon Street as an example of why City Council should include CRA incentives for new construction. 

            The owners of this new house received a 100 percent abatement of property taxes for twelve years.  

            North Canton and City Schools cannot survive when policies like these are put in place. Why should residents pass the next school levy knowing City Council is handing out abatement of property taxes for individuals who can afford to build a brand new house?  

It is property taxes that fund our City schools! The discussion on CRA abatements of property taxes is very informative and would be well worth watching. 

1:40:00 minutes into the video, there is an explanation for the need for approval of an easement for a sewer line given by Councilmember Domonic Fonte.

            1:40:55 minutes into the video, there is informative discussion of planned improvement on East Maple Street for what is called Westgate at Walsh University. 

            1:51:40 minutes into the video, the meeting is concluded. The video runs for approximately four minutes and ends at 1:54:56 minutes. 

Thank you,

Chuck Osborne

March 14, 2016 - North Canton Special Council of the Whole meeting followed by City Council meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone Having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government

Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton Special Council of the Whole meeting followed by a City Council meeting held on March 14, 2016.

https://youtu.be/0WxJVsY94Qw

 

Description of Video:

March 14, 2016 – Special Committee of the Whole Meeting followed by City Council Meeting: 

The video covers a Special Committee of the Whole meeting followed by a Council meeting for the City of North Canton. The two meetings combined lasts nearly one hour and twenty-six minutes. 

The video commences as Council is adjourning from an Executive Session that had convened an hour earlier at 6:00 p.m. Executive Sessions of City Council are not open to the public, accounting for the lack of a video record of the meeting.  

The stated purpose of the Executive Session was “…to consider the employment of a public employee.” This is the fourth Executive Session to be held over the last two months with the stated purpose “…to consider the employment of a public employee. 

The meeting agenda for the Special Committee of the Whole consisted of three items for discussion:

 

1)    Establishment of a City-wide Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) and designating a housing officer to administer the program.

 

2)    Craft a two-year agreement with the North Canton YMCA to manage the City’s Dogwood Pool.

3)    Enact an ordinance to set rates for season memberships and daily admissions to the City’s Dogwood Pool.

            The Special Council of the Whole meeting portion of the video concludes at 19:00 minutes into the video and is followed immediately by the Council meeting. 

The agenda for the Council meeting consisted of fourteen ordinances to be voted

on. Five ordinances were given their third and final reading. Six ordinances were passed on emergency. Four ordinances listed expenditures totaling $2,847,283. 

            During the Recognition of Visitors portion of the meeting, six speakers addressed City Council. The speakers were: 

            23:45 minutes into the video, Dan Fonte asked that City Council pass a resolution in opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement, commonly referred to as TPP Free Trade Agreement. 

            29:25 minutes into the video, Chuck Osborne read a prepared statement asking that the City comply with a Public Records Request for a copy of the Conditional Use Permit that was issued by the Superintendent of Permits and Inspection following approval of the Conditional Use at a meeting of the City’s Planning Commission on October 8, 2014. After three record requests, the City had failed to provide the requested public record.  

            32:15 minutes into the video, North Canton residents Sue (unknown last name) and Dave (unknown last name) asked that the City designate an area for a community garden. 

            34:25 minutes into the video, Melanie Broemsen reported on a situation that involved the City’s Street Sweeper while the street sweeper was operating on Everhard Road. 

 

            36:20 minutes into the video, North Canton YMCA Director Ben Wheeler updated members of City Council regarding a sink hole that developed on YMCA property. 

            37:20 minutes into the video, Miriam Baughman made suggestions to members of City Council regarding the proposed expansion of the City’s CRA. 

            1:08:50 minutes into the video, the legislative portion of the meeting was concluded and members of Council and officials made final remarks. 

            1:25:00 minutes into the meeting, City Engineer Jim Benekos remarks that Council members have been slow in providing him with a list of streets that needed paving. 

            1:25:45 minutes into the video, the meeting is adjourned.  

            Lastly, Martin Olson, the author of the well-known Stark County Political Report (SCPR) was present for tonight’s meeting. Mr. Olson’s presence is known to keep North Canton City Council and its Law Director on their best behavior.

 

Thank you,

Chuck Osborne

 

March 7, 2016 - Council of the Whole meeting

North Canton Residents and Anyone Having Interest in the Business of North Canton City Government

Pasted below is a link to a video of the North Canton City Council meeting held on Monday, March 7, 2016

https://youtu.be/SdSZkieTb3k

 

Description of Video:

 

March 7, 2016 – Committee of the Whole meeting: 

The video covers a Committee of the Whole meeting for the City of North Canton that lasts nearly one hour and eighteen minutes.  

The video starts two to three minutes after the meeting is gaveled to order. Not recorded in the first few minutes of the meeting was a vote to excuse Councilmember Marcia Kiesling who was absent. This is Councilmember Kiesling’s second meeting absence this year as she was also absent at the February 8, 2016, meeting of City Council. 

The meeting agenda listed two items for discussion:  

The first agenda item was proposed legislation by Councilmember Stephanie Werren to seek bids to possibly outsource the City’s Dispatch services for Police, Fire, and EMS. This issue has been discussed in great depth numerous times in recent years and each time City Council has found no significant savings to proceed.  

The second agenda item is proposed legislation for additional funds in support of the City’s share for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. This is a program to continue a buyout of homes located in or near the Zimber Ditch that have experienced repeated flooding. 

The video begins moments after Councilmember Mark Cerreta begins a presentation of the City’s Master Plan to City Council.  

29:32 minutes into the video, Plain Township resident Randy Smith joins Mr. Cerreta in the presentation of the City’s Master Plan. The presentation and discussion of the City’s Master Plan concludes at 37:30 minutes. 

37:30 minutes into the video, Councilwoman Stephanie Werren presents her proposal to seek bids to possibly outsource the City’s Dispatch services for Police, Fire, and EMS.  

40:15 minutes into the video, Councilmember Cerreta speaks to Werren’s proposal and suggests to Mrs. Werren that the City needs to proceed with caution. Mrs. Werren responds to Mr. Cerreta’s urge for caution on her proposal stating she has information that supports outsourcing the City’s Dispatch Department and repeats her position on this throughout the meeting. 

41:45 minutes into the video, Law Director Tim Fox injects himself into the discussion on Werren’s proposal, as if he is a co-sponsor of her proposal. 

44:10 minutes into the video, Mr. Cerreta states “…he does not want to collaborate on the Werren proposal just to collaborate.” Mr. Cerreta is clearly reluctant on Werren’s proposal stating that the proposal “…would have to be cost effective and maintain the same services.” Councilmember Foltz follows up with similar remarks about the proposal to outsource the City’s Dispatch Department. 

48:30 minutes into the video, City Administrator Mike Grimes is asked for his thoughts on the proposal by Council President Peters. Administrator Grimes is critical of Mrs. Werren’s proposal. Mr. Grimes concludes his remarks on the Werren proposal at 52:30 minutes. 

52:30 minutes into the video, Law Director Tim Fox, holding what he believes is his dual role as a City Councilmember, and forgetting that no one asked him for a legal opinion, weighs in on the discussion, as he continually does. 

54:00 minutes into the video, Mayor Held points out that City Administrator Grimes has examined, on three or four occasions in recent years, the merits of outsourcing the City’s Dispatch Department. Mayor Held placates (my interpretation) Mrs. Werren by stating that in spite of the fact that the City has examined this proposal on numerous occasions, it will re-examine her proposal yet again. 

1:02:20 minutes into the video, Council member Dan Griffith discusses proposed legislation for additional funds in support of the City’s share for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (described earlier). 

1:04:00 minutes into the video, Councilmember Foltz asks that Council to amend the agenda to discuss issues related to Dogwood Pool. 

1:16:18 minutes into the video, the meeting was adjourned.  

The video was continued after adjournment to document the absence of Councilmember Marcia Kiesling for viewers. The video ended at 1:17:51 minutes. 

 

Thank you,

Chuck Osborne