Notes on 11/20/2012 workbook

Some interesting pickings from the November 20, 2012, city council meeting workbook:

From the minutes of the October 9, 2012, Board of Health meeting:

“For Middfest there was a total of 10 food vendors, 6 were licensed by our office the other 4 were mobile food service. The number of vendors is significantly lower than in the past.”

 

From the minutes of the October 12, 2012 Cemetery Board meeting:

“Discussion followed about Mitchell’s report, including a list of other options for a revenue stream to support the cemetery that the Board would control. Joe Mulligan stated he didn’t know if the tax levy was the easiest way to go about getting this revenue.  He suggested user fees.”

Excerpts from the minutes of the November 1, 2012 Special Meeting of the Airport Commission:

“This special meeting was called to address issues and rumors related to the potential sale by the City of Middletown of the airport buildings.”

“…rumors that the airport buildings had been offered for sale to a third party. It appeared that even the line guys had more information than the commission. Private ownership of the buildings appears to be universally opposed. Bringing up this option at this point in time shows a great lack of continuity in airport administration by City Council.”

“Joe Mulligan – Joe distributed the email he sent to the airport commission after the issue came to light. (The letter is attachment one to these minutes.) Joe explained that the city needs the ability to investigate various options during the budgeting process and that any possible action on this proposal will not happen immediately. Joe also pointed out that the main issue is the $90,000 the city currently subsidizes the airport budget in order to pay off the bonds used to fund the cities purchase of the buildings.”*

“… actions of the city relative to potentially selling the airport buildings has put an immediate halt to development plans by current businesses on the airport. A number of the businesses had been developing plans to expand their operations. The uncertainty created by the cities actions has caused these businesses to put on hold or permanently halt any expansion plans.”

*Note:  It is interesting that we citizens were told that the City needed to BUY the buildings because they needed to control them.  Now we are being told that we need to SELL them in order to pay off the bonds used to BUY them.  Sheesh!!!  How long before we will be told that we need to BUY them back in order to control things again???  (Probably the next time some friends of City Hall think they can make a wad of dough because an air taxi, or some other imaginary investor, is coming to town???)

From the minutes of the October 12, 2012 Cemetery Board meeting:
“Discussion followed about Mitchell’s report, including a list of other options for a revenue stream to support the cemetery that the Board would control. Joe Mulligan stated he didn’t know if the tax levy was the easiest way to go about getting this revenue. He suggested user fees.”

WHAT DOES JOE MULLIGAN MEAN BY "USERS FEES"? HOW WOULD ONE INCUR A "USER FEE" FOR VISITING A CEMETERY? ARE THEY GOING TO PUT UP A GATE THAT WOULD OPEN AFTER YOU PUT IN YOUR DOLLAR TO ENTER....SIMILAR TO A PARKING GARAGE? KINDA SILLY, ISN'T IT JOE? GOOD LUCK IF THEY CHOOSE THE LEVY ROUTE.

ASSUMING THIS IS THE PIONEER CEMETERY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, IT IS AMAZING THAT AFTER SOME CITIZENS "BOTHERED" THE CITY AND LESLIE LANDEN HAD TO GO TO COLUMBUS TO DEFEND THE CITY'S POSITION, A CEMETERY BOARD WAS DEVELOPED AND NOW FUNDING, WHICH SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INCLUDED WHEN THE CITY WAS DEFINING A BUDGET, IS NOW ON THE FRONT BURNER.

AS HAS BEEN SAID A THOUSAND TIMES.....THE CITY NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS INCLUDING THE DOWNTOWN, THE GOLF COURSE AND THE AIRPORT, GIVEN THE FACT THEY SCREW UP EVERYTHING THEY TOUCH AND BUSINESS REAL ESTATE NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

ktf1179 wrote: What times do the City Council Meetings Air on community access, so I can DVR them?

The following is from the TVMiddletown website (tvmiddletown.org):

"On Tuesday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m., we’ll be cablecasting live coverage of the Middletown City Council business meeting. The meeting will also air at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday and at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21, and at 9 a.m. Monday through and Friday, November 26-November 20. It will also be available on our video-on-demand site on Wednesday, November 21."

Mike Presta - From the minutes of the October 12, 2012 Cemetery Board meeting:
“Discussion followed about Mitchell’s report, including a list of other options for a revenue stream to support the cemetery that the Board would control. Joe Mulligan stated he didn’t know if the tax levy was the easiest way to go about getting this revenue.  He suggested user fees.”

    It is my guess-a-ment that only 10 more prepaid plots are available for family members to be buried unless it is ashes of another family member that would be buried in the same family plot.
    During my research I did not find where a perpetual care fund was ever established for the Middletown Cemetery. I would presume that this is what Mr. Mulligan was referring to as a “User Fee”. However when the plots in this cemetery were purchased the buyers assumed that those in charge of the cemetery would maintain the grounds in a reasonable manner as part of their purchase agreement.
    In 1947 when the Middletown Cemetery was transferred to the City it was placed under  the care of Parks Department. I have found no record of the Middletown Cemetery being removed from the care of the Middletown Parks Department therefore it should have been under the control of the Park Board and included in their yearly budget since 1947. However when I discussed this fact with the City in 2004 they did not want the parks and the cemetery included in the same budget and I do not believe that the Park Board wanted the responsibility of the Middletown Cemetery with all its problems.
    In 2004 before I started the restoration of the cemetery I did discuss with the city putting a levy on the ballot for the total restoration of the Middletown Cemetery and the answer was no.
    Now the vault needs to be completed, new fencing is needed for the east and west sides of the cemetery, driveways need gravel and hundreds of tombstones still need to be repaired.
All of this damage could have been avoided if the city had locked the gates and completed
yearly maintenance on the problems areas.
    It is my guess-a-ment that it will cost about $100,000 just to repair the downed and broken tombstone plus hours of volunteer time. For Mr. Mulligan and the city to suggest that family members should be responsible for this damage is outrageous. It is the obligation of the City to give “reasonable security” to those buried and their property in this cemetery.   
    When I walked into the cemetery in 2004 the gates were never locked and numerous large holes were in the fences. Police reports show that the city was aware that the cemetery was being vandalized numerous times each year with thousands of dollars in damages each time. To suggest that the City was providing “reasonable security” is a joke. This is clearly a case of gross neglect of this cemetery by the city.
    What I don’t understand is why the restoration of the cemetery is the total obligation
of the Middletown Cemetery Board?

    If the city has $50,000 for one piece of playgound equiptment then they have money for the Middletown Cemetery. If the City has money to restore “Their Historic Downtown” then they have the money to restore the most historic 11 acres they own “The Middletown Cemetery”. If they can afford to give away “Historic Buildings in Their Downtown” worth thousands of dollars, then they have the money to restore “The Middletown Cemetery”.

Mike Presta - Excerpts from the minutes of the November 1, 2012 Special Meeting of the Airport Commission:

“This special meeting was called to address issues and rumors related to the potential sale by the City of Middletown of the airport buildings.”

“…rumors that the airport buildings had been offered for sale to a third party. It appeared that even the line guys had more information than the commission. Private ownership of the buildings appears to be universally opposed. Bringing up this option at this point in time shows a great lack of continuity in airport administration by City Council.”

“Joe Mulligan – Joe distributed the email he sent to the airport commission after the issue came to light. (The letter is attachment one to these minutes.) Joe explained that the city needs the ability to investigate various options during the budgeting process and that any possible action on this proposal will not happen immediately. Joe also pointed out that the main issue is the $90,000 the city currently subsidizes the airport budget in order to pay off the bonds used to fund the cities purchase of the buildings.”*

“… actions of the city relative to potentially selling the airport buildings has put an immediate halt to development plans by current businesses on the airport. A number of the businesses had been developing plans to expand their operations. The uncertainty created by the cities actions has caused these businesses to put on hold or permanently halt any expansion plans.”

*Note:  It is interesting that we citizens were told that the City needed to BUY the buildings because they needed to control them.  Now we are being told that we need to SELL them in order to pay off the bonds used to BUY them.  Sheesh!!!  How long before we will be told that we need to BUY them back in order to control things again???  (Probably the next time some friends of City Hall think they can make a wad of dough because an air taxi, or some other imaginary investor, is coming to town???)

Yep…nothing like killing the Goose and the golden egg that may have saved the Middletown Airport and saved the tax payers millions of dollars.
Yep…our city is “Business Friendly”.

Ok, it's lunchtime at work so I thought I'd pick a workbook (11/20) from the City Of Midd. site and look through it......

Council comments:

Picard mentions that a new business at the Pendleton was opening. Something called Sugar High Cafe serving specialty stuff. Still stubborn about this I see. Again, how many people are going to be attracted to this specialized menu and, no doubt, higher than "affordable" prices? Doesn't seem like there is enough market for this type of thing, yet they insist on this theme for a blue collar downtown.

Mort talks about Light Up Middletown and then says "there are alot of other wonderful things happening in town" "Come on out". What are some of these "many wonderful things" happening....or is the she embellishing again? (Capt. LaSard on Police Academy....many wonderful, wonderful....)

J. Mulligan mentions the Airport Commission wants the airport to remain in the hands of the city. Why? Wouldn't the airport be more prone to prosper in the hands of private ownership and let the folks who know business manage the growth? Does anyone in the city building REALLY know how to grow a business as well as those in the private sector? He also mentions revenue being down again in the second half of the year. Isn't it time for the city to cut the losses and turn it over to the private sector, even if it meant taking a loss in the sale? How much money has to be plowed into this thing before they realize it ain't in their best interest to own it?

Improvement to the wastewater treatment plant, modernization to the city building elevators, pay raises and policies for hourly/salaried people in the city building, pay raises and polices for municipal court people, engineering services contracts, transfer of city owned property to the Arts Central Foundation......all ordinances and all rubber stamped apparently with no discussion, no questions asked as to lowest bidder, how many bids were sent and what the criteria was for the selected service, nor if the property donated can be rehabbed by the property receiver and what the added cost for wages will be for the city, is it in line with surrounding cities and is it within the budget without breaking it. Do the people sitting behind that desk show any inquisitive nature at all? Are they even remotely concerned about the people's money and how it is spent? Can we get cardboard cutouts and place them behind the desk and receive the same responses? What is wrong with these people?

Aeronca and the water wells....

Picard asked if the contaminants are added or remnants. Combs said that is correct BUT after the basins were cleaned out, there was ground contaminants, so, no, no one has a clue how much this area is contaminated nor the cost for cleanup. The city is jumping into this without having a clue how bad the situation is nor how much it will cost. Where is the Aeronca involvement in this? They created it. Eyes wide shut.

I noticed Landen is still talking around the Hydraulic cleanup issue and using every excuse in the book to avoid city involvement.

All in all, more of what we all expect from our leaders.