Time to open up the mail bag... We always enjoy hearing from members of the Mayor's administration - Julie, the floor is yours.
Dear Sir,
I realize that you are using the Massillon Review blog as a way to get your message out. It is apparent that you are big critics of the current administration and if this is the way you need to speak your piece, then so be it. I just want to let you know that there are 50+ hardworking, very loyal employees at the Legends trying their best every day to put out a good product. We all take pride in our jobs and offering our customers a great experience. We have customers from near and far that patronize the course because of the good conditions, the customer service and now the food and beverage.
Did you know that we have a chef with a culinary degree? We are not a restaurant, and have never been a restaurant. But we do offer good food. The former owners hearts were not in the business any longer, and didn't care. You're right, we did go into this without a business plan. Had we not, the former owners were walking, right at the start of the season. And taking every piece of equipment and everything they ever put into the building. There would have been no food or beverage at all. Tell me what I should tell our customers then?
People are coming to the Legends and enjoying themselves. We cover our expenses - except the debt - every year. We have a great chance at making a decent profit now that we have the food and beverage in our business. We all know the third nine was a bad deal and tons of things have been done wrong but that is not helping the situation today. It's no way to move forward and make things right. I don't think that continually bashing the golf course, and calling it a glorified hot dog stand is helping anything. Learning from history and NOT repeating seems to be the way forward.
We're doing the best we possibly can and could really use some positive support. I know it goes against what you are trying to do, but you're not taking into account the employees and customers of the business. Have you been to the course? Talked to any employees or customers? If you were the Mayor, what would your solution be? If the Mayor is not re-elected and someone else is, then what? The debt is not going away, and our best plan of attack is to build the business, not tear it down. It is an asset to the city, regardless. The more we promote it, the more business will increase. But, if things keep going the way they are we'll run the risk of bad publicity and losing the good employees we have.
I appreciate your time, and hope that you will put your personal feelings for the Mayor aside and think about what I am asking. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Julie Jenkins
Office Manager - Parks and Recreation/Legends Golf Course
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Friends in Low Places
Former Restaurateur and local Drug Lord Kevin Smith plead guilty today in Federal District Court to felony drug charges. As you may recall, Smith had a marijuana growing operating in Massillon that would make a drug cartel jealous. Over $250,000 worth of drugs were confiscated. Smith could face up to forty years in prison at his sentencing.
Smith, a well known "Friend of the Program," was a former Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club President and Massillon School Board candidate. Smith ran for school board as a team with former school board member Ron Pribich. Kevin Smith was also appointed to the Massillon Zoning Board of Appeals by our Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli. Perhaps Smith wanted his properties rezoned for agricultural use. We also hear that Kevin Smith was quite the Friday Night Poker player.
This tragedy did not have to occur. We could have kept drugs out of our community if only we had listened to the wisdom and intellect that is Massillon School Board Member Marshall Weinberg.
According to Weinberg;
"Recent issues, including an assistant coach and booster club member growing and selling marijuana, could have been avoided, Weinberg said, if the football coach could report directly to the superintendent" (The Independent, March 30, 2010).
So, if only Jason Hall were Massillon Athletic Director, this wouldn't have happened. Thank you, Marshall for your wisdom and vision.
"The Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club has banned member Kevin Smith from all club activities, pending the outcome of Smith's criminal case" (The Independent, February 16, 2010).
The outcome is no longer "pending." Kevin Smith just plead guilty. Time for the Booster Club to make that ban permanent, and officially kick him out. A high school football booster club is no place for a drug kingpin.
Smith, a well known "Friend of the Program," was a former Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club President and Massillon School Board candidate. Smith ran for school board as a team with former school board member Ron Pribich. Kevin Smith was also appointed to the Massillon Zoning Board of Appeals by our Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli. Perhaps Smith wanted his properties rezoned for agricultural use. We also hear that Kevin Smith was quite the Friday Night Poker player.
This tragedy did not have to occur. We could have kept drugs out of our community if only we had listened to the wisdom and intellect that is Massillon School Board Member Marshall Weinberg.
According to Weinberg;
"Recent issues, including an assistant coach and booster club member growing and selling marijuana, could have been avoided, Weinberg said, if the football coach could report directly to the superintendent" (The Independent, March 30, 2010).
So, if only Jason Hall were Massillon Athletic Director, this wouldn't have happened. Thank you, Marshall for your wisdom and vision.
"The Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club has banned member Kevin Smith from all club activities, pending the outcome of Smith's criminal case" (The Independent, February 16, 2010).
The outcome is no longer "pending." Kevin Smith just plead guilty. Time for the Booster Club to make that ban permanent, and officially kick him out. A high school football booster club is no place for a drug kingpin.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Mustang Pride is Community Wide
As Massillon's Mayor for Life has decided to annex the Tuslaw School System, Massillon will soon be home to two high schools, and two high school football teams.
Our soon to be hometown Tuslaw Mustangs travelled to Smithville yesterday, and defeated the Smithville Smithies 47 - 21.
But it just didn't seem that the Massillon community was taking our new team to heart.
Where were the blue and white Mustang flags adorning Lincoln Way on game day? Where were the "Go Mustangs - Beat Smithville" signs in the windows of downtown businesses? Where was the Mustang Kick Off Rally downtown? And why wasn't the Massillon Museum serving blue and white Mustang striped ice cream?
Let's not treat our soon to be fellow Massillonians like some poor, country cousin. This will soon be our high school, and our team. The community needs to get behind our now beloved Tuslaw Mustangs.
We fully expect a "Beat Fairless" community parade through downtown before Tuslaw faces their traditional rival in week 10.
If we are going to annex an entire school system, we better start showing them some love.
Our soon to be hometown Tuslaw Mustangs travelled to Smithville yesterday, and defeated the Smithville Smithies 47 - 21.
But it just didn't seem that the Massillon community was taking our new team to heart.
Where were the blue and white Mustang flags adorning Lincoln Way on game day? Where were the "Go Mustangs - Beat Smithville" signs in the windows of downtown businesses? Where was the Mustang Kick Off Rally downtown? And why wasn't the Massillon Museum serving blue and white Mustang striped ice cream?
Let's not treat our soon to be fellow Massillonians like some poor, country cousin. This will soon be our high school, and our team. The community needs to get behind our now beloved Tuslaw Mustangs.
We fully expect a "Beat Fairless" community parade through downtown before Tuslaw faces their traditional rival in week 10.
If we are going to annex an entire school system, we better start showing them some love.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Week 1
The hard working staff of the Massillon Review took the night off to attend our Massillon Tigers opener at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. It was a rough night for the Tigers. Not only did the Buchtel Griffins return the opening kick off for a touchdown, they picked off six interceptions. It was noticeable to the Review just how focused the Buchtel kids were. They were definitely ready for their visit to Tigertown. Congratulations to Buchtel coach Ricky Powers on a huge win for their program.
We are confident Massillon coach Jason Hall will right the ship, and have his young Tigers back on track for next Thursday night's game with GlenOak and their all world running back Bri'onte Dunn. The 2010 Tigers are still a talented lot, and will hopefully put last night behind them quickly.
We are confident Massillon coach Jason Hall will right the ship, and have his young Tigers back on track for next Thursday night's game with GlenOak and their all world running back Bri'onte Dunn. The 2010 Tigers are still a talented lot, and will hopefully put last night behind them quickly.
Town Hall Time
This past Monday night, Massillon's Mayor for Life held a Town Hall meeting in Council Ward 5, in the city's south west side. Our mayor has scheduled six of these 90 minute town hall meetings, one in each of the city's six council wards. The Ward 5 meeting was dominated by discussion of the proposed Tuslaw Schools annexation. These meetings are an opportunity for the average person to ask our Mayor for Life questions. There are four more of these Town Halls left, and they are open to anyone. These meetings all start at 7:00PM.
Ward 4 Meeting
Monday, August 30 at the Friendship Baptist Church
920 3rd Street SE
Ward 3 Meeting
Monday, September 13 at at the First Baptist Church of Massillon
20 6th Street SE
Ward 2 Meeting
Monday, September 27 at the First Assembly of God Church
325 Lake Ave NE
Ward 1 Meeting
Monday, October 11 at the First Christian Church of Massillon
1020 Wales Road NE
The Ward 3 meeting on September 13 should be the most fun. The Ward 3 council representative is Kathy Catazaro-Perry. Should be lively with her and our Mayor for Life in the same room.
Ward 4 Meeting
Monday, August 30 at the Friendship Baptist Church
920 3rd Street SE
Ward 3 Meeting
Monday, September 13 at at the First Baptist Church of Massillon
20 6th Street SE
Ward 2 Meeting
Monday, September 27 at the First Assembly of God Church
325 Lake Ave NE
Ward 1 Meeting
Monday, October 11 at the First Christian Church of Massillon
1020 Wales Road NE
The Ward 3 meeting on September 13 should be the most fun. The Ward 3 council representative is Kathy Catazaro-Perry. Should be lively with her and our Mayor for Life in the same room.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
If That Ain't the Pot Calling the Kettle Black
In today's Independent, it is reported that Councilwoman Kathy Catazaro-Perry is demanding that Council President, and loyal mayoral enforcer, Glenn Gamber, apologize to her and Councilman Tony Townsend;
During a debate at the August 16 council meeting, Glenn Gamber vigorously utilized parliamentary slight of hand to thwart Tony Townsend's effort to rename Shriver park in honor of the late T. Roy Roberson, a former ward 4 councilman.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/all-kings-horse-and-all-kings-men.html
Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Tony Townsend objected to Gamber's interpretation of the council rules. Instead of explaining why he did what he did, which was probably unexplainable in the first place, our Council President resorted to verbal attacks. So much for the role of the council president to be one of impartiality and fairness.
Gamber accused Catazaro-Perry and Townsend of taking their marching orders from Scott Graber, local parliamentarian, and mayoral critic.
Gamber condescendingly said, "What did Mr. Graber tell you to say next?" (The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Wait a minute. Glenn Gamber, loyal mayoral enforcer, and consummate rubber stamp, who has rubber stamped for Frank Cicchinelli from hell and back, is accusing two of the most independent minded members of city council of taking orders? Really? That's the best Glenn Gamber can do?
Instead of explaining why he enforces the council rules in an unequal fashion, hindering those who dare disagree with our Mayor for Life, and supporting the rubber stamps who blindly follow him, he accuses someone else of taking orders.
The Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System is at code red.
Don't be standing too close to Glenn when the lightening strikes.
Catazaro-Perry would like an apology;
"I am disappointed with your behavior at council last evening pertaining to your comments directed at either myself or Councilman Townsend. The comments made were unprofessional and inappropriate to say the least. Elected officials are held at a higher standard and your personal comments should not be voiced at a council meeting. I demand an apology to the public as well as all council members for your unprofessional behavior. Massillon deserves better" (The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Kathy Catazaro-Perry is indeed correct. Massillon deserves better.
Don't hold your breath on that apology.
During a debate at the August 16 council meeting, Glenn Gamber vigorously utilized parliamentary slight of hand to thwart Tony Townsend's effort to rename Shriver park in honor of the late T. Roy Roberson, a former ward 4 councilman.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/all-kings-horse-and-all-kings-men.html
Kathy Catazaro-Perry and Tony Townsend objected to Gamber's interpretation of the council rules. Instead of explaining why he did what he did, which was probably unexplainable in the first place, our Council President resorted to verbal attacks. So much for the role of the council president to be one of impartiality and fairness.
Gamber accused Catazaro-Perry and Townsend of taking their marching orders from Scott Graber, local parliamentarian, and mayoral critic.
Gamber condescendingly said, "What did Mr. Graber tell you to say next?" (The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Wait a minute. Glenn Gamber, loyal mayoral enforcer, and consummate rubber stamp, who has rubber stamped for Frank Cicchinelli from hell and back, is accusing two of the most independent minded members of city council of taking orders? Really? That's the best Glenn Gamber can do?
Instead of explaining why he enforces the council rules in an unequal fashion, hindering those who dare disagree with our Mayor for Life, and supporting the rubber stamps who blindly follow him, he accuses someone else of taking orders.
The Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System is at code red.
Don't be standing too close to Glenn when the lightening strikes.
Catazaro-Perry would like an apology;
"I am disappointed with your behavior at council last evening pertaining to your comments directed at either myself or Councilman Townsend. The comments made were unprofessional and inappropriate to say the least. Elected officials are held at a higher standard and your personal comments should not be voiced at a council meeting. I demand an apology to the public as well as all council members for your unprofessional behavior. Massillon deserves better" (The Independent, August 26, 2010).
Kathy Catazaro-Perry is indeed correct. Massillon deserves better.
Don't hold your breath on that apology.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
You Want Answers?
Last night, Massillon's Mayor for Life held one of his six scheduled town hall meetings. It was the Ward 5 meeting, which was held at the Massillon Boys and Girls Club. Ward 5, located in the south west part of Massillon, is represented by Donnie Peters, Massillon City Council's lone Republican.
Our Mayor for Life spent the bulk of his time explaining and defending his plan to annex the Tuslaw School District into the City of Massillon.
The teachers of the Tuslaw schools appear to be unhappy about this move, as they would have to pay the city's 1.8% income tax. It would amount to a 1.8% pay cut for the teachers. Some have decried this land grab as taxation without representation, as the school system is not even allowed to legally object to the annexation.
Taxation without representation. A poor argument to be made to Ward 5 Council Representative Donnie Peters. When the city was busily annexing R.G. Drage High School earlier this year, Peters made his views on taxation without representation quite clear;
Donnie Peters believes the city's income tax "comes with the territory," and he's tired of hearing arguments about "taxation without representation" (The Independent, April 13, 2010).
According to a story in last Saturday's Independent, Peters stated that the annexation of the Tuslaw schools "would give the city a black eye with its neighbors to the west." At last night's Ward 5 Town Hall meeting, Peters wanted answers;
"I'm holding (Cicchinelli) to the fire, 5th Ward Councilman Donnie Peters said. I want answers. I want a lot of answers" (The Independent, August 24, 2010).
Donnie Peters wants answers. Donnie Peters wants the truth.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXoNE14U_zM
Donnie Peters, Republican in Name Only, wants answers. He's holding Cicchinelli to the fire. Our guess is that Donnie Peters is holding Cicchinelli so close to the fire, that Cicchinelli is wearing a winter coat and mittens.
Donnie Peters wants answers. Well, here's a few answers;
Donnie Peters voted for the Mayor's unbalanced budget. He was the decisive 5th vote to pass the mayor's unbalanced budget. And strangely enough, Tremont road was moved up on the city's paving list after the vote, something Peters had long argued for.
Donnie Peters is a generous donor to the mayor's campaign.
Donnie Peters faithfully votes to spend our tax dollars to pay the mortgage at the privately owned Hampton Inn hotel.
Here's one last answer;
Donnie Peters claimed the annexation would "give the city a black eye with its neighbors to the west." Peters also claimed that he "wants answers." What he has NOT said is that he is opposing the mayor and is voting no.
There is your answer.
Our Mayor for Life spent the bulk of his time explaining and defending his plan to annex the Tuslaw School District into the City of Massillon.
The teachers of the Tuslaw schools appear to be unhappy about this move, as they would have to pay the city's 1.8% income tax. It would amount to a 1.8% pay cut for the teachers. Some have decried this land grab as taxation without representation, as the school system is not even allowed to legally object to the annexation.
Taxation without representation. A poor argument to be made to Ward 5 Council Representative Donnie Peters. When the city was busily annexing R.G. Drage High School earlier this year, Peters made his views on taxation without representation quite clear;
Donnie Peters believes the city's income tax "comes with the territory," and he's tired of hearing arguments about "taxation without representation" (The Independent, April 13, 2010).
According to a story in last Saturday's Independent, Peters stated that the annexation of the Tuslaw schools "would give the city a black eye with its neighbors to the west." At last night's Ward 5 Town Hall meeting, Peters wanted answers;
"I'm holding (Cicchinelli) to the fire, 5th Ward Councilman Donnie Peters said. I want answers. I want a lot of answers" (The Independent, August 24, 2010).
Donnie Peters wants answers. Donnie Peters wants the truth.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXoNE14U_zM
Donnie Peters, Republican in Name Only, wants answers. He's holding Cicchinelli to the fire. Our guess is that Donnie Peters is holding Cicchinelli so close to the fire, that Cicchinelli is wearing a winter coat and mittens.
Donnie Peters wants answers. Well, here's a few answers;
Donnie Peters voted for the Mayor's unbalanced budget. He was the decisive 5th vote to pass the mayor's unbalanced budget. And strangely enough, Tremont road was moved up on the city's paving list after the vote, something Peters had long argued for.
Donnie Peters is a generous donor to the mayor's campaign.
Donnie Peters faithfully votes to spend our tax dollars to pay the mortgage at the privately owned Hampton Inn hotel.
Here's one last answer;
Donnie Peters claimed the annexation would "give the city a black eye with its neighbors to the west." Peters also claimed that he "wants answers." What he has NOT said is that he is opposing the mayor and is voting no.
There is your answer.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Cheers to Our Mayor for Life
The Independent published a "cheers and jeers" column today. They offered up a hardy "cheers" to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli "for taking the initial step toward the sale of some Massillon park land."
www.indeonline.com/newsnow/x1024315649/OUR-OPINION-First-responders-earn-admiration
Yes, the Independent believes it is good that we start selling off our parks, "especially considering that the city does not seem to have the financial resources to properly care for these assets." Goodness. Not enough financial resources to take care of our parks. Hmmm.
Maybe we need a special income tax to pay for parks and recreation. Nope, we got one of them. Where could the money be going? Could the income tax, passed by a vote of the people specifically for parks and recreation, be hijacked to subsidize a failing golf course?
The Massillon Review offers up a "jeers" to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli for merging the Legends of Massillon golf course with the parks and recreation department under the false pretenses of "streamlining city government." It was merely a scam to use park money to prop up the golf course and its unsustainable debt.
Or how about "jeers" to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli for authorizing the expenditure of $199,000 of park tax money to buy the restaurant at the golf course, without a business plan, and turning it into a glorified hot dog stand.
What the Independent seems to have forgotten is the voters of this community passed a .3% income tax to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of our park system. Not to maintain a golf course and its nearly $600,000 a year in debt payments.
If selling off the parks was such a fantastic idea, why didn't our Mayor for Life share his vision for our parks with the public? He never mentioned it at a council meeting. In fact, he had the Law Director, Perry Stergios, researching which parks he could sell, and had compiled a list of parks to potentially hit the auction block. If it was such a fine idea, why was this such a secret? Let's try this;
"Cheers to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli for working behind closed doors, out of public view, to begin the process of selling our parks and keeping this from the public as long as possible, because the public, who pays this park tax, may wish to object."
And as we all know. You don't get to be Mayor for Life by dismantling the city's park system in front of the voters. You do it behind their backs.
www.indeonline.com/newsnow/x1024315649/OUR-OPINION-First-responders-earn-admiration
Yes, the Independent believes it is good that we start selling off our parks, "especially considering that the city does not seem to have the financial resources to properly care for these assets." Goodness. Not enough financial resources to take care of our parks. Hmmm.
Maybe we need a special income tax to pay for parks and recreation. Nope, we got one of them. Where could the money be going? Could the income tax, passed by a vote of the people specifically for parks and recreation, be hijacked to subsidize a failing golf course?
The Massillon Review offers up a "jeers" to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli for merging the Legends of Massillon golf course with the parks and recreation department under the false pretenses of "streamlining city government." It was merely a scam to use park money to prop up the golf course and its unsustainable debt.
Or how about "jeers" to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli for authorizing the expenditure of $199,000 of park tax money to buy the restaurant at the golf course, without a business plan, and turning it into a glorified hot dog stand.
What the Independent seems to have forgotten is the voters of this community passed a .3% income tax to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of our park system. Not to maintain a golf course and its nearly $600,000 a year in debt payments.
If selling off the parks was such a fantastic idea, why didn't our Mayor for Life share his vision for our parks with the public? He never mentioned it at a council meeting. In fact, he had the Law Director, Perry Stergios, researching which parks he could sell, and had compiled a list of parks to potentially hit the auction block. If it was such a fine idea, why was this such a secret? Let's try this;
"Cheers to Mayor Frank Cicchinelli for working behind closed doors, out of public view, to begin the process of selling our parks and keeping this from the public as long as possible, because the public, who pays this park tax, may wish to object."
And as we all know. You don't get to be Mayor for Life by dismantling the city's park system in front of the voters. You do it behind their backs.
When the Rubber Stamps Meet the Road
An article in this weekend's Independent hypothesized that the majority of Massillon City Council were opposed to annexing the Tuslaw Local School District.
"Councilmen Gary Anderson, Tony Townsend, Donnie Peters and David Hersher told The Independent on Friday that they oppose or are leaning against the annexation" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
Some of them may be opposed. Some of them may be leaning against it, but when the rubber meets the road, how many will actually dare cast a vote against Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli?
Gary Anderson, Tony Townsend, and Kathy Catazaro-Perry will probably vote no. They are not the die hard mayoral loyalists the other members of council are.
David Hersher may actually think the annexation is a bad idea. His constituents may think it is a bad idea, but he will not vote against the mayor. He never does. His loyalty to the mayor constantly trumps what is best for the city. Why should this time be any different?
Ron Mang, Paul Manson, and David McCune are consummate rubber stamps. They always vote for whatever the mayor wants. They may not personally like this annexation, but they will vote for it.
Then we have Larry Slagle. Slagle likes to pretend to be independent, but in the end, the mayor and his allies will pressure him into supporting the annexation. He wants to go along and get along. He will follow the mayor's lead.
Donnie Peters. Peters is the one wild card in this vote. He normally does whatever the mayor wants, but on rare occasion, although less and less so recently, he opposes the boss. He may not vote for it. Who cares, with Manson, McCune, Mang, Hersher, and Slagle, the mayor has the five out of nine votes he needs. Annexation passes.
This is a big issue for our Mayor for Life. If he doesn't get council's support, he will look weak going into his next election. More importantly, Cicchinelli doesn't like to lose. He won't care that his rubber stamps blindly supported everything else he ever wanted. If they don't climb on board for this vote, there will be hell to pay.
No, the rubber stamps can talk tough, but at the end of the day, when the rubber meets the road, and the vote is taken, they will fall in line.
They always do.
"Councilmen Gary Anderson, Tony Townsend, Donnie Peters and David Hersher told The Independent on Friday that they oppose or are leaning against the annexation" (The Independent, August 21, 2010).
Some of them may be opposed. Some of them may be leaning against it, but when the rubber meets the road, how many will actually dare cast a vote against Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli?
Gary Anderson, Tony Townsend, and Kathy Catazaro-Perry will probably vote no. They are not the die hard mayoral loyalists the other members of council are.
David Hersher may actually think the annexation is a bad idea. His constituents may think it is a bad idea, but he will not vote against the mayor. He never does. His loyalty to the mayor constantly trumps what is best for the city. Why should this time be any different?
Ron Mang, Paul Manson, and David McCune are consummate rubber stamps. They always vote for whatever the mayor wants. They may not personally like this annexation, but they will vote for it.
Then we have Larry Slagle. Slagle likes to pretend to be independent, but in the end, the mayor and his allies will pressure him into supporting the annexation. He wants to go along and get along. He will follow the mayor's lead.
Donnie Peters. Peters is the one wild card in this vote. He normally does whatever the mayor wants, but on rare occasion, although less and less so recently, he opposes the boss. He may not vote for it. Who cares, with Manson, McCune, Mang, Hersher, and Slagle, the mayor has the five out of nine votes he needs. Annexation passes.
This is a big issue for our Mayor for Life. If he doesn't get council's support, he will look weak going into his next election. More importantly, Cicchinelli doesn't like to lose. He won't care that his rubber stamps blindly supported everything else he ever wanted. If they don't climb on board for this vote, there will be hell to pay.
No, the rubber stamps can talk tough, but at the end of the day, when the rubber meets the road, and the vote is taken, they will fall in line.
They always do.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
If You Can't Take The Heat...
Earlier this week, the Independent printed an editorial criticizing Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli, for not sticking around for Massillon City Council's public speaks session, so that he would not have to hear criticism of his plan to annex the Tuslaw Local School District. The editorial actually used the words "turned tail and fled."
www.indeonline.com/opinion/x179628620/OUR-OPINION-Mayor-can-t-take-the-heat
Knowing our beloved mayor's well publicized thin skin, and his propensity to attack anyone who dares to criticize his regime, our question is this;
How many phone calls did our Mayor for Life make to the Independent to decry their anti-Cicchinelli, anti-administration, and anti-Massillon criticism.
We set the over/under at three.
www.indeonline.com/opinion/x179628620/OUR-OPINION-Mayor-can-t-take-the-heat
Knowing our beloved mayor's well publicized thin skin, and his propensity to attack anyone who dares to criticize his regime, our question is this;
How many phone calls did our Mayor for Life make to the Independent to decry their anti-Cicchinelli, anti-administration, and anti-Massillon criticism.
We set the over/under at three.
Fire Sale
In 1995, the voters of the City of Massillon passed a .3% income tax to fund the city's new parks and recreation district. It was to be run by an independent 5 member parks board. The money was earmarked, by law, only to be used for parks and recreation. The 2.2 million dollar annual budget available for our parks department should have allowed our parks to be cathedrals, and our recreation facilities to be the envy of Stark County.
Small problem. Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli, expanded the Legends of Massillon Golf Course from 18 to 27 holes. He accrued a lot of debt doing it. The annual debt payments are staggering, and the golf course could not financially support itself. But our Mayor for Life had a plan.
The mayor proposed merging the unprofitable, debt ridden golf course with the Parks Department, because the Parks Department had a steady income stream, the .3% income tax approved by the voters. On December 16, 2002, the week before Christmas, when the taxpayers were focused on holiday preparations, and not city government, the mayor had his rubber stamps on council vote to approve the merger. The vote was 7 in favor, and two opposed. The two voting against this scam were the two Republicans on council, Claudette Istnick and Jim Filhour. The seven Democratic council members voted for the merger. Among these seven are current councilman Ron Mang, curent Council President Glenn Gamber, Safety Service Director Mike Loudiana, and City Treasurer Paul Lambert. Gamber, Loudiana, and Lambert were councilmen at that time.
Our Mayor for Life claimed that the merger was "not a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses" (The Repository, December 17, 2002).
Of course, it was a big scheme to use parks department money to cover the golf course's expenses. And just this year, council rubber stamps David Hersher, David McCune, Ron Mang, and Larry Slagle, with Council President Glenn Gamber breaking the tie, committed another $199,000 park tax dollars to buy the restaurant at the golf course. Now, the city has no business plan for their new restaurant, which is now nothing more than a glorified hot dog stand, but the mayor wanted them to buy it, and they did.
Instead of having well maintained parks, our parks are a disaster from a lack of proper upkeep and basic maintenance. Parks Director Kenn Kaminski claims the problems at our parks are the result of park vandals. The Massillon Review believes the problem with the parks is a lack of basic maintenance and upkeep because park tax dollars have been siphoned off to buy a restaurant with no business plan, and to prop up a failing golf course. We believe our readers can best decide who is telling the truth.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/in-search-of-park-vandals.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/we-see-light.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/buy-me-some-peanuts-and-cracker-jack.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/we-will-not-rest-until-job-is-done.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/vandals-on-loose.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-see-park-vandals.html
Today, the Independent has reported what most city insiders already knew. City Law Director Perry Stergios is busily researching a list of parks our Mayor for Life may wish to sell off.
"Parks board member Timothy Muzi has asked Law Director Perry Stergios to research which parks have deed restrictions that would prohibit their sale or future use, Stergios said. Kaminski said that he, Muzi, and Mayor Frank Cicchinelli met three months ago to discuss potential park property that could be sold" (The Independent, August 19, 2010).
Timothy Muzi, of course, was appointed to the Parks Board by Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli.
Three months ago? It would appear they chose not to share with the citizenry that they were planning a fire sale of our parks system. Why would our beloved mayor sell off our parks?
Well, he is facing an almost million dollar budget shortfall this year, and a million and a half budget shortfall next year, which happens to be his election year. He can sell off our parks to help plug his budget hole.
He really doesn't have enough parks tax money to properly maintain all these parks anyways, what with propping up the golf course and expanding into the restaurant business.
And of course his council rubber stamps will cheerfully approve the dismantling of our city's parks system.
The joke, of course, will be on Massillon's taxpayers. We will still pay the .3% income tax for "parks and recreation." The mayor can sell off our parks, and continue to use our park tax money to subsidize his failing golf course.
And no one can stop him.
Small problem. Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli, expanded the Legends of Massillon Golf Course from 18 to 27 holes. He accrued a lot of debt doing it. The annual debt payments are staggering, and the golf course could not financially support itself. But our Mayor for Life had a plan.
The mayor proposed merging the unprofitable, debt ridden golf course with the Parks Department, because the Parks Department had a steady income stream, the .3% income tax approved by the voters. On December 16, 2002, the week before Christmas, when the taxpayers were focused on holiday preparations, and not city government, the mayor had his rubber stamps on council vote to approve the merger. The vote was 7 in favor, and two opposed. The two voting against this scam were the two Republicans on council, Claudette Istnick and Jim Filhour. The seven Democratic council members voted for the merger. Among these seven are current councilman Ron Mang, curent Council President Glenn Gamber, Safety Service Director Mike Loudiana, and City Treasurer Paul Lambert. Gamber, Loudiana, and Lambert were councilmen at that time.
Our Mayor for Life claimed that the merger was "not a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses" (The Repository, December 17, 2002).
Of course, it was a big scheme to use parks department money to cover the golf course's expenses. And just this year, council rubber stamps David Hersher, David McCune, Ron Mang, and Larry Slagle, with Council President Glenn Gamber breaking the tie, committed another $199,000 park tax dollars to buy the restaurant at the golf course. Now, the city has no business plan for their new restaurant, which is now nothing more than a glorified hot dog stand, but the mayor wanted them to buy it, and they did.
Instead of having well maintained parks, our parks are a disaster from a lack of proper upkeep and basic maintenance. Parks Director Kenn Kaminski claims the problems at our parks are the result of park vandals. The Massillon Review believes the problem with the parks is a lack of basic maintenance and upkeep because park tax dollars have been siphoned off to buy a restaurant with no business plan, and to prop up a failing golf course. We believe our readers can best decide who is telling the truth.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/in-search-of-park-vandals.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/we-see-light.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/buy-me-some-peanuts-and-cracker-jack.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/we-will-not-rest-until-job-is-done.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/vandals-on-loose.html
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/05/i-see-park-vandals.html
Today, the Independent has reported what most city insiders already knew. City Law Director Perry Stergios is busily researching a list of parks our Mayor for Life may wish to sell off.
"Parks board member Timothy Muzi has asked Law Director Perry Stergios to research which parks have deed restrictions that would prohibit their sale or future use, Stergios said. Kaminski said that he, Muzi, and Mayor Frank Cicchinelli met three months ago to discuss potential park property that could be sold" (The Independent, August 19, 2010).
Timothy Muzi, of course, was appointed to the Parks Board by Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli.
Three months ago? It would appear they chose not to share with the citizenry that they were planning a fire sale of our parks system. Why would our beloved mayor sell off our parks?
Well, he is facing an almost million dollar budget shortfall this year, and a million and a half budget shortfall next year, which happens to be his election year. He can sell off our parks to help plug his budget hole.
He really doesn't have enough parks tax money to properly maintain all these parks anyways, what with propping up the golf course and expanding into the restaurant business.
And of course his council rubber stamps will cheerfully approve the dismantling of our city's parks system.
The joke, of course, will be on Massillon's taxpayers. We will still pay the .3% income tax for "parks and recreation." The mayor can sell off our parks, and continue to use our park tax money to subsidize his failing golf course.
And no one can stop him.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
All the King's Horses and All the King's Men
According to Ohio law, the job of City Council President is to "preside at all regular and special meetings of such legislative authority (city council), but the president shall have no vote therein except in case of a tie."
Seems pretty simple. Council President presides over the meetings, and can only vote in a tie. In theory, the council president would run the meetings fairly and apply the various rules of council equally so that each council member is treated the same.
In theory, but not in practice. Not in Massillon, and not with our Mayor for Life's loyal enforcer, Glenn Gamber, as council president.
Glenn Gamber must see his job a little differently. It is clear to anyone following city council that his job isn't to preside over the meetings in an impartial manner, his job is to protect and further the agenda of the mayor, and to give guidance to the rubber stamps. It appears his other job is to manipulate the council rules, fairly or unfairly, to stop an independent council member from proposing legislation that;
A.) The Mayor for Life does not want and;
B.) Would embarrass the rubber stamps by having to publicly vote no to protect their mayor's interests.
In 2009, the city was in the midst of its Annual Summer Financial Crisis. While city employees were taking unpaid furloughs and pay freezes, the Mayor, Auditor, Treasurer, Law Director, City Council members, and Council President Glenn Gamber were receiving a 4.1% pay raise. When Kathy Catzarao-Perry tried to introduce legislation to repeal the city ordinance giving these folks lifetime, annual, unvoted pay raises, Gamber fought this repeal with every trick he had. He wouldn't even allow a public vote. He asked for an off the record show of hands, so council members who wanted to keep the raises for themselves, and for our Mayor for Life, would not be incriminating themselves with a public vote.
Glenn Gamber's machinations were again on view at Monday's council meeting. 4th Ward Councilman Tony Townsend, not a favorite of the mayor, introduces legislation to rename Shriver Park after former 4th Ward Councilman, the late T. Roy Roberson. Roberson served over a decade as councilman, and the park name change had much support in the 4th Ward. "People of the community respect him (Roberson). He's loved by many" (Tony Townsend, The Independent, June 18, 2010). The councilman who's ward the park was in (Tony Townsend) supported the name change. The residents of Ward 4 seemed to support the name change. And for a brief instant, Massillon City Council looked like they would support the name change. Until, out of the clear blue, the rubber stamps seemed to have a change of heart.
Here is where this gets a bit complicated, so hang on. All of a sudden the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board claims it has a policy "discouraging" the name changing of parks named after a person. Shriver park was named after the original land owner, Herman Shriver. Now, no one can produce any evidence to show where the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board passed this policy. It just "exists." For those who have forgotten, the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board is the five member board that was supposed to administer our parks and recreation department. Of the five members, three are appointed by the mayor, and two are appointed by the Massillon School Board. In effect, the mayor's appointees control the board. It doesn't actually have any real power. Judge John Haas ruled that Massillon City Council has final say over the Parks and Recreation System. This was the result of the Citizens' Lawsuit filed against the city last year. According to Judge Haas, the city may sell park land, and may even take insurance claim money from the parks and use it for anything the city wants to. According to Judge Haas, the mayor and council have final say over what happens to the parks and recreation department. This was our Mayor for Life's opinion all along, and Judge Haas affirmed that view with his decision in the lawsuit.
We are confident that this is merely a coincidence, but allegedly Shriver Park is on a list of park properties that our mayor may be interested in selling off. Can't rename the park after T. Roy Roberson, and then auction it off to the highest bidder. So, the Mayor apparently does not want Shriver park to be renamed after the late T. Roy Roberson. But he can't say that, as Roberson was a popular figure in Ward 4. The council rubber stamps want to do the mayor's bidding, but actually voting against the name change would be an unpopular political decision. They want to kill the name change without actually voting against it. This is where the Mayor's loyal enforcer, Glenn Gamber, comes in.
Even though it is crystal clear that council and the mayor have the ultimate authority over the park system, the council rubber stamps wish to unload this naming issue on the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board, where Tony Townsend's ordinance will never see the light of day, and never receive a vote. And Glenn Gamber led the manipulation of council rules and procedures to make that happen at Monday's council meeting. Glenn did have help. Councilman Larry Slagle beat up on Tony Townsend pretty heavily to coerce him into acquiescing to moving the ordinance to the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. While on one hand claiming he supported the name change, Slagle worked, on the other hand, to effectively kill it.
Gamber and Slagle worked together to give our Mayor for Life what he wanted without actually having to have anyone embarrass themselves by voting against honoring the late T. Roy Roberson. Pretty effective. Pretty disgusting. If they didn't want to rename the park, they should of had a vote, and should have been men enough to vote no. Unfortunately, it appears they lacked the "testicular fortitude," and once more relied on Glenn Gamber's parliamentary slight of hand to avoid an unpopular vote.
Seems pretty simple. Council President presides over the meetings, and can only vote in a tie. In theory, the council president would run the meetings fairly and apply the various rules of council equally so that each council member is treated the same.
In theory, but not in practice. Not in Massillon, and not with our Mayor for Life's loyal enforcer, Glenn Gamber, as council president.
Glenn Gamber must see his job a little differently. It is clear to anyone following city council that his job isn't to preside over the meetings in an impartial manner, his job is to protect and further the agenda of the mayor, and to give guidance to the rubber stamps. It appears his other job is to manipulate the council rules, fairly or unfairly, to stop an independent council member from proposing legislation that;
A.) The Mayor for Life does not want and;
B.) Would embarrass the rubber stamps by having to publicly vote no to protect their mayor's interests.
In 2009, the city was in the midst of its Annual Summer Financial Crisis. While city employees were taking unpaid furloughs and pay freezes, the Mayor, Auditor, Treasurer, Law Director, City Council members, and Council President Glenn Gamber were receiving a 4.1% pay raise. When Kathy Catzarao-Perry tried to introduce legislation to repeal the city ordinance giving these folks lifetime, annual, unvoted pay raises, Gamber fought this repeal with every trick he had. He wouldn't even allow a public vote. He asked for an off the record show of hands, so council members who wanted to keep the raises for themselves, and for our Mayor for Life, would not be incriminating themselves with a public vote.
Glenn Gamber's machinations were again on view at Monday's council meeting. 4th Ward Councilman Tony Townsend, not a favorite of the mayor, introduces legislation to rename Shriver Park after former 4th Ward Councilman, the late T. Roy Roberson. Roberson served over a decade as councilman, and the park name change had much support in the 4th Ward. "People of the community respect him (Roberson). He's loved by many" (Tony Townsend, The Independent, June 18, 2010). The councilman who's ward the park was in (Tony Townsend) supported the name change. The residents of Ward 4 seemed to support the name change. And for a brief instant, Massillon City Council looked like they would support the name change. Until, out of the clear blue, the rubber stamps seemed to have a change of heart.
Here is where this gets a bit complicated, so hang on. All of a sudden the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board claims it has a policy "discouraging" the name changing of parks named after a person. Shriver park was named after the original land owner, Herman Shriver. Now, no one can produce any evidence to show where the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board passed this policy. It just "exists." For those who have forgotten, the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board is the five member board that was supposed to administer our parks and recreation department. Of the five members, three are appointed by the mayor, and two are appointed by the Massillon School Board. In effect, the mayor's appointees control the board. It doesn't actually have any real power. Judge John Haas ruled that Massillon City Council has final say over the Parks and Recreation System. This was the result of the Citizens' Lawsuit filed against the city last year. According to Judge Haas, the city may sell park land, and may even take insurance claim money from the parks and use it for anything the city wants to. According to Judge Haas, the mayor and council have final say over what happens to the parks and recreation department. This was our Mayor for Life's opinion all along, and Judge Haas affirmed that view with his decision in the lawsuit.
We are confident that this is merely a coincidence, but allegedly Shriver Park is on a list of park properties that our mayor may be interested in selling off. Can't rename the park after T. Roy Roberson, and then auction it off to the highest bidder. So, the Mayor apparently does not want Shriver park to be renamed after the late T. Roy Roberson. But he can't say that, as Roberson was a popular figure in Ward 4. The council rubber stamps want to do the mayor's bidding, but actually voting against the name change would be an unpopular political decision. They want to kill the name change without actually voting against it. This is where the Mayor's loyal enforcer, Glenn Gamber, comes in.
Even though it is crystal clear that council and the mayor have the ultimate authority over the park system, the council rubber stamps wish to unload this naming issue on the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board, where Tony Townsend's ordinance will never see the light of day, and never receive a vote. And Glenn Gamber led the manipulation of council rules and procedures to make that happen at Monday's council meeting. Glenn did have help. Councilman Larry Slagle beat up on Tony Townsend pretty heavily to coerce him into acquiescing to moving the ordinance to the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board. While on one hand claiming he supported the name change, Slagle worked, on the other hand, to effectively kill it.
Gamber and Slagle worked together to give our Mayor for Life what he wanted without actually having to have anyone embarrass themselves by voting against honoring the late T. Roy Roberson. Pretty effective. Pretty disgusting. If they didn't want to rename the park, they should of had a vote, and should have been men enough to vote no. Unfortunately, it appears they lacked the "testicular fortitude," and once more relied on Glenn Gamber's parliamentary slight of hand to avoid an unpopular vote.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
We're Mad As Hell, and We're Not Going to Take This Anymore!
According to today's Independent, 100 people showed up to the Massillon City Council meeting last night, and not one person spoke in favor of our Mayor for Life's proposal to annex the Tuslaw Local School District into the City of Massillon. This would include Tuslaw High School, middle school, and the new elementary school. The primary effect of this proposed annexation would be to allow the mayor to grab about $120,000 in income tax from Tuslaw teachers, administrators, and support personnel.
Not one person spoke in favor of this annexation. Not one person. The crowd was mad as hell, and wasn't going to take this anymore.
Want to bet?
The Massillon Review received an email inquiry from a faithful reader who argued that "Massillon City Council had the power to stop the mayor's land grab." Massillon City Council? This city council? This merry band of rubber stamps who approve absolutely EVERYTHING the mayor proposes? This city council that pays the mortgage for a private hotel, and this city council that bought a restaurant, with no business plan, which is now essentially a glorified hot dog stand, is going to tell their master, our Mayor for Life, that he can't annex the Tuslaw schools?
Nope. Ain't gonna happen. In theory, the city council could stop this. In reality, they won't. The mayor has the undying support of rubber stamps like Paul Manson, David Hersher, Ron Mang, David McCune, Larry Slagle, and usually Donnie Peters. Peters seems to be waffling on this one, but he usually falls in line at the end. That's at least five votes, possibly six, maybe more, to approve this land grab.
"Tuscarawas Township Trustee Jerry Hollinger called the move, which would essentially create a taxing district out of the school, "taxation without representation." He said it was unfair to put the city's economic woes on the backs of Tuslaw teachers" (The Independent, August 17, 2010).
Taxation without representation?
That's the wrong argument to make to Massillon City Council.
Let's see what Massillon's answer to Paul Revere, Republican Councilman Donnie Peters, thinks about taxation without representation. This is what Peters had to say when Massillon successfully annexed the R.G. Drage school earlier this year, in response to school teachers complaining about "taxation without representation."
Donnie Peters believes the city's income tax "comes with the territory," and he's tired of hearing arguments about "taxation without representation" (The Independent, April 13, 2010).
The 100 or so people who attended the Massillon City Council meeting to speak out against this land grab may have been mad as Hell, but they are going to take it. They wasted a perfectly good Summer's evening trying to convince the rubber stamps on city council to oppose their Mayor for Life. It will not happen. Again, this battle was over before the first shot was fired.
Not one person spoke in favor of this annexation. Not one person. The crowd was mad as hell, and wasn't going to take this anymore.
Want to bet?
The Massillon Review received an email inquiry from a faithful reader who argued that "Massillon City Council had the power to stop the mayor's land grab." Massillon City Council? This city council? This merry band of rubber stamps who approve absolutely EVERYTHING the mayor proposes? This city council that pays the mortgage for a private hotel, and this city council that bought a restaurant, with no business plan, which is now essentially a glorified hot dog stand, is going to tell their master, our Mayor for Life, that he can't annex the Tuslaw schools?
Nope. Ain't gonna happen. In theory, the city council could stop this. In reality, they won't. The mayor has the undying support of rubber stamps like Paul Manson, David Hersher, Ron Mang, David McCune, Larry Slagle, and usually Donnie Peters. Peters seems to be waffling on this one, but he usually falls in line at the end. That's at least five votes, possibly six, maybe more, to approve this land grab.
"Tuscarawas Township Trustee Jerry Hollinger called the move, which would essentially create a taxing district out of the school, "taxation without representation." He said it was unfair to put the city's economic woes on the backs of Tuslaw teachers" (The Independent, August 17, 2010).
Taxation without representation?
That's the wrong argument to make to Massillon City Council.
Let's see what Massillon's answer to Paul Revere, Republican Councilman Donnie Peters, thinks about taxation without representation. This is what Peters had to say when Massillon successfully annexed the R.G. Drage school earlier this year, in response to school teachers complaining about "taxation without representation."
Donnie Peters believes the city's income tax "comes with the territory," and he's tired of hearing arguments about "taxation without representation" (The Independent, April 13, 2010).
The 100 or so people who attended the Massillon City Council meeting to speak out against this land grab may have been mad as Hell, but they are going to take it. They wasted a perfectly good Summer's evening trying to convince the rubber stamps on city council to oppose their Mayor for Life. It will not happen. Again, this battle was over before the first shot was fired.
Monday, August 16, 2010
This Battle Was Over Before The First Shot Was Fired
Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli, has informed Tuslaw School District Superintendent Al Osler that he plans on annexing the Tuslaw Local School District into the City of Massillon. This would include Tuslaw High School, middle school, and the new elementary school. Why is our Mayor for Life interested in the Tuslaw School District? Has he become a Mustang fan? Is the education of Tuslaw's young people a pressing concern of his?
Nope. The City of Massillon would be able to grab about $120,000 in income taxes from the teachers, administrators, and various support staff of the Tuslaw schools, and the mayor has a million dollar budget gap to close. The teachers of Tuslaw will be essentially taking a 1.8% pay cut, the amount of Massillon's income tax, so that our mayor can continue to pay for things like the debt at the golf course, which is a mere $527,885 dollars this year alone, and pay raises for himself and other city elected officials.
Superintendent Osler and Tuscarawas Township Trustees Terry Hemperly and Jerry Hollinger have vowed to aggressively fight this annexation. Their objections, while duly noted, are pointless. Their opposition is doomed to fail. They should save their time, efforts, energy, and legal fees on this hopeless last stand. This annexation battle was over before the first shot was fired.
According to our crack Massillon Review legal team, the mayor can proceed one of two ways. Either the mayor will invoke what is called an Expedited Type 2 annexation, whereby if the annexation meets various criteria, the Stark County Board of Commissioners MUST approve it. This would mean none of the property owners of the proposed annexation area objected. This is how Cicchinelli grabbed R.G. Drage School and its $70,000 of income tax. In this instance, Cicchinelli would be annexing a property owner, or two, adjacent to the Tuslaw schools, such as the Bit of Eden mobile home park, by promising them connection to the city's sewer system. If the Tuslaw schools can not legally object to the annexation, because they are a governmental entity, the request is made by 100% of the property owners allowed to have a say, and the annexation is summarily approved.
If the Tuslaw school district can legally object as a local, not state, governmental entity, the mayor can still file the annexation as a standard annexation. If a majority of the property owners, regardless of the property size or value, sign the annexation petition, a hearing is held in front of the Stark County Commissioners. Under most scenarios, the annexation must be approved. Our Mayor for Life wins either way.
The only reason he told Superintendent Osler about his plans, knowing the Tuslaw Schools would object, is because he knew this was a done deal. It was an "in your face" move, something the mayor is famous for. It's over. It's done, and that is why he told everyone.
You don't get to be Mayor for Life by fighting battles you can't win. And this battle was over before the first shot was fired.
Nope. The City of Massillon would be able to grab about $120,000 in income taxes from the teachers, administrators, and various support staff of the Tuslaw schools, and the mayor has a million dollar budget gap to close. The teachers of Tuslaw will be essentially taking a 1.8% pay cut, the amount of Massillon's income tax, so that our mayor can continue to pay for things like the debt at the golf course, which is a mere $527,885 dollars this year alone, and pay raises for himself and other city elected officials.
Superintendent Osler and Tuscarawas Township Trustees Terry Hemperly and Jerry Hollinger have vowed to aggressively fight this annexation. Their objections, while duly noted, are pointless. Their opposition is doomed to fail. They should save their time, efforts, energy, and legal fees on this hopeless last stand. This annexation battle was over before the first shot was fired.
According to our crack Massillon Review legal team, the mayor can proceed one of two ways. Either the mayor will invoke what is called an Expedited Type 2 annexation, whereby if the annexation meets various criteria, the Stark County Board of Commissioners MUST approve it. This would mean none of the property owners of the proposed annexation area objected. This is how Cicchinelli grabbed R.G. Drage School and its $70,000 of income tax. In this instance, Cicchinelli would be annexing a property owner, or two, adjacent to the Tuslaw schools, such as the Bit of Eden mobile home park, by promising them connection to the city's sewer system. If the Tuslaw schools can not legally object to the annexation, because they are a governmental entity, the request is made by 100% of the property owners allowed to have a say, and the annexation is summarily approved.
If the Tuslaw school district can legally object as a local, not state, governmental entity, the mayor can still file the annexation as a standard annexation. If a majority of the property owners, regardless of the property size or value, sign the annexation petition, a hearing is held in front of the Stark County Commissioners. Under most scenarios, the annexation must be approved. Our Mayor for Life wins either way.
The only reason he told Superintendent Osler about his plans, knowing the Tuslaw Schools would object, is because he knew this was a done deal. It was an "in your face" move, something the mayor is famous for. It's over. It's done, and that is why he told everyone.
You don't get to be Mayor for Life by fighting battles you can't win. And this battle was over before the first shot was fired.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Citizen Weinberg
Massillon School Board President Tom Seesan has basically told the various "Friends of the Program," those Massillon Tiger Football boosters who falsely believe that they, not the Massillon School system, own our Massillon Tiger football team, to go to Hell, 'cuz he ain't quittin'!
And what of the "Seesan must resign" yard sign campaign, the effort orchestrated by the "Friends of the Program," to help Seesan find the exit door?
"Their signs can rot in their yards," Seesan said, "because I am not going to resign" (The Independent, August 12, 2010).
Seesan drew the ire of the "Friends of the Program," because he opposed the reorganization plan for the Massillon Schools Athletic Department. This was the "football first" plan, whereby the head football coach would also be the Athletic Director, and the Assistant Athletic Director would have been Alex Wood, the offensive coordinator.
Board Member Marshall Weinberg, a recent convert to the "Friends of the Program," said its time for the board president to be the leader. "Be a strong leader or let someone else step in" (Marshall Weinberg, The Independent, August 12, 2010).
Well, if Seesan isn't the strong leader our Massillon schools deserve, who did Weinberg have in mind for the post. Who is the strong leader our schools need to meet the challenges of 21st century education?
Marshall Weinberg, of course.
Marshall Weinberg believes Marshall Weinberg would be an excellent choice for School Board President.
"Weinberg, when asked if he'd considered serving as board president, said he had. In fact, he had hoped to be president this year, being the only veteran board member who hadn't yet held the title. The board opted instead to appoint Seesan."
"It is one of the issues that is tearing at the board," Weinberg said, "Unfortunately, because of the issues of legality, I can't discuss it in specifics, but it was not a decision made out of strength. Now, we are all seeing the ramifications" (The Independent, August 12, 2010).
It is one of the issues tearing at the board? Our schools are in trouble because Marshall Weinberg is not school board president? Really? Seriously? Do school board members have to pass a drug test?
If only the other school board members were smart enough to recognize Weinberg's genius, and his apparent humility, and make him president, we would have better schools.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC837oh98_Y
According to Board President Tom Seesan, "the board is dealing with a lot of issues, but Weinberg being passed over for the school board presidency is not one of them" (The Independent, August 12, 2010).
Thank goodness. We wouldn't want our children's learning to suffer because Marshall Weinberg was not chosen as school board president.
And what of the "Seesan must resign" yard sign campaign, the effort orchestrated by the "Friends of the Program," to help Seesan find the exit door?
"Their signs can rot in their yards," Seesan said, "because I am not going to resign" (The Independent, August 12, 2010).
Seesan drew the ire of the "Friends of the Program," because he opposed the reorganization plan for the Massillon Schools Athletic Department. This was the "football first" plan, whereby the head football coach would also be the Athletic Director, and the Assistant Athletic Director would have been Alex Wood, the offensive coordinator.
Board Member Marshall Weinberg, a recent convert to the "Friends of the Program," said its time for the board president to be the leader. "Be a strong leader or let someone else step in" (Marshall Weinberg, The Independent, August 12, 2010).
Well, if Seesan isn't the strong leader our Massillon schools deserve, who did Weinberg have in mind for the post. Who is the strong leader our schools need to meet the challenges of 21st century education?
Marshall Weinberg, of course.
Marshall Weinberg believes Marshall Weinberg would be an excellent choice for School Board President.
"Weinberg, when asked if he'd considered serving as board president, said he had. In fact, he had hoped to be president this year, being the only veteran board member who hadn't yet held the title. The board opted instead to appoint Seesan."
"It is one of the issues that is tearing at the board," Weinberg said, "Unfortunately, because of the issues of legality, I can't discuss it in specifics, but it was not a decision made out of strength. Now, we are all seeing the ramifications" (The Independent, August 12, 2010).
It is one of the issues tearing at the board? Our schools are in trouble because Marshall Weinberg is not school board president? Really? Seriously? Do school board members have to pass a drug test?
If only the other school board members were smart enough to recognize Weinberg's genius, and his apparent humility, and make him president, we would have better schools.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC837oh98_Y
According to Board President Tom Seesan, "the board is dealing with a lot of issues, but Weinberg being passed over for the school board presidency is not one of them" (The Independent, August 12, 2010).
Thank goodness. We wouldn't want our children's learning to suffer because Marshall Weinberg was not chosen as school board president.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
They Walk Among Us
Carpetbaggers. Walking among us and masquerading as decent, God fearing native Massillonians. Our Mayor for Life has courageously decried these interlopers. Mayor Frank Cicchinelli is adamant that outsiders not involve themselves in the civic life of the City of Massillon.
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
The Line in the Sand
We are once again calling out the carpetbaggers. We have followed our Mayor's lead, and have drawn another line in the sand because these outsiders are taking jobs and opportunities away from hard working native Massillonians. As a result of our Mayor's tough stance against carpetbaggers, the Massillon Review is calling on the following City of Massillon department heads, all who were appointed by Mayor Cicchinelli himself, to tender their resignations immediately;
City Parks Director Kenn Kaminski, Medina
Keith Dylewski, City Engineer, North Canton
Mike Stevens, Street Department Superintendent, Lawrence Township
Richard Gatien, Head of the Equal Employment Opportunity office, Canton
Keith Bledsoe, Plant Manager, Waste Water Treatment Center, Waterville
Linda McGill, Income Tax Administrator, Perry Township
Because of the Mayor's tough stance against carpetbaggers, we fully expect our Mayor for Life to fire these people if they do not resign. Best wishes in securing new employment in your native lands, but Massillon belongs to the Massillonians.
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
The Line in the Sand
We are once again calling out the carpetbaggers. We have followed our Mayor's lead, and have drawn another line in the sand because these outsiders are taking jobs and opportunities away from hard working native Massillonians. As a result of our Mayor's tough stance against carpetbaggers, the Massillon Review is calling on the following City of Massillon department heads, all who were appointed by Mayor Cicchinelli himself, to tender their resignations immediately;
City Parks Director Kenn Kaminski, Medina
Keith Dylewski, City Engineer, North Canton
Mike Stevens, Street Department Superintendent, Lawrence Township
Richard Gatien, Head of the Equal Employment Opportunity office, Canton
Keith Bledsoe, Plant Manager, Waste Water Treatment Center, Waterville
Linda McGill, Income Tax Administrator, Perry Township
Because of the Mayor's tough stance against carpetbaggers, we fully expect our Mayor for Life to fire these people if they do not resign. Best wishes in securing new employment in your native lands, but Massillon belongs to the Massillonians.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The Emperor is Naked
The City of Massillon is going through its Annual Summer Financial Crisis. The city is facing a one million dollar budget shortfall, as stated by Auditor Jayne Ferrero in June.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/06/surprise.html
This was predicted by the Massillon Review in May.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/05/summertime.html
We shouldn't pat ourselves on the back for this prediction, because the city has a financial crisis every year, and it is proclaimed in the summer, hence the name Annual Summer Financial Crisis. Happens every summer. It's like the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival, it is an annual event.
Our Mayor for Life recently proclaimed a spending freeze throughout his kingdom. Money can only be spent for emergencies like hotel mortgages, grant writers, and summer concerts. One of the peasants must have shared our Mayor's decree to the local paper, who chose to write a story about the spending freeze. Our Mayor for Life's response was to downplay the freeze.
Thud
The sound you just heard was our Mayor for Life throwing Auditor Jayne Ferrero under the bus... again.
"He said the move is not a reflection of the city's fiscal state and he dismissed Ferrero's projected shortfall" (The Independent, August 11, 2010).
He sure throws Auditor Ferrero under the bus a lot. As a loyal foot soldier in General Cicchinelli's army, she dutifully gets back up, dusts herself off, and goes back for more. Her blind loyalty is indeed remarkable.
So is the city short a million dollars? Is Ferrero lying? Or is our Mayor relying on the "hope and pray" method of financing the city's shortfall?
Our suspicion is that the city really is a million dollars short for 2010 with a little over four months left to find the money.
Our Mayor for Life, who is heading into an election for his seventh four year term as mayor for life, must downplay the budget deficit. Otherwise it might look like our city's finances are mismanaged, and the peasantry may decide to depose their king, and select a new mayor.
"Those numbers in the big picture are really insignificant to me because all those numbers are based on estimated revenue and estimated expenses" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, August 11, 2010).
According to our crack Massillon Review Financial Team, this is how government budgeting works. Cities estimate revenue and expenses. Our guess is that with about eight months of the year gone, the estimates are pretty accurate. The city is about one million dollars short. The Emperor clearly has no clothes.
We realize that our Mayor for Life is working hard to utilize every trick he has learned in his 37 years in city government to mask this shortfall through internal borrowing, deferring pension payments, selling city assets (parks), robbing Peter to pay Paul, or whatever financial slight of hand he can summons up to keep the ship afloat through his next election. Based on past experience, we believe he will pull it off for one more year. Mayor Cicchinelli is like Enron's management team, he is clearly the smartest guy in the room. However, when this financial house of cards he has constructed finally does collapse, and it will, the results will be ruinous.
So now we have a spending freeze that isn't really a spending freeze, but just kind of freezes spending. And the city is a million dollars short this year, but those are just numbers, and numbers don't always add up. We are sold. Problem solved. Don't worry, be happy!
By the way, might someone please tell city council that the city is broke, and they may wish to cancel the rest of their Summer Vacation and actually look at the city's budget.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/06/surprise.html
This was predicted by the Massillon Review in May.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/05/summertime.html
We shouldn't pat ourselves on the back for this prediction, because the city has a financial crisis every year, and it is proclaimed in the summer, hence the name Annual Summer Financial Crisis. Happens every summer. It's like the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival, it is an annual event.
Our Mayor for Life recently proclaimed a spending freeze throughout his kingdom. Money can only be spent for emergencies like hotel mortgages, grant writers, and summer concerts. One of the peasants must have shared our Mayor's decree to the local paper, who chose to write a story about the spending freeze. Our Mayor for Life's response was to downplay the freeze.
Thud
The sound you just heard was our Mayor for Life throwing Auditor Jayne Ferrero under the bus... again.
"He said the move is not a reflection of the city's fiscal state and he dismissed Ferrero's projected shortfall" (The Independent, August 11, 2010).
He sure throws Auditor Ferrero under the bus a lot. As a loyal foot soldier in General Cicchinelli's army, she dutifully gets back up, dusts herself off, and goes back for more. Her blind loyalty is indeed remarkable.
So is the city short a million dollars? Is Ferrero lying? Or is our Mayor relying on the "hope and pray" method of financing the city's shortfall?
Our suspicion is that the city really is a million dollars short for 2010 with a little over four months left to find the money.
Our Mayor for Life, who is heading into an election for his seventh four year term as mayor for life, must downplay the budget deficit. Otherwise it might look like our city's finances are mismanaged, and the peasantry may decide to depose their king, and select a new mayor.
"Those numbers in the big picture are really insignificant to me because all those numbers are based on estimated revenue and estimated expenses" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, August 11, 2010).
According to our crack Massillon Review Financial Team, this is how government budgeting works. Cities estimate revenue and expenses. Our guess is that with about eight months of the year gone, the estimates are pretty accurate. The city is about one million dollars short. The Emperor clearly has no clothes.
We realize that our Mayor for Life is working hard to utilize every trick he has learned in his 37 years in city government to mask this shortfall through internal borrowing, deferring pension payments, selling city assets (parks), robbing Peter to pay Paul, or whatever financial slight of hand he can summons up to keep the ship afloat through his next election. Based on past experience, we believe he will pull it off for one more year. Mayor Cicchinelli is like Enron's management team, he is clearly the smartest guy in the room. However, when this financial house of cards he has constructed finally does collapse, and it will, the results will be ruinous.
So now we have a spending freeze that isn't really a spending freeze, but just kind of freezes spending. And the city is a million dollars short this year, but those are just numbers, and numbers don't always add up. We are sold. Problem solved. Don't worry, be happy!
By the way, might someone please tell city council that the city is broke, and they may wish to cancel the rest of their Summer Vacation and actually look at the city's budget.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
$65 Dollars And What Do You Get?
As the City of Massillon struggles with a million dollar budget shortfall for this year, and a million and a half dollar shortfall for next year, we are confident our Mayor for Life, his rubber stamps on council, and his lackeys throughout city government are working hard to keep expenses down, right?
On August 2, City Council managed to break away from its Summer Vacation schedule and have a meeting to conduct city business. One interesting piece of legislation was brought forward by City Council Finance Chair Paul Manson to amend Ordinance Number 20, passed earlier this year.
What is Ordinance Number 20? Ordinance Number 20 allowed Massillon City Auditor Jayne Ferrero to hire a woman named Dianne Oliver as a grant writer for the city. Apparently Oliver is no longer writing grants for the city, as the amendments struck her name from the ordinance. Councilman Manson proposed, and council approved, amendments which removed the name Dianne Oliver, and replaced it with "whatever unnamed persons that may fill this position" (Massillon City Council Minutes, August 2, 2010), and an additional change relating to salary. That the salary "not exceed $65.00 an hour." $65 dollars an hour? A nice chunk of change.
Nobody actually believes these amendments were Councilman Paul Manson's ideas. He is the penultimate rubber stamp for our Mayor for Life. He had help. These amendments allow Auditor Ferrero to hire whoever she wants to hire as a grant writer, and pay that person "up to $65.00 an hour." One would expect that Ferrero would start interviewing people and hire someone, as the ordinance allows "whatever unnamed persons that may fill this position." One would assume that she did not have someone in mind already for the job, because if she did, one would assume she would present council with a name for the position, not "whatever unnamed persons that may fill this position."
One would be wrong.
It appears this job was filled before the Mayor's signature was dry on the legislation. Word on the street is that this position is going to former Massillon Museum Director Christine Shearer. Shearer, as we read in the Independent, resigned from the museum for "personal reasons." $65 dollars an hour would seem to be one heck of a personal reason. The Massillon Review is curious as to why Mayor Cicchinelli and Auditor Ferrero did not want to share this bit of info with the public?
As the Mayor and his administration strive to protect our tax dollars, we are confident they will set benchmarks, goals, and expectations for our "up to $65.00 an hour grant writer." We would assume our new grant writer will be submitting regular written reports to council so that they may determine that the tax payers are getting their money's worth, and that there is some accountability.
We would hope this does not devolve into a Dennis Harwig type debacle, where Harwig was hired to be the income tax inspector, so that Glenn Gamber could stay in city politics, and replace Harwig as Council President.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/03/glenn-gamber-councils-boss.html
What was Harwig's job? Making sure employees of outside contractors who did construction work in the city paid city income taxes. Harwig, who was supposed to submit a written report to council every month documenting his progress, submitted one report in four years, and was caught sleeping on more than one occasion in a city hall office. He quietly "retired" during last year's Annual Financial Crisis. Surely the Mayor and Auditor Ferrero will have learned from past mistakes so that the taxpayers of a financially strapped city will not be hoodwinked by someone billing at "up to $65 dollars an hour" who shows very little work product.
Our crack Massillon Review research team has concluded that $65 dollars an hour for 40 hours work per week is $135,200 a year. Our hunch is that Shearer will make $65 an hour, and that the language stating "up to $65 dollars an hour" means $65 dollars an hour. If Shearer were making $50 dollars an hour, the ordinance would have stated "up to $50 dollars an hour." The grant money better be rolling in, and if it isn't, the grant writer better be terminated.
$65 an hour. This better not be yet another city hall scam. Mayor Cicchinelli and Auditor Ferrero better be making damn sure $65 an hour of grant writing is happening. If it is not, they must be held to account.
On August 2, City Council managed to break away from its Summer Vacation schedule and have a meeting to conduct city business. One interesting piece of legislation was brought forward by City Council Finance Chair Paul Manson to amend Ordinance Number 20, passed earlier this year.
What is Ordinance Number 20? Ordinance Number 20 allowed Massillon City Auditor Jayne Ferrero to hire a woman named Dianne Oliver as a grant writer for the city. Apparently Oliver is no longer writing grants for the city, as the amendments struck her name from the ordinance. Councilman Manson proposed, and council approved, amendments which removed the name Dianne Oliver, and replaced it with "whatever unnamed persons that may fill this position" (Massillon City Council Minutes, August 2, 2010), and an additional change relating to salary. That the salary "not exceed $65.00 an hour." $65 dollars an hour? A nice chunk of change.
Nobody actually believes these amendments were Councilman Paul Manson's ideas. He is the penultimate rubber stamp for our Mayor for Life. He had help. These amendments allow Auditor Ferrero to hire whoever she wants to hire as a grant writer, and pay that person "up to $65.00 an hour." One would expect that Ferrero would start interviewing people and hire someone, as the ordinance allows "whatever unnamed persons that may fill this position." One would assume that she did not have someone in mind already for the job, because if she did, one would assume she would present council with a name for the position, not "whatever unnamed persons that may fill this position."
One would be wrong.
It appears this job was filled before the Mayor's signature was dry on the legislation. Word on the street is that this position is going to former Massillon Museum Director Christine Shearer. Shearer, as we read in the Independent, resigned from the museum for "personal reasons." $65 dollars an hour would seem to be one heck of a personal reason. The Massillon Review is curious as to why Mayor Cicchinelli and Auditor Ferrero did not want to share this bit of info with the public?
As the Mayor and his administration strive to protect our tax dollars, we are confident they will set benchmarks, goals, and expectations for our "up to $65.00 an hour grant writer." We would assume our new grant writer will be submitting regular written reports to council so that they may determine that the tax payers are getting their money's worth, and that there is some accountability.
We would hope this does not devolve into a Dennis Harwig type debacle, where Harwig was hired to be the income tax inspector, so that Glenn Gamber could stay in city politics, and replace Harwig as Council President.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/03/glenn-gamber-councils-boss.html
What was Harwig's job? Making sure employees of outside contractors who did construction work in the city paid city income taxes. Harwig, who was supposed to submit a written report to council every month documenting his progress, submitted one report in four years, and was caught sleeping on more than one occasion in a city hall office. He quietly "retired" during last year's Annual Financial Crisis. Surely the Mayor and Auditor Ferrero will have learned from past mistakes so that the taxpayers of a financially strapped city will not be hoodwinked by someone billing at "up to $65 dollars an hour" who shows very little work product.
Our crack Massillon Review research team has concluded that $65 dollars an hour for 40 hours work per week is $135,200 a year. Our hunch is that Shearer will make $65 an hour, and that the language stating "up to $65 dollars an hour" means $65 dollars an hour. If Shearer were making $50 dollars an hour, the ordinance would have stated "up to $50 dollars an hour." The grant money better be rolling in, and if it isn't, the grant writer better be terminated.
$65 an hour. This better not be yet another city hall scam. Mayor Cicchinelli and Auditor Ferrero better be making damn sure $65 an hour of grant writing is happening. If it is not, they must be held to account.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Thank You
Back in April, it was announced that our 22 time State Champion Massillon Tigers filled out their 2010 schedule by adding their second Canadian opponent, the National Arts of College of Canada. The National Arts College of Canada had never played organized football before. Their coach, who had yet to meet his players, and conduct his first ever practice, seemed excited about coming to Tiger Town. The National Arts College of Canada had put together an ambitious five game schedule for their first ever season of football. Besides playing the 2009 State Semi-Finalist Tigers, they were playing a second Ohio team. Lakewood St. Edward. No, not the varsity squad, the junior varsity squad.
The kids at the National Arts College of Canada had to first learn the rules of Canadian football, which are different from the American Rules. Those rules include a 12 man side, 3 downs (not 4), a 110 yard field, a 25 yard end zone, rouge points (a single point awarded when the receiving team cannot return a kick out of the 25 yard end zone), and all the backfield players could be in motion at the snap of the ball. Then they get to come to Massillon in their first ever season, forget the Canadian rules, and play by the American rules, which are quite a bit different.
The mere fact that this debacle, masquerading as a legitimate athletic contest, was even scheduled, was shameful. It was embarrassing to the proud tradition that is Massillon Tiger Football. Many Tiger supporters argue that Massillon should not join a league, such as the Federal League, because it cheapens the tradition. This sham of a game doesn't? Is the plan that our Tigers should compete to be champions of Ontario, Canada? Two Canadian teams in the same year? The National Arts College of Canada? Was the Massillon Museum football team already scheduled to play someone else that weekend?
Fortunately, someone in the Athletic Department got a clue. National Arts College of Canada was dumped from the schedule, and replaced by Avon Grove, a big school division team from Philadelphia, Pa. Avon Grove went 11-2 last year, and reached their district semi-finals. Thank you Coach Hall and Washington High Athletic Department for not cheapening the Tiger tradition and making our team and our fans suffer through what would have been a shameful exercise which would have embarrassed all involved. One Canadian team on the schedule is more than enough.
The kids at the National Arts College of Canada had to first learn the rules of Canadian football, which are different from the American Rules. Those rules include a 12 man side, 3 downs (not 4), a 110 yard field, a 25 yard end zone, rouge points (a single point awarded when the receiving team cannot return a kick out of the 25 yard end zone), and all the backfield players could be in motion at the snap of the ball. Then they get to come to Massillon in their first ever season, forget the Canadian rules, and play by the American rules, which are quite a bit different.
The mere fact that this debacle, masquerading as a legitimate athletic contest, was even scheduled, was shameful. It was embarrassing to the proud tradition that is Massillon Tiger Football. Many Tiger supporters argue that Massillon should not join a league, such as the Federal League, because it cheapens the tradition. This sham of a game doesn't? Is the plan that our Tigers should compete to be champions of Ontario, Canada? Two Canadian teams in the same year? The National Arts College of Canada? Was the Massillon Museum football team already scheduled to play someone else that weekend?
Fortunately, someone in the Athletic Department got a clue. National Arts College of Canada was dumped from the schedule, and replaced by Avon Grove, a big school division team from Philadelphia, Pa. Avon Grove went 11-2 last year, and reached their district semi-finals. Thank you Coach Hall and Washington High Athletic Department for not cheapening the Tiger tradition and making our team and our fans suffer through what would have been a shameful exercise which would have embarrassed all involved. One Canadian team on the schedule is more than enough.
Friday, August 6, 2010
More Carpetbaggers
This email came from one of our faithful readers;
"A public relations company by the name of Wern, Rausch & Locke (WRL Advertising) produce Mayor Cicchinelli's campaign advertising. As they are located in Jackson Township, I would imagine they are ineligible to assist the mayor in his next campaign."
Yes, that is correct. Thank you for pointing this out. WRL Advertising would indeed be "carpetbaggers," as they are located outside the City of Massillon. Our crack Massillon Review research team has discovered that WRL Advertising is located on Dressler Road, in the heart of Jackson Township.
Let us refer to Saturday's (July 31) Independent;
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people."
WRL Advertising would qualify as a carpetbagging advertising firm as they ARE NOT located within the corporate limits of the City of Massillon. Mayor Cicchinelli will have to hire an advertising firm located within Massillon to help run his campaign, or else he would be considered an appalling hypocrite.
We urge any of our readers who are involved in the advertising business to send their resume to our mayor. He's looking for a new firm.
"A public relations company by the name of Wern, Rausch & Locke (WRL Advertising) produce Mayor Cicchinelli's campaign advertising. As they are located in Jackson Township, I would imagine they are ineligible to assist the mayor in his next campaign."
Yes, that is correct. Thank you for pointing this out. WRL Advertising would indeed be "carpetbaggers," as they are located outside the City of Massillon. Our crack Massillon Review research team has discovered that WRL Advertising is located on Dressler Road, in the heart of Jackson Township.
Let us refer to Saturday's (July 31) Independent;
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people."
WRL Advertising would qualify as a carpetbagging advertising firm as they ARE NOT located within the corporate limits of the City of Massillon. Mayor Cicchinelli will have to hire an advertising firm located within Massillon to help run his campaign, or else he would be considered an appalling hypocrite.
We urge any of our readers who are involved in the advertising business to send their resume to our mayor. He's looking for a new firm.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Civility Has Left the Port
Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli, was busily bemoaning the fact that local politics has become increasingly nasty and personal. He told the Independent that "Civility has left the port." In reference to his campaign for a 7th four year term as Massillon's monarch, he was quoted as saying, "If there is some opposition, I want it to be concentrated on the issues."
"I absolutely anticipate (personal attacks)... It's going to get nasty. I do not like to get nasty. I do not like to get into those types of elections. They are not productive. They are not good" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
"During his press conference Friday, he talked about a changing political landscape mired by the instantaneous ability to disseminate information on web forums and blogs" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Hypocrite Alert
Uh, Oh. The Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System has been activated. It goes off when hypocrisy starts to permeate the atmosphere around Massillon.
It has been alleged, and the crack Massillon Review investigative staff has concluded, that our honorable scion of civility, Frank Cicchinelli, has been spotted on a local web forum, one which is mainly dedicated to the discussion of high school sports, using a pseudonym and launching personal attacks against a Massillon resident, and accusing this poor citizen of not paying his taxes, and questioning how much income tax this person pays to the city.
Mayor, this behavior is "increasingly nasty and personal." We are shocked to see you disseminating personal attacks on web forums and blogs. Civility has indeed left the port.
Yes, we made a copy of the mayor's post, because yes, we fully anticipate that he will delete his post when this article is published.
"I absolutely anticipate (personal attacks)... It's going to get nasty. I do not like to get nasty. I do not like to get into those types of elections. They are not productive. They are not good" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
"During his press conference Friday, he talked about a changing political landscape mired by the instantaneous ability to disseminate information on web forums and blogs" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Hypocrite Alert
Uh, Oh. The Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System has been activated. It goes off when hypocrisy starts to permeate the atmosphere around Massillon.
It has been alleged, and the crack Massillon Review investigative staff has concluded, that our honorable scion of civility, Frank Cicchinelli, has been spotted on a local web forum, one which is mainly dedicated to the discussion of high school sports, using a pseudonym and launching personal attacks against a Massillon resident, and accusing this poor citizen of not paying his taxes, and questioning how much income tax this person pays to the city.
Mayor, this behavior is "increasingly nasty and personal." We are shocked to see you disseminating personal attacks on web forums and blogs. Civility has indeed left the port.
Yes, we made a copy of the mayor's post, because yes, we fully anticipate that he will delete his post when this article is published.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
This is Not a Test
The Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System has been activated. This is not a test. Hypocrisy has been detected in Massillon. Stay tuned for further details.
Carpetbagger Exposed!
During our Mayor for Life's press conference this past Friday, Mayor Cicchinelli was adamant that people who do not live in Massillon should not be involved in city politics. He referred to such people as "carpetbaggers." Cicchinelli promised to "draw a line in the sand," and call out such "carpetbaggers." Mayor Cicchinelli has thrown down the gauntlet, and the Massillon Review accepts the challenge. We are drawing the "line in the sand." We are calling out the "carpetbaggers." We are calling out Massillon Mayor Frank Cicchinelli.
On Monday, we identified the campaign contributors to Frank Cicchinelli's campaign who DO NOT live in Massillon. We anticipate he will be returning the over $7,000 they donated to him in 2009.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/line-in-sand.html
During our Mayor for Life's press conference, our mayor made the following statement;
"People in Massillon should decide. People that live in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be, who their council member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of Massillon should not be concerned with who the mayor is and who council members are."
OK, it appears that the mayor's position is pretty clear. If you don't live a political subdivision, you shouldn't participate in its politics.
Our mayor actually lives in the Perry Local School District. He pays his school taxes to the Perry Local School District. Why then does he meddle in the affairs of the Massillon City Schools, and Massillon School Board Elections? Is he not a "carpetbagger." Must we draw a "line in the sand?"
On September 22, 2009, Mayor Cicchinelli's campaign made a $500 contribution to the campaign of Massillon School Board candidate Tom Seesan. Cicchinelli was also spotted attending Massillon School Board meetings during the "head football coach should be the athletic director" saga.
People in the Massillon School District should decide. People that live in the Massillon School District should decide who their school board member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of the Massillon School District should not be concerned with who the school board member should be.
Enough said. End the hypocrisy.
We are certain the Perry Panther Football Booster Club is anxiously awaiting his membership application.
On Monday, we identified the campaign contributors to Frank Cicchinelli's campaign who DO NOT live in Massillon. We anticipate he will be returning the over $7,000 they donated to him in 2009.
www.massillonreview.blogspot.com/2010/08/line-in-sand.html
During our Mayor for Life's press conference, our mayor made the following statement;
"People in Massillon should decide. People that live in Massillon should decide who their mayor should be, who their council member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of Massillon should not be concerned with who the mayor is and who council members are."
OK, it appears that the mayor's position is pretty clear. If you don't live a political subdivision, you shouldn't participate in its politics.
Our mayor actually lives in the Perry Local School District. He pays his school taxes to the Perry Local School District. Why then does he meddle in the affairs of the Massillon City Schools, and Massillon School Board Elections? Is he not a "carpetbagger." Must we draw a "line in the sand?"
On September 22, 2009, Mayor Cicchinelli's campaign made a $500 contribution to the campaign of Massillon School Board candidate Tom Seesan. Cicchinelli was also spotted attending Massillon School Board meetings during the "head football coach should be the athletic director" saga.
People in the Massillon School District should decide. People that live in the Massillon School District should decide who their school board member should be. They shouldn't be influenced by anyone on the outside, any individual that doesn't live within the corporate limits of the Massillon School District should not be concerned with who the school board member should be.
Enough said. End the hypocrisy.
We are certain the Perry Panther Football Booster Club is anxiously awaiting his membership application.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
What Would Frank Do?
According to an article in Saturday's Independent, our Mayor for Life has a little advice for his potential challengers: keep it clean.
"If there is some opposition I want it to be concentrated on the issues," he said. "I absolutely anticipate (personal attacks)... It's going to get nasty. I do not like to get into those types of elections. They are not productive. They are not good" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Our Mayor for Life doesn't want a negative campaign run against him. It is, however, OK for him to do it to someone else.
WWFD, What Would Frank Do?
One of the nastiest campaigns in recent Massillon history occurred in 2007 when former Councilman Dale Walterhouse challenged current 3rd Ward council representative Kathy Catazaro-Perry. Catazaro-Perry was a pain in the mayor's side, as she would not blindly rubber stamp for the mayor. Our Mayor for Life decided we needed a change in Ward 3. He recruited Walterhouse, a Republican, to run against Catazaro-Perry, a Democrat. Our Mayor for Life, also a Democrat, had no qualms about supporting a candidate from the party opposite.
Walterhouse was initially reluctant to run, but the mayor and his cronies talked him into it. Kevin Smith, a former mayoral appointment to the Massillon Zoning Board of Appeals, currently facing trial in federal court for his marijuana agribusiness, collected Walerhouse's petition signatures to place him on the ballot.
Walterhouse's direct mail campaign was absolutely vicious. After reading one particular mailer, a person would wonder if Catazaro-Perry was responsible for the 9/11 attacks as well. Cicchinelli, Kevin Smith, and Ron Pribich were left to cry in their beer as Catazaro-Perry prevailed over the mayor's political machine. Rumor has it that Walterhouse felt used afterward, as these efforts were not entirely his own.
Cicchinelli now wants to keep city politics clean. It kind of looks more like he doesn't want done to him what he has done to others.
"If there is some opposition I want it to be concentrated on the issues," he said. "I absolutely anticipate (personal attacks)... It's going to get nasty. I do not like to get into those types of elections. They are not productive. They are not good" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Our Mayor for Life doesn't want a negative campaign run against him. It is, however, OK for him to do it to someone else.
WWFD, What Would Frank Do?
One of the nastiest campaigns in recent Massillon history occurred in 2007 when former Councilman Dale Walterhouse challenged current 3rd Ward council representative Kathy Catazaro-Perry. Catazaro-Perry was a pain in the mayor's side, as she would not blindly rubber stamp for the mayor. Our Mayor for Life decided we needed a change in Ward 3. He recruited Walterhouse, a Republican, to run against Catazaro-Perry, a Democrat. Our Mayor for Life, also a Democrat, had no qualms about supporting a candidate from the party opposite.
Walterhouse was initially reluctant to run, but the mayor and his cronies talked him into it. Kevin Smith, a former mayoral appointment to the Massillon Zoning Board of Appeals, currently facing trial in federal court for his marijuana agribusiness, collected Walerhouse's petition signatures to place him on the ballot.
Walterhouse's direct mail campaign was absolutely vicious. After reading one particular mailer, a person would wonder if Catazaro-Perry was responsible for the 9/11 attacks as well. Cicchinelli, Kevin Smith, and Ron Pribich were left to cry in their beer as Catazaro-Perry prevailed over the mayor's political machine. Rumor has it that Walterhouse felt used afterward, as these efforts were not entirely his own.
Cicchinelli now wants to keep city politics clean. It kind of looks more like he doesn't want done to him what he has done to others.
Monday, August 2, 2010
A Line in the Sand
At our Mayor for Life's Friday Press Conference, where he declared that he would run for a 7th four year term as Massillon's Supreme Leader, he was adamant that "outsiders" not involve themselves in Massillon City Politics.
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Today, The Massillon Review will list these carpetbaggers. We have called them out. We have drawn a line in the sand.
We are confident our mayor means what he says, and will not be a hypocrite. He must practice what he preaches, or it will be clear that he lacks integrity. We are drawing the line in the sand for him, right now. We ask him to stand with us to repudiate these "carpetbaggers."
The line in the sand
Frank Cicchinelli needs to return the over $7,000 dollars donated in 2009 to his campaign for mayor by "carpetbaggers" and outsiders who do not actually live in the City of Massillon. This money was donated at his last golf outing fundraiser, and this "capetbagger" money accounts for over half the money he raised at this event. He needs to immediately return the following amounts to the following carpetbagging outsiders;
Lawrence Levy of Akron, $250.00
Tracy Stevens of Urichsville, $25.00
Roger Deville of Canton, $460.00
Todd Bosley of Louisville, $50.00
Tim Putman of Canton, $190.00
Mark Sterling of Canton, $100.00
Bob Senkar of Medina, $460.00
Rich LaRocca of Canton, $180.00
Michael Mennett of North Canton, $100.00
Paul Stergios of Canton, $90.00
Gary Holderbaum, of North Lawrence, $460.00
Sean Dougherty of Youngstown, $90.00
William Ziegler of Canton, $100.00
Kim Perez of Canton, $80.00
Floyd Browne of Delaware, $180.00
Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths Law Firm of Canton, $100.00
Mark McAfee of Navarre, $50.00
Jackson Township Trustee John Pizzino, $360.00
Joseph Rago of Bethel Park, Pa., $90.00
Steve Surmay of Dalton, $360.00
Buckingham Doolittle Law Firm of Akron, $40.00
James Berge of Dalton, $90.00
RichardJacobsen of Canton, $90.00
Karl Dickenson of Painesville, $610.00
Howard Wenger of Dalton, $460.00
Harry Giltz of Canton, $300.00
Doug Sibila of Canton, $100.00
Matt Ashton of Canton, $90.00
John Helline of North Lawrence, $360.00
John Vaught of Canton, $100.00
Aqua America Pac of Bryn Maar, Pa., $180.00
Stephen Gregory of Canton, $125.00
Richard Gatien of Canton, $40.00
Keith Dylewski of North Canton, $280.00
Keith Bledsoe of Waterville, $90.00
Lawrence Township Trustee Mike Stevens, $90.00
Jeffrey Chapanar of Clinton, $180.00
Jason Haines of Navarre, $90.00
Kenn Kaminski of Medina, $90.00
After reading his harsh stance on carpetbaggers, we are sure the checks returning this money are already in the mail.
"Cicchinelli also said outsiders should not dabble in city politics. He said he will call out such "carpetbaggers" for involving themselves in the mayor's race or other citywide races. There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said, refusing to identify such people" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).
Today, The Massillon Review will list these carpetbaggers. We have called them out. We have drawn a line in the sand.
We are confident our mayor means what he says, and will not be a hypocrite. He must practice what he preaches, or it will be clear that he lacks integrity. We are drawing the line in the sand for him, right now. We ask him to stand with us to repudiate these "carpetbaggers."
The line in the sand
Frank Cicchinelli needs to return the over $7,000 dollars donated in 2009 to his campaign for mayor by "carpetbaggers" and outsiders who do not actually live in the City of Massillon. This money was donated at his last golf outing fundraiser, and this "capetbagger" money accounts for over half the money he raised at this event. He needs to immediately return the following amounts to the following carpetbagging outsiders;
Lawrence Levy of Akron, $250.00
Tracy Stevens of Urichsville, $25.00
Roger Deville of Canton, $460.00
Todd Bosley of Louisville, $50.00
Tim Putman of Canton, $190.00
Mark Sterling of Canton, $100.00
Bob Senkar of Medina, $460.00
Rich LaRocca of Canton, $180.00
Michael Mennett of North Canton, $100.00
Paul Stergios of Canton, $90.00
Gary Holderbaum, of North Lawrence, $460.00
Sean Dougherty of Youngstown, $90.00
William Ziegler of Canton, $100.00
Kim Perez of Canton, $80.00
Floyd Browne of Delaware, $180.00
Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths Law Firm of Canton, $100.00
Mark McAfee of Navarre, $50.00
Jackson Township Trustee John Pizzino, $360.00
Joseph Rago of Bethel Park, Pa., $90.00
Steve Surmay of Dalton, $360.00
Buckingham Doolittle Law Firm of Akron, $40.00
James Berge of Dalton, $90.00
RichardJacobsen of Canton, $90.00
Karl Dickenson of Painesville, $610.00
Howard Wenger of Dalton, $460.00
Harry Giltz of Canton, $300.00
Doug Sibila of Canton, $100.00
Matt Ashton of Canton, $90.00
John Helline of North Lawrence, $360.00
John Vaught of Canton, $100.00
Aqua America Pac of Bryn Maar, Pa., $180.00
Stephen Gregory of Canton, $125.00
Richard Gatien of Canton, $40.00
Keith Dylewski of North Canton, $280.00
Keith Bledsoe of Waterville, $90.00
Lawrence Township Trustee Mike Stevens, $90.00
Jeffrey Chapanar of Clinton, $180.00
Jason Haines of Navarre, $90.00
Kenn Kaminski of Medina, $90.00
After reading his harsh stance on carpetbaggers, we are sure the checks returning this money are already in the mail.
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