Same Auld Lang Syne

Some of the best quotes from 2010...

Marshall's logic

"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."

- Marshall Weinberg, in explaining his support for the 'reorganization' of the Washington High School Athletic Department, which would have made the head football coach the athletic director, and the offensive coordinator the assistant athletic director, and how this move could have stopped a major marijuana growing operation where the main culprits went to prison (The Independent, March 30, 2010).

Lisa Carmichael's terms of endearment

"You're an ***hole, Marshall"

- Massillon City Schools Superintendent Lisa Carmichael, expressing her unvarnished opinion of School Board member Marshall Weinberg (The Independent, March 8, 2010).

Spouting the party line

"There is no doubt the parks and recreation department is getting more criticism this year (than in the past)," he said. "I think the reason is two things. One there will also be anti- (Mayor Frank) Cicchinelli people. If he says the sky is blue they will think it is green and, two, there are people who are continually looking for something to pick on."

- Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski explaining that the parks aren't in horrible condition despite visual evidence to the contrary. It is only that critics of the parks system are "Anti-Cicchinelli" (The Independent, May 10, 2010).

Give me liberty or...

tax "comes with the territory," noting he's tired of hearing arguments about "taxation without representation."

- Alleged Republican and Massillon's answer to Patrick Henry, 5th Ward Councilman Donnie Peters expressing his views on the people opposing Massillon's annexation of R.G. Drage school. (The Independent, April 13, 2010).

Paranoia will destroy ya'

"Cicchinelli is a vindictive, sociopathic control freak. He's running the city into the ground."

- Andrew Oser, potential mayoral candidate (The Independent, October 29, 2010).


"And I really feel bad for the mayor because every time someone comes up with something and is an independent thinker he thinks there has to be a conspiracy. The guy's got a serious case of paranoia."

- 4th Ward Councilman Tony Townsend (The Independent, November 20, 2010).


The Pledge

"Mayor Cicchinelli told 4th Ward residents there are no plans to sell Shriver park, or many others, and he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver by urging his Parks and Recreation Board appointees to vote in favor of it."

- Massillon's Mayor for Life, after being pressured at a Ward 4 Town Hall meeting, pledging his support to rename Shriver Park after former Ward 4 Councilman, the late T. Roy Roberson (The Independent, August 31, 2010). Of course the mayor's appointees on the Park Board both voted no, as did the mayor's rubber stamp bloc on council. So much for his "pledge."

July's Frank Cicchinelli

"We'll be able to pay for these increases," Cicchinelli said. "I'm not concerned about it. We will be there. I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (The Independent, July 6, 2010).

November's Frank Cicchinelli

"The need for additional revenue is not going to go away," Cicchinelli said, urging council to help find new money for the city" (The Independent, November 9, 2010).

Prudent city planning

"You're right. We did go into this without a business plan"

- Julie Jenkins, Office Manager, Parks and Recreation/ Legends Golf Course, in a letter to the Massillon Review confirming that the City of Massillon spent almost $200,000 dollars to buy the restaurant at the golf course without having a business plan.

Save Shepas Now!

Our Mayor for Life has not been one to actively participate in the robust civic life of the community he lords over with an iron fist.

He spends most of his time brooding and scheming in the mayoral bunker, worried about who is out to get him (i.e. - who is running for mayor).

It is rare that you see him at a community event, unless it is some how related to the Massillon Tiger Football team.

Frank Cicchinelli, if nothing else, is a loyal 'friend of the program' football booster. It is so much a part of his DNA that it defines his priorities. It means that football comes first.

The mayor sees himself as 'Mayor of the football team,' as much as he sees himself as mayor of the city.

Our Mayor for Life isn't worried about trivial things like not having enough money to pay for police and fire fighters. That's council's problem. But mess with the football program, and watch out.

Back in the day, when the mayor was worried that the school board wasn't renewing former football coach Rick Shepas' contract fast enough, Cicchinelli and the First Lady of Massillon orchestrated the Save Shepas Now! campaign. They showed up at school board meetings with their 'Save Shepas Now!' signs, until the school board renewed Shepas' contract.

Oddly enough, it was eerily reminiscent of the sign campaign orchestrated by a number of 'friends of the program' trying to force school board member Tom Seesan to resign earlier this year. Remember the 'Seesan Must Resign' yard signs and the 'picketing' at the school board meetings?

Tom Seesan drew the ire of the 'Friends of the Program' when he refused to 'reorganize' the Washington High School Athletic department to make the head football coach the athletic director, and make the offensive coordinator the assistant athletic director, thereby formally putting football at the top of the school food chain.

For Frank Cicchinelli, it's all about priorities.

And Monday night, the priority wasn't the city he is paid to lead, and its budget chasm, it was a fund raiser at the Eagles Club for the Massillon Tiger Football Library.

According to an editorial in yesterday's Independent, Cicchinelli was 'miffed' because he was late to the fund raiser. He was late because he was at Massillon City Council taking pot shots at the council people who dared to vote down his unbalanced budget.

We can just hear him, too... complaining about the idiots on council who "just don't understand" how things work.

More importantly, it is quite evident that the Independent has moved from its former role as mayoral cheerleader and chief defender of the administration to a more objective position. This, of course, as drawn the enmity of the mayor, as he is no doubt perplexed by this change of philosophy by the city's newspaper. This change has led our mayor to periodically 'boycott' the paper until they print more favorable news and commentary regarding his lengthy mayoral regime.

While we don't always agree with the Independent, nor should we, because in a free country the press will often print stories contrary to our own views, we believe they have finally seen the mayor for what he is. The Emperor is no longer wearing fine silken robes.

"As hard as we try to remain positive about the Cicchinelli Administration, the mayor's actions - specifically his lack of respect toward City Council and the legislative process, as well as his disdain for anyone who is not perpetually in his corner - makes it quite a challenge to give him the benefit of the doubt" (Editorial, The Independent, December 29, 2010).

Enough said.

I've got you Jayne

Back in July, Auditor Jayne Ferrero saw that the city's budget was in trouble, and she offered a solution. She wanted city council to consider putting a police and fire levy on the November ballot.

"We need to be looking at revenue streams" (Auditor Jayne Ferrero, The Independent, July 13, 2010).

Who shot her idea down first? Was it Kathy Catazaro-Perry, a likely challenger to our mayor for life?

Nope.

It was our Mayor for Life;

"Cicchinelli is opposed to a levy... He also opposes increasing the income tax during poor economic times" (The Independent, July 13, 2010).

Cicchinelli once more threw Auditor Ferrero under the bus. Things were great in Tiger Town over the Summer. The mayor had just doled out 4% pay raises to the city's unions and the mayor was confident in the city's financial condition;

"We'll be able to pay for these increases," Cicchinelli said. "I'm not concerned about it. We will be there. I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (The Independent, July 6, 2010).

In November, it appeared Ferrero may have been correct about looking for revenue streams.

"The need for additional revenue is not going to go away," Cicchinelli said, urging council to help find new money for the city" (The Independent, November 9, 2010).

What? Now we have a "need for additional revenue?"

Back in July, our beloved Mayor for Life chastised Ferrero for dare suggesting that all was not well with the city's finances. Of course Jayne Ferrero knows her role. When the Mayor for Life throws her under the bus, she accepts it.

Jayne Ferrero is a faithful foot soldier in General Frank's army.

Instead of offering an "I told you so defense," she joins the mayor in circling the budgetary wagon.

When Cicchinelli was whining because he thought everyone on council was on board with his unbalanced budget since no one called to tell him they were against it, and because Frank chose to ignore subtle hints, such as Kathy Catazaro-Perry calling his budget "horrible," the loyal Jayne Ferrero was there to offer a full throated defense of the mayor's unbalanced budget;

"No one, no one that voted against the budget gave me the courtesy of a phone call," Ferrero said. "That kind of disturbs me because it tells me you don't really want to know. This is the same kind of budget we've gone through since I was on council and since I've been auditor for three years. We always go in knowing our budget is going to be short because we only have so much money to certify at the start of the year" (The Independent, December 28, 2010).

Uh, Jayne. This is the mayor's budget. Why should members of council be calling you?

Uh, Jayne. Why are you so 'disturbed?' This is the mayor's budget. Why are you taking it's failure so personally?

Uh, Jayne. What happened to "we need to be looking at revenue streams?"

We are sure the Mayor for Life sleeps well at night knowing that however poorly he treats the auditor, that she will will always have his back.

No matter what.

My Bad

Frank Cicchinelli managed to drop by Massillon City Council last night. Our Mayor for Life appeared miffed that his unbalanced budget was not passed.

He thought everyone was on board;

"Now it seems like there is some attempt to spin this that because I wasn't there the budget was voted down," he said. "Not one individual who voted against the budget contacted me. So I assumed - and my bad - that everybody was on board with this issue of the budget" (The Independent, December 28, 2010).

See? The mayor thought "everyone was on board" with his budget. He didn't have a clue that some members of council were not happy.

How could he know? Our Mayor for Life is no mind reader!

Subtle hints from council members, apparently, were lost on the mayor.

"Councilwoman Kathy Catazaro-Perry said she could not vote for the budget until it was rectified or until it was done on a quarterly basis... Catazaro-Perry called the budget "horrible" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

We know... Even after that statement, Frank thought Kathy was "on board."

During the budget discussion on November 29, Councilman Donnie Peters said the following relating to the budget;

"The golf course is dragging us down," and that it "kills our general fund" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

Sounds like Donnie was "on board," too.

The headline from the Independent's article about the November 29th council meeting where the budget was discussed was;

"Massillon City Council still at impasse over mayor's 2011 budget"

And Frank Cicchinelli really believed everyone was "on board?"

We know. We are shocked that someone would try and blame our forever blameless mayor. He thought everyone was "on board" with his budget. How could he have possibly thought other wise?

Our bad.

The Final Count Down

One week ago today, Massillon City Council rejected the Mayor for Life's unbalanced 2011 budget. Both Larry Slagle and Donnie Peters voted no, leaving our beloved Mayor for Life with only his die hard, loyal to the death rubber stamp bloc of Taxman Hersher, Lap Dog of the Treasury Manson, Dave McCune, and Ron Mang.

Of Course, the mayor and the finance chairman, Paul Manson, immediately began meeting with members of council to try and negotiate a budget that would get five votes, right?

Nope.

The mayor, and or Paul Manson introduced a temporary spending plan while they worked on a permanent budget, right?

Nope.

The New Year is only four days away, and the city has no budget, surely Mayor Cicchinelli and Finance Chairman Paul Manson have some plan to move the city's budget forward, right?

Nope.

We believe the Mayor's plan is to do nothing.

Faced with the prospect of the city falling into the financial abyss, we believe the mayor believes either Donnie Peters or Larry Slagle will change their vote and see the light.

That the mayor's budget will pass as submitted, as other wise the resulting financial chaos would, of course, be city council's fault.

Because the buck always stops some place other than the mayor's desk in Massillon.

Besides, negotiating a new budget would be an admission that something wasn't quite right with the mayor's original budget. And our mayor doesn't make mistakes.

Merry Christmas, Massillon

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

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The Massillon Review will now open the City's Christmas stocking to see what our beloved Mayor for Life, Santa Frank, has left for us;

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Let's see what's first in the stocking. Oh my gosh! It's a dam which is about to burst;

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The Reservoir dam "was given a first-class hazard rating during the inspection meaning that it poses a risk of "probable loss of human life" (The Independent, October 30, 2010). "Probable loss of human life" seems pretty serious. Let's look for the gift receipt. Maybe we can return this one on the 26th.

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Let's see, what else can we pull out of the stocking. Why it's an almost $200,000 dollar restaurant with no business plan;

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"we did go into this without a business plan" (Julie Jenkins, Office Manager for Parks and Recreation/Legends of Massillon golf course).

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What do we have here? Why it's a shiny new tax! It's a "storm water utility fee" which will be tacked on to our sewer bills. It's just what we have always wanted.

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With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now! Gamber, now! Manson, now! Peters and Hersher,

On! Mang, on! McCune, on Slagle and Jayne Ferrero."

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What else did Santa Frank bring us for Christmas?

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Oh my goodness! It's crippling golf course debt. Not every city gets crippling golf course debt for Christmas! We will owe $524,045 dollars just in 2011 alone on the debt. We bet Canton doesn't have crippling golf course debt.

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What else is in our stocking? It's a $211,000 mortgage payment for the privately owned Hampton Inn. Wow, and its just our size, too!

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Ooh. Here's a really big box. Oh, look. Its an unvoted pay raise for the mayor, city council, law director, and auditor.

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Check this out. 4% pay raises for the city's unionized workers. Other governments are having pay freezes and cuts, but not in Massillon.We may be broke, but the unions are getting a raise. We hope they properly thank Santa Frank during his election year.

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What else do we have in the City's Christmas stocking? Why it's a set of monogrammed rubber stamps. One says "Taxman," another says "Loyal Enforcer," and a third says "Lap Dog of the Treasury." We bet these rubber stamps will be used all year long!

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Here is a gift that won't get a lot of use. It's a pledge. A "pledge" from Santa Frank to the people of Ward 4;

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"he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver by urging his Parks and Recreation Board appointees to vote in favor of it" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).

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Oh look, a book, "The Complete Vandal's Guide to the Massillon Park System." The Forward is written by Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski.

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We were hopeful. This next present was on our list, but we weren't sure Santa Frank would come through. He did. It's a 'line in the sand'. A line in the sand will keep the carpetbaggers at bay;

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"He (Cicchinelli) said he would call out such "carpetbaggers..."

There's going to be a line drawn in the sand, he said" (The Independent, July 31, 2010).

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Carpetbaggers. People not originally from Massillon. Santa Frank's campaign contributors, ad agency, department heads... and even Mrs. Santa Frank. Carpetbaggers.

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What's this? Marijuana Growing for Dummies? This must have been left in our stocking by mistake. This probably belongs to former Zoning Board of Appeals member Kevin Smith. We will forward this along to the proper federal prison so Kevin gets his Christmas present, too.

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One last gift in the City's Christmas stocking. It's Santa Frank's seventh term as mayor. If we only re-elect Santa Frank to a seventh term as a mayor, just imagine what the City of Massillon will find in its Christmas stocking next year.

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But I heard him explain as he drove out of sight -

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Santa Frank is Coming to Town

He's making a list.
He's checking it twice.
He's gonna find out
who's naughty or nice.

The Massillon Review is just thrilled to have Santa Frank stop by for a visit before his big night, when he delivers presents to all the good boys and girls of Massillon.

Take it away Santa...

Massillon Review? Santa thought this was the Massillon Football Tiger Booster Club meeting. Where's Marshall and Ron Pribich (Ho, Ho, Ho).

It doesn't matter. Santa is here today to check his naughty and nice list. Which good little boys and girls will get presents, and which bad little boys and girls will get a lump of coal in their stocking.

The first name on Santa Frank's list is David Hersher. David is one of my favorite council elves. Even though he barely got elected to city council, he has helped Santa Frank by introducing unpopular tax after unpopular tax. He votes for all Santa's unbalanced budgets, hotel mortgages, and restaurant purchases. I am giving David the key to the city for all his loyal rubber stamping. After the voters throw David out of office next year, he won't have a key to city council anymore, so I thought he might want another key (Ho, Ho, Ho).

Who do I have next on my list? It's Paul Manson. Paul is Santa's most loyal council elf. People have been criticizing Paul's job as chairman of the finance committee. They have been calling him my Lap Dog of the Treasury. I told Paul, it's not his job to read the budget, it's just his job to vote yes. Paul does what ever Santa wants. Paul gets to choose as many gifts as he wants from Santa's Workshop.

Donnie Peters. Donnie only gets a small present this year. Perhaps Santa will fill in a couple of pot holes in Donnie's ward. While Donnie voted for the 2010 unbalanced budget and voted to pay the mortgage at the Hampton, he voted against the 2011 unbalanced budget, and he voted against Santa's "Storm Water Utility Fee." Santa needed that money to put a new roof on the reindeer barn (Ho, Ho, Ho).

Eddie Elum? Eddie Elum?? Are you kidding Santa? Judge Elum gets a big bag of coal this year. Elum tried to stop Santa from selling Genshaft Park so that Santa could cover his ever growing budget deficit at the North Pole. This town ain't big enough for both Santa and the judge. That's why Santa has been encouraging some of his elves to file grievances against the judge. Santa will teach Judge Elum who runs this town. And it sure ain't the voters! (Ho, Ho, Ho).

Glenn Gamber. Council President Glenn Gamber gets a shiny new gavel for being Santa's Head Elf on city council. Glenn keeps the other elves in line to make sure that Santa's agenda is carried out, and that Santa isn't stuck with any responsibility for unpopular decisions. Whether he strong arms them, tricks them, or just takes the other elves out for eggnog to explain to them how they should vote, Glenn keeps them in line. Glenn also worked tirelessly to protect Santa's well earned pay raise when a certain female elf tried to repeal our annual unvoted pay raises. Santa needs the money. Santa's North Pole workshop comes with a golf course view, and the mortgage ain't cheap (Ho, Ho, Ho).

Ron Pribich. Santa Frank appointed Ron Pribich back to the Park Board when one of Santa's other appointees started to think for themselves. Former Park Board elf Joe Luckring wanted to use park insurance claim money for, get this, the parks! Santa had to quickly take care of business and get the parks back under control, and Ron Pribich is just my man. Ron sold Santa some land at the North Pole when Santa wanted to expand the workshop by another nine rooms. Ron Pribich gets Santa's undying gratitude this Christmas.

Who do we have here? Marshall Weinberg. Marshall Weinberg is a loyal 'friend of the program' football booster who worked tirelessly to "reorganize" the Massillon High School Athletic Department, so that football would be the top priority. Marshall wanted to make the head football coach the athletic director, and make the offensive coordinator the assistant athletic director. Santa loves Marshall because Marshall never lets common sense get in the way of his arguments. Marshall explained to the newspaper how if the head football coach was the athletic director, convicted Drug lord Kevin Smith might not have been growing marijuana on a cartel sized scale. Santa will give Marshall what Marshall always wanted. A top position of authority in the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club (Ho, Ho, Ho).

Kevin Smith. Santa was just shocked to learn that Kevin was growing marijuana on an industrial level. After all, Santa appointed Kevin to be on the North Pole Zoning Board of Appeals. Kevin was also a former football booster club president and loyal 'friend of the program.' Growing drugs is a bad thing, but hey, Kevin was one heck of a poker player. Santa isn't sure what Christmas gifts are allowed in federal prison, but Santa will try and bring Kevin a present during visiting hours (Ho, Ho, Ho).

Johnnie Maier. Johnnie Maier thinks he is so much smarter than Santa. If the North Pole budget wasn't such a mess, Santa would tell Maier what to do with the $70,000 dollars Maier returned to the city's coffers. Santa knows Maier tried to embarrass Santa by bringing former President Clinton to town. It was all a conspiracy. Santa isn't sure what the conspiracy was about, but Santa is certain it was a conspiracy. Maier gets a big, fat lump of coal for Christmas (Ho, Ho, Ha!).

Tom Seesan. Tom was supposed to be a loyal 'friend of the program,' but Tom opposed the "football first" reorganization of the Washington High School Athletic Department. Tom has so disappointed the good little boys and girls who are 'friends of the program,' that Santa has no choice but to give Tom a lump of coal.

The Independent. Back in the day, the Independent was a good newspaper that printed whatever Santa had to say, and always defended Santa, regardless of how crazy Santa's ideas really were. Now the Independent is more discerning in its coverage of Santa's North Pole administration. The paper even occasionally criticizes Santa. This is not acceptable to Santa and his loyal elves. Either they write about Santa more favorably, or Santa will once again boycott the paper. They get coal!

Kathy Catazaro-Perry? Kathy Catazaro-Perry?? KATHY CATAZARO-PERRY????
She wants Santa's job! She is a no good, anti-Massillon, mayor hating, carpetbagging diva. Her last name is "Perry." How can she run for mayor of Massillon when her last name is "Perry?" She tried to take away Santa's pay raise, and now she wants to take Santa's job. This is Santa's job! Do you hear me? THIS IS SANTA'S JOB!!! Kathy Catazaro-Perry?? AGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

We are so sorry. We need to end our visit with Santa. Santa needs a time out, and some nice hot cocoa to calm him down.
Merry Christmas Massillon!

Day 12

On the Twelfth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me...

Twelve carpetbaggers contributing;

"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).

"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."
- Frank Cicchinelli, in his own words, at his press conference, July 30, 2010.

Of course, while decrying 'carpetbaggers' out of one side of his mouth, he solicited over $7,000 dollars in 2009 from people who do not live "within the corporate limits" of Massillon for his campaign. Money that will be used to influence who the mayor will be.

These carpetbagging outsiders include the following 12 donors, and their contribution amounts;

Lawrence Levy of Akron, $250
Roger Deville of Canton, $460
Tim Putman of Canton, $190
Bob Senkar of Medina, $460
Gary Holderbaum of North Lawrence, $460
Jackson Township Trustee John Pizzino, $360
Steve Surmay of Dalton, $360
Karl Dickenson of Painesville, $610
Howard Wenger of Dalton, $460
John Helline of North Lawrence, $360
Aqua America Pac of Bryn Maar, PA, $180
Keith Dylewski of North Canton, $280

OK every body, sing it loud...

Eleven taxpayer rip-offs

Ten more years of hotel mortgage payments

Nine hole golf course expansion

Eight paranoid delusions

Seven hundred thousand dollars of unpaid bills

Six terms as mayor

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS

Four parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4...

Many thanks to the Massillon Review Select Choir for leading us through the 12 Days of a Massillon Christmas.

Don't forget, Santa Frank will be dropping by the Massillon Review tomorrow!

Rebellion

There was rebellion at last night's Massillon City Council meeting as City Council voted down the Mayor for Life's unbalanced budget on a five to four vote.

Most of the Mayor for Life's recent controversial proposals have been passing on five to four votes. Bed rock rubber stamps Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson, Taxman Dave Hersher, David McCune, and Ron Mang would be joined by either Donnie Peters, or Larry Slagle. If Slagle was against something, Peters would be for it, or vice-versa.

Slagle voted against the unbalanced 2010 budget.

Slagle also joined Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Gary Anderson and Tony Townsend in voting against the unbalanced 2011 budget.

What was the difference?

Donnie Peters flipped. Peters, who voted for the last unbalanced budget, voted against this unbalanced budget.

And the mayor loses the battle over his budget as open rebellion descends upon city council.

Yes, the budget had more holes in it than a block of Swiss cheese.

Yes, the budget had a grand canyonesque funding shortage for police and fire.

Yes, it was ill conceived.

So what.

On every other misguided issue, from purchasing a restaurant without a business plan, to creating a "storm water utility fee," to fighting a name change for a park, Massillon Mayor for Life and his ruling junta have always been able to secure five votes on council.

Until now.

The Mayor was no where to be found at Monday's council meeting.

He had his faithful Lap Dog of the Treasury, Paul Manson, fill in as attack dog in his absence.

Manson claimed the 'No' vote was "political."

"They are trying to duck responsibility," Manson said following Monday's meeting. "They made the decision to vote it down because it was easy" (The Independent, December 21, 2010).

Perhaps they voted it down because it was an unbalanced mess. Cities, by law, must pass a balanced budget. This budget was only balanced if you shorted police and fire salaries by over $1 million dollars.

The person who was "political" was the Mayor for Life, who crafted this budget knowing the city would run out of money at the end of the year. He didn't care. His "political" concern was not having the city's finances be an issue during his mayoral primary against likely challenger Kathy Catazaro-Perry.

Now the Mayor for Life and the Lap Dog of the Treasury are stuck.

The two of them, as mayor and as finance chairman, have to come up with a new budget that will get five votes.

Either that, or the Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Glenn Gamber, will have to bring either Peters or Slagle back into the fold.

Our money is on the latter.

Day 11

On the Eleventh day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me...

Eleven taxpayer rip-offs;

1.) $527,885 dollars paid on golf course debt in 2010 alone.

2.) $199,000 dollars to purchase the restaurant at the golf course, which, according to Parks and Recreation Department office manager Julie Jenkins, has no business plan.

3.) $211,000 dollars spent just this year paying the mortgage at the Hampton Inn Hotel.

4.) Unvoted, annual pay raises for the mayor, council, auditor, law director, and treasurer

5.) Little League and Massillon ASA Softball teams now charged to use ball fields which were supposed to be paid for by our park income tax. Unfortunately, much of that money was hijacked to support the unprofitable, debt ridden golf course.

6.) A new "storm water utility fee" added to our sewer bills. Thank you Taxman Hersher.

7.) 4% pay raises for the city's unions when the city is broke, and Massillon taxpayers are stretched thin.

8.) Massillon Street Superintendent Mike Stevens being paid over 80 hours of overtime during the blizzards earlier this year while NOT plowing any snow.

9.) $13,404,575 dollars owed on the golf course in interest and principal when it was "merged" with the Parks and Recreation Department. This debt will not be paid off until 2032. The golf course may be worth only $3 million dollars on its best day.

10.) $2,170,000 dollars spent to date to pay the mortgage and mortgage interest for the Hampton Inn. We still owe another $1,725,000 dollars on the mortgage, as well as interest, and a $984,000 'balloon' payment.

11.) The Mayor for Life attempted to annex the Tuslaw local school district this year, so Tuslaw's teachers and support staff would be forced to pay Massillon City income tax to help close the city's budget chasm.

Together now!

Ten more years of hotel mortgage payments

Nine hole golf course expansion

Eight paranoid delusions

Seven hundred thousand dollars of unpaid bills

Six terms as mayor

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS

Four parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4...

Day 10

On the Tenth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me...

10 more years of hotel mortgage payments;

The City of Massillon spends Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to pay the mortgage of the privately owned Hampton Inn Hotel.

Just this year, Massillon City Council allocated another $211,000 to pay the mortgage for the Hampton Inn. Only Councilwoman Kathy Catazaro-Perry voted no.

The City of Massillon, under the leadership and direction of our Mayor for Life borrowed $2.25 million dollars about ten years ago to finance the Hampton Inn... for someone else.

Since then, we have paid $1,645,000 dollars in interest, and $525,000 dollars on the principal. We still owe another $1,725,000 dollars. Here is the funny part;

At the end of the 20 year mortgage, in 2019, we will still owe an almost one million dollar ($984,000) balloon payment. Our Mayor for Life's appointee, Community Development Director Aane Aaby, believes the hotel developer will chip in on the balloon payment. He doesn't have to. But the city 'hopes' he will.

If you believe that using tax dollars to pay the mortgage for a private hotel is a bad idea, well, you would be wrong.

"It was a good expenditure of tax dollars and the city is better off for it" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, May 8, 2009).

And every body sing!

Nine hole golf course expansion

Eight paranoid delusions

Seven hundred thousand dollars of unpaid bills

Six terms as mayor

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS

Four parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4...

An Old Fashion Massillon City Christmas

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Stay connected with the Massillon Review during this festive time of the year for the best in City of Massillon Holiday cheer.

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Follow the Massillon Review Select Choir as they finish the 12 Days of a Massillon Christmas.

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Then join us on December 23rd as Massillon's own Surly Old Saint Nick, Santa Frank, will be joining us for a visit before he makes his rounds through the City on Christmas Eve.

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Santa Frank will be making his list, and checking it twice, and we will all learn who has been naughty, or nice.

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Come back on Christmas Eve, as we will be opening up the City's Christmas stocking.

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We hope you make the Massillon Review part of your Holiday traditions.

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Merry Christmas!

Day 9

On the Ninth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me...

Nine hole golf course expansion;

"Cicchinelli said adding a third nine in 2002 was a mistake... "We can rehash all of it," he said, referring to the decision to pay just as much to build a third nine as the city did to build the first 18 holes" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

"The Mayor explained that the merging of these two areas will maximize resources of the current departments and provide an organizational structure which will promote efficient operations giving top notch service to the public. The Mayor believes this decision now, in the long term, will be beneficial to everyone, and he stated that they promised the citizens that the city would not subsidize this golf course" (Parks and Recreation Board minutes, November 14, 2002).

Cicchinelli claimed that his proposal "was not a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses" (The Repository, December 17, 2002).

"He said it was a mistake to build the additional nine holes urged by possibly overzealous golfers" (Mayor Frank Cicchinelli discussing the Legends of Massillon golf course at a city council meeting, The Repository, August 21, 2007).


Eight paranoid delusions

Seven hundred thousand dollars of unpaid bills

Six terms as mayor

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS

Four parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board lackeys

And a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

The 12 Days of a Massillon Christmas Part 2

OK faithful readers, lets sing together, with feeling!

On the Fifth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me...

(The suspense is killing us)

On the Fifth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS;

Donnie Peters, Paul Manson, David McCune, Taxman Hersher and Ron Mang pass the unbalanced 2010 budget on a 5 - 4 vote.

In 2010, Council authorizes spending almost $200,000 dollars of Park Tax money to purchase the restaurant at the Golf Course, a restaurant with no business plan, on a 5 - 4 vote.
Ron Mang, Taxman Hersher, David McCune, and Larry Slagle, with Council President Glenn Gamber breaking the tie provide the five votes.

In November, Taxman Hersher, David McCune, Ron Mang, Paul Manson and Larry Slagle vote 5-4 to give the citizens of Massillon a brand new tax, a "storm water utility fee" which will be tacked on to our sewer bills.

And to no one's surprise, Taxman Hersher, Ron Mang, David McCune, Paul Manson and Donnie Peters voted 5 - 4 against Councilman Tony Townsend's plan to honor the late T. Roy Roberson, even after the Mayor for Life "pledged" to the people of Ward 4 that he would support these efforts.

Four parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

On the Sixth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

Six terms as mayor!
(God help us)

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS

Four Parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board Lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

On the Seventh day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

Seven hundred thousand dollars of unpaid bills

"Auditor Jayne Ferrero is projecting that about $700,000 of bills will be pushed into 2011" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

Six terms as mayor

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS

Four Parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

On the Eighth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

Eight paranoid delusions

"He even suggested people in his own party intentionally left him out of the loop" (The Independent, October 26, 2010).

"And I really feel bad for the mayor because every time someone comes up with something and is an independent thinker he thinks there has to be a conspiracy. The guy's got a serious case of paranoia" (Tony Townsend, The Independent, November 20, 2010).

"One there will also be anti- (Mayor Frank) Cicchinelli people. If he says the sky is blue they will think it is green..." (Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski, The Independent, May 10, 2010).

"I absolutely anticipate (personal attacks)... It's going to get nasty" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, July 31, 2010).

Seven hundred thousand dollars of unpaid bills

Six terms as mayor

FIVE RUBBER STAMPS

Four Parks decaying

Three taxes rising

Two Park Board Lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

The 12 Days of a Massillon Christmas Part 1

On the First day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

A Pledge to the people of Ward 4;

"Mayor Cicchinelli told 4th Ward residents there are no plans to sell Shriver Park, or many others, and he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver by urging his Parks and Recreation Board appointees to vote in favor of it" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).

One the Second day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

Two Park Board Lackeys;

"At a Park Board meeting last week, Our Mayor for Life's appointees, Timothy Muzi and Michelle Del Rio-Keller voted against Councilman Townsend's plan to rename the park in honor of T. Roy Roberson. School Board appointee Moe Rickett voted for the name change" (The Massillon Review, November 22, 2010).

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

On the Third day Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

Three taxes rising;

"At Monday's council meeting, Taxman Hersher successfully pushed through a new tax. This new tax, called a "storm water utility fee" passed on a 5 - 4 vote" (The Massillon Review, November 4, 2010).

"In other business, council discussed a slew of permit and inspection fee increases with Building Department Official Roger Houpt" (The Independent, October 26, 2010)

"When elected to city council, the first initiative pushed by Councilman Hersher was to raise our sewer rates" (The Massillon Review, September 20, 2010).

Two Park Board lackeys

and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

On the Fourth day of Christmas the Mayor for Life gave to me

Four parks decaying;

Three taxes rising

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Two Park Board lackeys

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and a Pledge to the people of Ward 4

Here He Comes to Save the Day

The Massillon City budget submitted by Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli, is woefully unbalanced. A huge shortfall exists in the salary accounts for police and fire. The budget ships another $524,000 to pay the debt on the Legends of Massillon Golf Course. And $700,000 dollars of bills that should have been paid in 2010 are being pushed into 2011.

This past Monday night was council's last chance to discuss the budget before the scheduled vote on December 20.

The Mayor for Life, who proposed this sham masquerading as a balanced budget was nowhere to be found.

"Cicchinelli was not at council's work session, the final meeting before council votes on the proposed budget" (The Independent, December 14, 2010).

Auditor Jayne Ferrero washed her hands of the situation as well.

"Ferrero insisted council needs to increase revenue or resort to massive layoffs to make actual expenses meet revenue. She said it was not up to her to propose cuts or revenue increases" (The Independent, December 14, 2010).

The Mayor for Life was hiding. The Auditor had washed her hands. Who was left to take on the challenge of dealing with Massillon's budgetary problems? Who would lead the charge to cut costs, or raise revenues to avoid massive layoffs of safety forces? Who would lead Massillon's finances during these dark days?

Massillon's Lap Dog of the Treasury, Paul Manson. That's who.

Paul Manson, who must have studied the budget for weeks.

Paul Manson, who must know the ins and outs of city finances like the back of his hand.

Paul Manson, who must have led council in a vigorous, night long discussion over the finer points of city finance.

The citizens of Massillon have nothing to fear. The Lap Dog of the Treasury, Paul Manson is here.

Let us examine the inspiring leadership Paul Manson brought forth at Monday's council meeting.

"Councilman Paul Manson, chairman of the Finance Committee, said all the information council needs it has and there is no reason to delay a vote" (The Independent, December 14, 2010).

Wow. Inspiring leadership during the city's financial crisis.

One must realize that as chairman of the Finance Committee, Lap Dog Paul sees his role a little differently. His job is to cover the mayor for life's backside. Protecting the city's money and making sure the budget is balanced is not his concern.

He isn't capable of overseeing the city's finances, so he doesn't even bother to try. What makes him qualified to serve as Finance Chairman is his undying loyalty to our beloved Mayor for Life. Competence is not relevant to the conversation.

Defending the budget numbers is not relevant either. The Mayor for Life has his five votes. The unbalanced budget will pass next Monday night. The vote will be 5 - 4 in favor.

Die hard rubber stamps Paul Manson, Taxman Hersher, Ron Mang and Dave McCune will vote yes. They will be joined by either Donnie Peters or Larry Slagle. Our hunch is that Peters will once again provide the winning margin for yet another unbalanced city budget. He seems to be back in the mayor's fold.

Once again, Massillon's Mayor for Life wins the battle.

As he always does.

The budget is a mess. Not Frank Cicchinelli's problem. The buck, once again, stopped somewhere else. It stopped with Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson, who in his role as watch dog of the city's finances did what what he was expected to do. He rolled over and played dead.

Fun with Frank and Jayne

Monday was the last scheduled work session for Massillon City Council before it votes on the Mayor for Life's unbalanced 2011 budget.

Our Mayor for Life must have led council through a line item by line item discussion of his budget. Our Mayor for Life must have explained to council how he planned to make up the grand canyonesque shortfall in police and fire salaries. He must have stayed at council for hours answering question after question about the his proposed budget.

Nope.

"Cicchinelli was not at council's work session, the final meeting before council votes on the proposed budget" (The Independent, December 14, 2010).

He must have been busy.

Of course, in the buck always stops somewhere else world of Frank Cicchinelli, the auditor is responsible for making cuts and suggesting ways to raise revenue. Unfortunately, it appears that City Auditor Jayne Ferrero is finally beginning to tire of her beloved Mayor for Life constantly throwing her under the bus.

According to Ohio law, it is the job of the city auditor to "keep the books of the city and exhibit accurate statements of all moneys received and expended, of all property owned by the city and the income tax derived therefrom, and all of the taxes and assessments."

The auditor, in simple terms, is the city's bookkeeper. The job of the city auditor is not a policy making position. The job of the city auditor is not to make cuts to, and raise revenue for the city's budget. That would be the job of the city's Chief Executive. In our case that should be the job of the mayor for life.

Mayor Frank Cicchinelli has successfully unloaded this job on to Auditor Jayne Ferrero in the past. Jayne Ferrero, a well known mayoral loyalist, has cheerfully taken the hits for her beloved mayor.

Until now.

"She (Ferrero) said it was not up to her to propose cuts or revenue increases" (The Independent, December 14, 2010)

It appears that after three years as auditor, Ferrero may finally understand her job. Or she is finally tired of being the mayor's scapegoat.

Now, she wouldn't go so far as asking the mayor to accept the responsibility that is rightfully his, after all, she is still part of the ruling junta. She passed the buck off to city council;

"Ferrero insisted council needs to increase revenue or resort to massive layoffs to make actual expenses meet revenue" (The Independent, December 14, 2010).

Fortunately for the good citizens of our fair city, the financial point man on Massillon City Council is the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Lap Dog of the Treasury, Paul Manson.

Responsibility for the city's budget now rests in the capable hands of municipal finance guru Paul Manson.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Land and the King are One

Massillon's Mayor for Life, Frank Cicchinelli and his lackeys have made a habit of denigrating anyone who may disagree with Massillon's King. They will attack anyone who suggests that maybe, just maybe, perhaps the Mayor might have been (gasp) in the wrong.

The King and his Court refer to these critics as "Anti-Massillon," and "Mayor Haters." Because to criticize a policy is to criticize the King.

The Mayor for Life makes no distinction between disagreement on the issues, or a personal attack. In a medieval sense, "The Land and the King are One."

The Mayor for Life has an enemies list that would put Richard Nixon's to shame.

We would imagine that NASA super computing technology is now necessary to maintain it.

We can now safely add one more name to that list.

Independent Editor Joe Shaheen.

www.indeonline.com/opinion/x445939983/OUR-OPINION-They-didn-t-consult-mayor

Welcome Joe! We would like to tell you that it is an exclusive fraternity, but...

We now speculate that the mayor will commence with one of his periodic 'boycotts' of the newspaper. He does this from time to time, until they start writing nice things about him.

That's the problem with a free press. You just can't shut it down when you need to.

Stop Helping

One of our faithful readers wants to know why we didn't mention that Larry Slagle voted in favor of renaming Shriver Park in honor of the late T. Roy Roberson, a former Ward Four Councilman.

Because Larry Slagle's support was a day late, and a dollar short.

During the August 16th council meeting this year, Councilman Townsend appeared to have support for the park name change.

Donnie Peters was for it in August. This was before he was against it in December.

Paul Manson was for it as well;

"Councilmen Paul Manson and Larry Slagle said they had no opposition to the merits of the proposal, but objected to how Townsend wanted to move it forward" (The Independent, August 18, 2010).

That was before Paul Manson was against it on Monday.

So back in August we can assume that Paul Manson and Donnie Peters would have voted 'Yes' had the vote been allowed to take place. Add them to Catazaro-Perry, Townsend himself, Anderson, and Slagle, and the name change passes with at least six votes.

But the vote wasn't allowed to take place back in August. The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber led the manipulation of council procedures to prevent a vote.

And he had help.

Enter Larry Slagle.

Slagle claimed he was for honoring T. Roy Roberson by naming the park after him, but he was opposed to it at the August 16th meeting for procedural reasons.

So the vote was delayed.

And then Larry Slagle went on a quest. A quest to create policy to guide council on the weighty matter of park renaming;

"He (Slagle) will use the Massillon Parks and Recreation Board's current policy as a rubric for establishing guidelines for council." (The Independent, October 12, 2010).

Now we have guidelines. Council couldn't vote yes, or no, back in August. They needed Larry Slagle to develop policy and guidelines.

And with Larry Slagle's policy and guidelines properly in effect for the December 6th vote, Tony Townsend's attempt to honor T. Roy Roberson was defeated by a five to four vote, after the flip-flopping of Donnie Peters and Paul Manson.

And that was a result of Larry Slagle making sure a vote was not taken in August, because Slagle objected to the process, and wanted procedures and guidelines.

It was the handiwork of Larry Slagle that killed Councilman Townsend's proposal. Slagle's vote was not relevant.

Had Slagle not decided to team up with the Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, to delay the vote back in August, it would have passed.

Slagle's push for policy and guidelines on what should have been a simple yes or no vote bought the mayor and his lackeys time to get their votes in line.

Slagle was either a part of this scheme, and was complicit, or he really believed he needed policy and guidelines, and was outmaneuvered politically by the mayor.

Either way, he was responsible for the failure of naming the park in honor of T. Roy Roberson, something Slagle claimed he wanted.

And he should not be applauded for his 'efforts.'

Get It Back Together

There was a telephone poll conducted last week in Tigertown. One of our crack Massillon Review staffers reported receiving the phone call. The poll was asking questions about our beloved Mayor for Life, Kathy Catzaro-Perry, and who you would choose as mayor, the Mayor for Life, or Kathy Catzaro-Perry. The Massillon Review is working feverishly to obtain the results for our loyal readers.

What we do know was that our Mayor for Life was huddled up last week with his carpet bagging advertising firm. So much for his self proclaimed 'line in the sand.'

It is believed that our Mayor for Life just ain't as popular as he once was among the citizens of our fair city.

The mayor almost lost four years ago to former councilman Tim Bryan. Bryan didn't run much of a campaign, and never criticized the mayor or his record, yet almost won the race.

It is assumed should Catazaro-Perry run against the mayor, her campaign would be much more active and aggressive, and most folks on the inside believe she would dispatch of our beloved mayor.

A reliable Massillon Review source claims that a number of the Mayor for Life's political support team and aides de camp have already jumped ship, and that Team Cicchinelli is in disarray.

We are sorry to hear that.

City government wouldn't be as much fun without Frank Cicchinelli at the helm.

His paranoia, delusions of grandeur, and paper thin skin have come to symbolize leadership in our fair city.

Besides, the majority on city council would be lost without him.

Who would tell Taxman Hersher which taxes to raise?
Who would explain the city's budget to the Lap Dog of the Treasury, Paul Manson?
The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber wouldn't know who to strong arm.
The Boy Wonder, Larry Slagle wouldn't know who to suck up to.
Who would host the Friday Poker game?

No, the mayor needs to get it back together fast.

The city would just fall apart without him.

A Valuable Lesson

Massillon's Mayor for Life taught 4th Ward Councilman Tony Townsend a valuable lesson at Monday's council meeting.

You do not do anything in Massillon without first grovelling to the mayor for life.

Yes, everyone knows the tremendous ego and thin skin that our beloved Mayor for Life possesses.

Frank Cicchinelli showed once more that he is willing to spend time and political capital on the most harmless of issues if he isn't paid the proper homage.

Being in government for 37 consecutive years has blown his ego to monstrous proportions.

When former President Bill Clinton wanted to come to town, Cicchinelli shut down the visit.

Why? The answer is simple.

"Though not faulting Cupples, (representative of Governor Ted Strickland) Cicchinelli repeatedly said he was upset to learn about the event in his Sunday newspaper. He even suggested people in his own party intentionally left him out of the loop" (The Independent, October 26, 2010).

He killed the Clinton visit because nobody came beforehand to kiss his ring and receive his blessing.

When King Frank was taking his celebratory victory lap at city council Monday night, for having his rubber stamps kill a proposal to name a park after the late T. Roy Roberson, he couldn't resist hinting to the newspaper why he really killed the proposal. After all, he was still giddy with victory;

"Cicchinelli added that he believed Townsend mishandled the renaming from the beginning by not reaching out to him and others" (The Independent, December 7, 2010).

There you have it. Townsend didn't kiss the ring.

But what of 'The Pledge,' where Cicchinelli assured the residents of the fourth Ward that he would help them rename the park?

Again, he lied.

The residents of the fourth Ward can all go pound salt. The Mayor for Life had bigger fish to fry. Frank wasn't shown the proper respect by Councilman Townsend.

"not reaching out" to the mayor is commonly defined as kissing the mayor's ass.

Tony Townsend, we readily admit, isn't very good at this.

Perhaps Townsend could take lessons from Taxman David Hersher, or Lap Dog of the Treasury Paul Manson. They are both very proficient at "reaching out" to the mayor.

Tony Townsend learned a valuable lesson in Massillon politics. No matter how innocuous the issue, if you don't rubber stamp for the big guy, he will work night and day to kill something as simple as a gesture to honor someone's memory.

The residents of the fourth Ward learned a valuable lesson as well. Mayor Cicchinelli is not a man of his word. He lied. His actions spoke much louder than his words.

He Sat There Like a Stump

To no one's surprise, Massillon City Council voted five to four against 4th Ward Councilman Tony Townsend's plan to honor trailblazing former councilman, the late T. Roy Roberson.

Paul Manson, David Hersher, David McCune, Ron Mang and Donnie Peters voted no.

Our Mayor for Life, who cynically told the residents of the Massillon's fourth Ward that he would help them in renaming Shriver Park to honor the late T. Roy Roberson, sat silently as his rubber stamps on council killed the proposal, just like his rubber stamps on the park board voted to kill the proposal.

"Resident Kathleen Spencer questioned why Mayor Frank Cicchinelli, who said he supported the renaming, didn't speak up during proceedings. "He sat there like a stump," she said" (The Independent, December 7, 2010).

He sat there like a stump...

He sat there like a stump because while he spoke out of one side of his mouth claiming he was for the name change, he made sure his rubber stamps, on both the Park Board and City Council crushed the name change.

He sat there like a stump because he lied to the people of the 4th Ward.

Actions speak louder than words ever will. He had his lackeys kill the proposal.

Why? Perhaps because it wasn't his idea. Perhaps it was because Tony Townsend doesn't kiss his behind as much as Frank thinks he should. Perhaps he really does believe this simple effort to honor someone's memory is part of a deep political conspiracy. Who knows? The point was that he killed it because he could.

He flexed his muscle.

He taught Tony Townsend a valuable lesson about who runs the city.

The Mayor for Life does.

And don't you forget it.

The Two Sides of Donnie Peters

Tonight, Massillon City Council will shut down Ward 4 Councilman Tony Townsend's attempt to honor former Councilman, and trailblazing city official, the late T. Roy Roberson.

The Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, has used procedural delays to avoid a vote. Gamber did this because our beloved Mayor for Life wanted the issue die without a vote being taken. What the mayor did not take into consideration at the time was the tenacity of Councilman Townsend to keep pushing the issue.

The Mayor for Life was backed into a corner at a Ward 4 Town Hall Meeting this Summer. The vast majority of the attendees favored the name change of the park in their ward. And of course, you don't get to be mayor for life by alienating an entire council ward.

That's when Cicchinelli made The Pledge;

"Mayor Cicchinell told 4th Ward residents there are no plans to sell Shriver Park, or many others, and he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver by urging his Parks and Recreation Board Appointees to vote in favor of it" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).

Of Course, the mayor's appointees on the Parks Board voted no, as everyone knew they would.

Tonight his rubber stamps on council will vote no, as everyone knows they will.

Including Donnie Peters.

Donnie Peters, in the immortal words of failed Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, was 'for the name change before he was against it.'

At the August council meeting where Tony Townsend made the motion to rename the park, his motion was seconded by none other than Councilman Donnie Peters.

Peters was supporting Townsend and his plan to honor T. Roy Roberson.

When things began to fall apart, because of the parliamentary machinations of the Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber, and his sidekick, the Boy Wonder Larry Slagle, Peters saw that the fix was in.

And Peters knew it was wrong.

"I have a sense whats about to happen tonight is a disservice to T. Roy, Peters told Townsend, urging him to be patient and allow the process to move forward" (Donnie Peters, The Independent, August 18, 2010).

Peters was on board, or so it seemed.

And then Peters saw the light. It was a bliding light. It was his obligation to rubber stamp for his beloved mayor for life.

"Peters said he initially supported Townsend's efforts because he believed the 4th Ward councilman was representing his constituents. But after what he called "careful consideration," Peters said he came to the conclusion that he and his colleagues may be setting a bad precedent for future councils" (The Independent, December 1, 2010).

We shall now undertake an effort to define Donnie Peters' most recent comments into proper English;

"careful consideration" means that Donnie Peters was worked over by none other than the Mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn Gamber. Gamber, a former 5th Ward councilman and mayoral loyalist, worked feverishly to get Peters back on the mayor's team.

"setting a bad precedent" means voting against the mayor for life.

Local Republicans, many of whom are unhappy with the way council's lone Republican member, Donnie Peters, constantly supports the Democratic mayor for life, financially as well as with his votes on council, refer to him as the 'Mayor's *****' (starts with a 'b,' and sounds like witch).

Peters' flip flop should not surprise any one. He is a Republican In Name Only (RINO), and his behavior is more in tune with Democrat John Kerry... he was for it, before he was against it.

What Should I Do?

What should I do?

Should I admit that I've made mistakes?

"Cicchinelli said adding a third nine in 2002 was a mistake... "We can rehash all of it," he said, referring to the decision to pay just as much to build a third nine as the city did to build the first 18 holes." (The Independent, November 30, 2010)

Should I remind you that I've done this before?

"Cicchinelli still wasn't concerned because construction trailers and equipment have been removed from the site. He remains optimistic The Arena will be built" (The Repository, May 14, 2003).

Should I give you a history lesson?

"Cicchinelli claimed his plan was "not a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses" (The Independent, December 17, 2002).

"The Massillon Parks and Recreation Department will carry the remaining $174,000 of debt (on the golf course)" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

What should I do?

Should I tell you how much fun we've had?

"On Tuesday, voters favored Cicchinelli, likely sending him to a sixth four year term" (The Independent, May 10, 2007).

Should I really believe I ruined my legacy?

"And I really feel bad for the mayor because every time someone comes up with something and is an independent thinker he thinks there has to be a conspiracy. The guy's got a serious case of paranoia" (Tony Townsend, The Independent, November 20, 2010).

"Cicchinelli is a vindictive, sociopathic control freak. He's running the city into the ground" (Andrew Oser, The Independent, October 29, 2010).

What should I do?

Should I accept my role as a villain?

"No one spoke in favor of Mayor Frank Cicchinelli's proposal to annex 78.3 acres of Tuscarawas Township land that includes The Tuslaw Local School District. But more than 100 people stood in council chambers Monday with their arms crossed and scowls written on their faces" (The Independent, August 17, 2010).

Maybe I should just disappear.

"Cicchinelli announced he would seek a seventh term in July. He has not yet taken out a petition but said Friday his plans have not changed" (The Independent, November 20, 2010).

Should I stop listening to my friends? They're my friends.

"The Mayor said he chose Pribich over Luckring because he wanted to go in a different direction" (The Independent, February 6, 2009).

"Like many others, Mayor Frank Cicchinelli said he was shocked when criminal allegations against (Kevin) Smith surfaced" (The Independent, March 1, 2010).

"One there will also be anti- (Mayor Frank) Cicchinelli people. If he says the sky is blue they will think it is green..." (Parks Czar Kenn Kaminski, The Independent, May 10, 2010).

Or should we just clear the deck and start over?

"Councilwoman Kathy Catazaro-Perry, a rumored candidate to challenge Cicchinelli for the Democratic nomination, has not made any announcement about her political future" (The Independent, November 20, 2010).

What should I do?

A Solemn Binding Promise

Our Mayor for Life wants city council to find more money for the city's general fund.

How do we know this?

He came to a city council meeting and personally told them.

"Mayor Frank Cicchinelli reiterated his request Monday that the city needs new revenue and told council he'd like to see it "take a more active role" in finding money for the general fund, which in 2011 will have $16 million" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

He wanted council to do something. He showed up. He told them what he wanted.

Nice and simple.

Just a couple of months ago, Massillon's Mayor for Life held a Town Hall meeting in the city's fourth ward. The majority of the attendees supported Fourth Ward Councilman Tony Townsend's proposal to rename Shriver Park in honor of the late T. Roy Roberson, a trailblazing former public official. This is what the mayor had to say;

"Mayor Cicchinelli told 4th Ward residents there are no plans to sell Shriver Park, or many others, and he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver by urging his Parks and Recreation Board Appointees to vote in favor of it" (The Independent, August 31, 2010).

"he pledged to Councilman Tony Townsend that he would help him rename Shriver..."

He "pledged."

A dictionary definition of pledge is as follows;

"a solemn binding promise to do, give, or refrain from doing something"

He "pledged."

Three members of the "independent" Parks and Recreation Board showed up to vote on whether or not Shriver Park should be renamed to honor the late T. Roy Roberson.

Timothy Muzi and Michelle Del-Rio Keller, who were appointed by the mayor attended. Moe Rickett, who was appointed by the Massillon Board of Education was also in attendance.

The Mayor for Life's appointees, Muzi and Del-Rio Keller, voted against the name change. The School Board's appointee, Moe Rickett, voted for the name change.

It failed by a two to one vote, with the mayor's appointees voting against the name change.

Even after the mayor's "pledge," his appointees voted no. Odd, isn't it?

The final decision will be made by city council this Monday night. After months of skillfully avoiding the vote, council will be forced to 'cowboy up' and make a decision.

If the mayor really had intended to help Tony Townsend, as he promised to do, if the mayor really intended to honor his pledge, he would show up at Monday's meeting and tell council that he supports the name change, and urge council to support it as well.

He won't.

Because he doesn't support it.

His rubber stamps will vote against.

Because that's what Frank really wants.

The mayor's "pledge" was a cynical and manipulative parlor trick to convince Fourth Ward residents that he was supportive of their efforts to honor T. Roy Roberson.

He wasn't.

Actions speak louder than words, and his Park Board rubber stamps, and his city council rubber stamps will be voting it down.

Because that's what Frank really wants.

If he was truly interested in keeping his "pledge," he would come to the meeting and request the name change.

Nice and simple.

He won't.

He lied to the people of the Fourth Ward, because he wants their vote for mayor next year, and he doesn't really care what they want to do with the park in their ward.

Hopefully the people of the Fourth Ward won't forget the mayor's "pledge," his solemn, binding promise to do something, when he comes to ask for their vote.

Lap Dog of the Treasury

"We'll be able to pay for these increases," Cicchinelli said. "I'm not concerned about it. We will be there. I feel confident the dollars will be there to make it through this year and we'll have the dollars to make it through next year" (The Independent, July 6, 2010).

Really? "We'll have the dollars to make it through next year?"

Fast forward to Monday's council meeting.

"Mayor Frank Cicchinelli reiterated his request Monday that the city needs new revenue and told council he'd like to see it "take a more active role" in finding money for the general fund" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

What happened to the dollars will be there?

Of course, in the 'Buck Stops Somewhere Else' world of Massillon's Mayor for Life, it is council's job to secure more revenue, not the mayor.

We are going to interpret the political vernacular of finding money for the general fund into its most common definition. Finding money for the general fund, in the Queen's English, means, literally, a tax increase.

And you don't get to be Mayor for Life by proposing a tax increase while running for re-election.

That's why our Mayor for Life believes council needs to "take a more active role" in finding money for the general fund.

And as we know, the buck always stops somewhere other than at the desk of Mayor Frank Cicchinelli..

While we are confident that Taxman Hersher and the rubber stamps will be happy to take the fall, and front yet another tax increase for their beloved Mayor for Life, the city's budget, as it stands currently, is a total cluster.

Fortunately the good people of Massillon have jaw dropping, awe inspiring, reform minded leadership on city council to force our Mayor for Life to be prudent with our tax dollars.

The good people of Massillon have a guardian, a watchdog if you will, guarding the city's finances. When the mayor came to council on Monday to discuss his unbalanced budget, he came face to face with a skilled financial professional, someone we are confident grilled the mayor over every budgetary line item.

The mayor had to deal with Paul Manson, Chairman of the Massillon City Council Finance Committee, Massillon's Lap Dog of the Treasury.

One would assume the Finance Chairman must have asked the mayor a hundred questions Monday night, vigorously debating the fine points of city finance, because, after all, he is Chairman of the Finance Committee.

One would be wrong.

"Councilmen Paul Manson, David Hersher and Dave McCune did not ask the mayor any questions" (The Independent, November 30, 2010).

Councilman Paul Manson did not ask the mayor any questions?

The budget is unbalanced. Police and Fire salaries are woefully underfunded. The mayor is proposing to spend an additional $524,000 dollars on golf course debt. The mayor is moving $700,000 dollars of bills from this year, into next year, which hasn't even been added to the unbalanced budget, and Paul Manson, Chairman of the Finance Committee does not have one single solitary question to ask of the mayor. Not one.

It is unquestionably clear that either Paul Manson is so completely incompetent that he absolutely does not belong in a position that is supposed to over see city finances, or worse, Manson is so completely and totally in the Mayor's pocket that he is not permitted to question the mayor's sham of a budget.

Either answer is unacceptable.

We have only one question for 'Finance Chairman' Paul Manson.

Why don't you quit. You obviously can't, or won't, do the job.