"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 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).
The last time the voters of Massillon voted to raise the city's income tax was in 1995. We voted to approve a .3% increase in the income tax to fund parks and recreation.
We were promised first class parks, and were told this money would not be used to subsidize the Legends of Massillon, the city's golf course.
We were lied to.
The mayor hijacked our parks money to subsidize the failing, and debt riddled golf course, despite promises to the contrary.
And now city council may want us to vote to raise our taxes again.
Strike that.
David Hersher, David McCune, Larry Slagle, Paul Manson and Glenn Gamber are contemplating asking us to raise our taxes again.
Why? So we can pay the mortgage and balloon payments for the Duncan Place Senior Housing project, another failed sweetheart deal leaving the taxpayers of Massillon on the hook for the money while the owner collects the rents and doesn't pay the mortgage?
Council members Hersher, McCune, Slagle, Manson and Council President Gamber will decide tonight whether or not to ask voters to raise the income tax again.
Councilman Mang has not been attending meetings for some time, and in all likelihood will not be present.
It is believed that council members Catazaro-Perry, Townsend, Peters, and Anderson will be voting no.
If Hersher, McCune, Manson and Slagle vote yes, Council President Gamber will have to break the 4-4 tie.
Do they expect us to trust them like we did in 1995?
As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that workin' out for ya ?"
Our guess is "that dog won't hunt."
