This was sent to us by one of our Faithful Readers, apparantly one with plenty of free time.
For those of us who have been wondering what our former Mayor for Life has been up to in retirement.
It looks like he is attempting to rally the young people of Massillon in advance of his extraordinary return to city leadership.
Now, in keeping with our never ending quest to be fair and balanced, we want a dance video of our current mayor,
As a participant in Dancing with the Stars, we imagine she would bust a better move, and cut a better rug.
Not that our former mayor's dance stylings are anything short of extraordinary.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Reminiscing
One of our faithful readers sent us this picture from the 2002 Washington High School Yearbook -
The ill-fated Arena groundbreaking.
The ill-fated Arena groundbreaking.
Yeah, Mayor Cicchinelli was 'instrumental' in moving this project from the drafting board into reality.
Just ask Global Arbitrage and the Banco de Brasil.
We wonder if Steve Waldman, The Arena's proposed financier, is out of prison yet.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Ruining Your Chances
When Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry proposed reducing the City's income tax credit from a 100% credit to a 50% credit, and then later to a 65% credit, she didn't receive a lot of support from City Council's Finance Chairman, Donnie Peters.
When the issue was last defeated in September, Peters decried that "the credit reduction would have angered a third of the city’s voters.“Than you ruin your chances of ever passing an income tax increase,” (The Independent, September 5, 2012).
This 'third of the city's voters' Peters is referring to don't pay any Massillon income tax.
That's because Massillon is a city that has a 100% tax credit.
This means that if you live in Massillon, but work in another city, say Canton, you pay 100% of Canton's income tax, and pay no income tax in Massillon, where you live.
A 100% tax credit for taxes paid to another city is applied to your Massillon tax bill.
And, according to Peters, trying to reduce the tax credit from a 100% credit, means you "ruin your chances of ever passing an income tax increase."
The proposal last September was to lower the tax credit from 100% to 65%, meaning that people who work in another city, but live in Massillon, would have to pay roughly 1/3 of the income tax that everyone else pays.
Of course, according to Chief Counsel to the Stark County Prosecutor, John Kurtzman, this is unacceptable, as it takes food of our plates, and shoes off our feet.
A two thirds of 1% income tax for Massillon, where he lives, will vastly impact his ability to feed and clothe himself.
Fair enough.
So, in September, Finance Chairman Donnie Peters was unequivocally clear. A tax credit reduction means an income tax increase can never pass.
Again, fair enough.
The question then becomes, why is Peters now championing a .3% income tax increase, coupled with elimination of the 100% tax credit on the proposed .3% increase?
It appears, in the spirit of former Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry's infamous flip-flopping, that Donnie was "against it, before he was for it."
It just doesn't make any sense.
An increase in the income tax rate would have to be approved by a vote of the people.
And Peters clearly stated that, "the credit reduction would have angered a third of the city’s voters.“Than you ruin your chances of ever passing an income tax increase."
Yet he is now proposing the very thing he claimed would anger the voters.
According to Peters, it won't pass.
So why is he doing it?
What is really going on here?
When the issue was last defeated in September, Peters decried that "the credit reduction would have angered a third of the city’s voters.“Than you ruin your chances of ever passing an income tax increase,” (The Independent, September 5, 2012).
This 'third of the city's voters' Peters is referring to don't pay any Massillon income tax.
That's because Massillon is a city that has a 100% tax credit.
This means that if you live in Massillon, but work in another city, say Canton, you pay 100% of Canton's income tax, and pay no income tax in Massillon, where you live.
A 100% tax credit for taxes paid to another city is applied to your Massillon tax bill.
And, according to Peters, trying to reduce the tax credit from a 100% credit, means you "ruin your chances of ever passing an income tax increase."
The proposal last September was to lower the tax credit from 100% to 65%, meaning that people who work in another city, but live in Massillon, would have to pay roughly 1/3 of the income tax that everyone else pays.
Of course, according to Chief Counsel to the Stark County Prosecutor, John Kurtzman, this is unacceptable, as it takes food of our plates, and shoes off our feet.
A two thirds of 1% income tax for Massillon, where he lives, will vastly impact his ability to feed and clothe himself.
Fair enough.
So, in September, Finance Chairman Donnie Peters was unequivocally clear. A tax credit reduction means an income tax increase can never pass.
Again, fair enough.
The question then becomes, why is Peters now championing a .3% income tax increase, coupled with elimination of the 100% tax credit on the proposed .3% increase?
It appears, in the spirit of former Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry's infamous flip-flopping, that Donnie was "against it, before he was for it."
It just doesn't make any sense.
An increase in the income tax rate would have to be approved by a vote of the people.
And Peters clearly stated that, "the credit reduction would have angered a third of the city’s voters.“Than you ruin your chances of ever passing an income tax increase."
Yet he is now proposing the very thing he claimed would anger the voters.
According to Peters, it won't pass.
So why is he doing it?
What is really going on here?
Monday, December 24, 2012
Twas the Night Before Christmas
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...
The clatter and noise on the roof of the Massillon Review can only mean one extraordinary thing!
It's the return of Massillon's very own Surly Old St. Nick, the Extraordinary One, none other than Santa Frank.
Welcome back, Santa Frank!
"Ho, Ho, Ho... Santa is back with a vengeance this Christmas Eve, but truth be known, Santa has never really left the North Pole. Kathy What's Her Name can have the reigns to Santa's sleigh when she pries them from Santa's cold, dead hands!"
"Santa's loyal elves have kept the City Hall, I mean the 'North Pole Workshop' humming along in Santa's absence, laying the groundwork for Santa's triumphant return!"
"As a result, Santa has plenty of toys for Massillon's good girls and boys, and for the rest of you anti-Santa, anti-North Pole carpetbaggers, Santa has brought extra coal this year!"
"Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa sees that his favorite elf, Santa's Loyal Enforcer, has announced his retirement. Well, don't anyone worry! Santa found a way to keep his Loyal Enforcer in office before when the going got tough, and Santa is confident the Loyal Enforcer will end up un-retiring... again. Look for him to pop up in another North Pole office just as soon as he collects his pension and health care benefits. While Santa's Loyal Enforcer has faithfully mustered the troops to oppose the new mayor, we are a bit concerned about his driving abilities. Even Santa's sleigh has occasionally clipped the odd car in the parking lot, but to hit the same care twice in one night, well, that takes some doing. Santa is putting driving lessons in his stocking this year. When the Loyal Enforcer comes out of retirement... again, native born North Poleians need not fear parking next to him!"
"Now, Santa sees that North Pole City Treasurer Paul Lambert is retiring. Mrs. Santa has a little free time these days. And she isn't one to sit home and bake cookies. "That Woman" who temporarily took Santa's job as mayor should appoint Mrs. Claus as treasurer. Mrs. Claus and she have much in common. Neither one is actually from Massillon! Ho, Ho, Ho!"
"Santa sees that Santa's former Safety Service Director, Mike Loudiana, is throwing his hat into the ring to run for North Pole City Council. Santa couldn't have run the North Pole without Mike's help. Mike has taken a lot of flak for calling Santa, "Extraordinary," but Mike can't help calling them like he sees them! Mike's gift this year is a case of amnesia for the North Pole voters. Once they remember how Mike helped put the North Pole in the mess it's in now, and once people see the vast overtime he racked up as North Pole Safety Service Director, the voters of the North Pole's First Ward may not see fit to elect him. And that would be an extraordinary shame."
"Santa wants to personally thank the North Pole Auditor's office for the fine work they have done this past year. The Auditor elves do fantastic work keeping Santa informed of "That Woman's" dealings, and they worked vigorously to help Santa cover his proverbial behind as Santa left the North Pole Mayor's office last year. "That Woman" has an incredible mess on her hand, and without the Auditor's office exacerbating the situation, Santa would have been left holding more of the bag! They get Santa's unending gratitude! Ho, Ho, Ho!"
"Now, not all of Santa's former elves were as loyal as they could have been. Former North Pole Community Development Director Aane Aaby refused to quit before "That Woman" took office. He actually helped with the transition and taught the New Guy how to pay the Hotel bill! Aane Aaby gets a big lump of coal. The New Guy gets saddled with Santa's Hotel Deal, which is worse than getting a lump of coal!"
"Fire Chief Burgasser gets a lump of coal, too. Even though the North Pole Fire Station should have been condemned years ago, as Santa never kept it maintained properly, Chief Burgasser should have fought harder when "That Woman" closed it. And Santa called and gave him Hell for not doing it."
"Now what to give the ungrateful residents of the North Pole, who turned Santa Frank out after a mere 24 years in charge? Well, Santa left everyone the same thing in their collective stockings. The debt on the golf course. Which brings Santa to one of his favorite elves, Elf Moe. Elf Moe helped Santa unload the North Pole golf debt on the North Pole Parks and Recreation Department in the first place. Elf Moe voted to do it. And while Santa was in charge at the North Pole, Elf Moe said nary a word. But once Santa left, and "That Woman" took over, Elf Moe has had a change of heart. Elf Moe wants to give the golf course back. Forget the fact the North Pole is millions in debt and would literally collapse if that happened. Elf Moe is an elf on a mission, making "That Woman's" life miserable. Elf Moe gets a shiny new big screen television for the Legends of the North Pole Golf Course Club House. Money well spent!"
"The rest of you get the millions of debt we still owe, which won't be paid off until 2032. Ho, Ho, Ho!"
"As for Santa, it is much easier to drive his sleigh, now that Santa Claus Lane is no longer one of the Five Worst Roads at the North Pole, as determined by a study of a study that never happened. As for "That Woman," who temporarily took Santa's job, she got the mother of all disasters, the debt ridden, vat of red ink known as North Pole City government. And most of all, she gets no help in cleaning up the mess that Santa left her, which is the biggest lump of coal in Santa's bag. Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha!"
"Santa is back. And to quote Louie Brio's most recent Express Lube ad, it's good to be back riding with the boys!"
Believe!
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...
The clatter and noise on the roof of the Massillon Review can only mean one extraordinary thing!
It's the return of Massillon's very own Surly Old St. Nick, the Extraordinary One, none other than Santa Frank.
Welcome back, Santa Frank!
"Ho, Ho, Ho... Santa is back with a vengeance this Christmas Eve, but truth be known, Santa has never really left the North Pole. Kathy What's Her Name can have the reigns to Santa's sleigh when she pries them from Santa's cold, dead hands!"
"Santa's loyal elves have kept the City Hall, I mean the 'North Pole Workshop' humming along in Santa's absence, laying the groundwork for Santa's triumphant return!"
"As a result, Santa has plenty of toys for Massillon's good girls and boys, and for the rest of you anti-Santa, anti-North Pole carpetbaggers, Santa has brought extra coal this year!"
"Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa sees that his favorite elf, Santa's Loyal Enforcer, has announced his retirement. Well, don't anyone worry! Santa found a way to keep his Loyal Enforcer in office before when the going got tough, and Santa is confident the Loyal Enforcer will end up un-retiring... again. Look for him to pop up in another North Pole office just as soon as he collects his pension and health care benefits. While Santa's Loyal Enforcer has faithfully mustered the troops to oppose the new mayor, we are a bit concerned about his driving abilities. Even Santa's sleigh has occasionally clipped the odd car in the parking lot, but to hit the same care twice in one night, well, that takes some doing. Santa is putting driving lessons in his stocking this year. When the Loyal Enforcer comes out of retirement... again, native born North Poleians need not fear parking next to him!"
"Now, Santa sees that North Pole City Treasurer Paul Lambert is retiring. Mrs. Santa has a little free time these days. And she isn't one to sit home and bake cookies. "That Woman" who temporarily took Santa's job as mayor should appoint Mrs. Claus as treasurer. Mrs. Claus and she have much in common. Neither one is actually from Massillon! Ho, Ho, Ho!"
"Santa sees that Santa's former Safety Service Director, Mike Loudiana, is throwing his hat into the ring to run for North Pole City Council. Santa couldn't have run the North Pole without Mike's help. Mike has taken a lot of flak for calling Santa, "Extraordinary," but Mike can't help calling them like he sees them! Mike's gift this year is a case of amnesia for the North Pole voters. Once they remember how Mike helped put the North Pole in the mess it's in now, and once people see the vast overtime he racked up as North Pole Safety Service Director, the voters of the North Pole's First Ward may not see fit to elect him. And that would be an extraordinary shame."
"Santa wants to personally thank the North Pole Auditor's office for the fine work they have done this past year. The Auditor elves do fantastic work keeping Santa informed of "That Woman's" dealings, and they worked vigorously to help Santa cover his proverbial behind as Santa left the North Pole Mayor's office last year. "That Woman" has an incredible mess on her hand, and without the Auditor's office exacerbating the situation, Santa would have been left holding more of the bag! They get Santa's unending gratitude! Ho, Ho, Ho!"
"Now, not all of Santa's former elves were as loyal as they could have been. Former North Pole Community Development Director Aane Aaby refused to quit before "That Woman" took office. He actually helped with the transition and taught the New Guy how to pay the Hotel bill! Aane Aaby gets a big lump of coal. The New Guy gets saddled with Santa's Hotel Deal, which is worse than getting a lump of coal!"
"Fire Chief Burgasser gets a lump of coal, too. Even though the North Pole Fire Station should have been condemned years ago, as Santa never kept it maintained properly, Chief Burgasser should have fought harder when "That Woman" closed it. And Santa called and gave him Hell for not doing it."
"Now what to give the ungrateful residents of the North Pole, who turned Santa Frank out after a mere 24 years in charge? Well, Santa left everyone the same thing in their collective stockings. The debt on the golf course. Which brings Santa to one of his favorite elves, Elf Moe. Elf Moe helped Santa unload the North Pole golf debt on the North Pole Parks and Recreation Department in the first place. Elf Moe voted to do it. And while Santa was in charge at the North Pole, Elf Moe said nary a word. But once Santa left, and "That Woman" took over, Elf Moe has had a change of heart. Elf Moe wants to give the golf course back. Forget the fact the North Pole is millions in debt and would literally collapse if that happened. Elf Moe is an elf on a mission, making "That Woman's" life miserable. Elf Moe gets a shiny new big screen television for the Legends of the North Pole Golf Course Club House. Money well spent!"
"The rest of you get the millions of debt we still owe, which won't be paid off until 2032. Ho, Ho, Ho!"
"As for Santa, it is much easier to drive his sleigh, now that Santa Claus Lane is no longer one of the Five Worst Roads at the North Pole, as determined by a study of a study that never happened. As for "That Woman," who temporarily took Santa's job, she got the mother of all disasters, the debt ridden, vat of red ink known as North Pole City government. And most of all, she gets no help in cleaning up the mess that Santa left her, which is the biggest lump of coal in Santa's bag. Ho, Ho, Ha, Ha!"
"Santa is back. And to quote Louie Brio's most recent Express Lube ad, it's good to be back riding with the boys!"
Believe!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
An Extraordinarily Cold Day in Hell
As the hardworking, recently recalled Massillon Review staff was cleaning up around the office, and dusting out the cobwebs, trying to get things spic and span in anticipation of Santa Frank's Christmas Eve visit, we got to talking about how you get to be City Treasurer when the current treasurer retires before his term is up.
Longtime City Treasurer Paul Lambert is retiring at the end of the year, but he has one year left on his elected four year term.
So, how does someone get to be treasurer for that last year?
As you know, the Review has whole heartedly endorsed the candidacy of Massillon's former First Lady for Life, the calm, the cool, the collected, Joy Cicchinelli.
We tasked our newly re-employed legal team to research the issue.
According to the crack Massillon Review legal team, an appointment to the soon to be vacant treasurer's seat will be made by the Democratic Party, as the departing treasurer is a Democrat;
"The county central committee of the political party with which the last occupant of the office was affiliated, acting through its members who reside in the city where the vacancy occurs, shall appoint a person to hold the office and to perform the duties thereof until a successor is elected and has qualified..."
This may be a bit of a difficulty for our endorsed candidate, as her husband, The Extraordinary One, actively supported Republican candidates in the last municipal elections.
A difficult obstacle for us to overcome, but not impossible...
Now, according to our crack legal team, the Democratic Party has 45 days in which to choose a replacement treasurer.
So, the question becomes, who gets to be treasurer until the Democratic Party chooses a treasurer?
And this is where it gets interesting;
"The mayor of the city may appoint a person to hold the city office of director of law, auditor, or treasurer as an acting officer and to perform the duties thereof between the occurrence of the vacancy and the time when the person appointed by the central committee qualifies and takes the office."
The mayor of the city may appoint a person to hold the city office... of treasurer.
If Joy Cicchinelli would want to be appointed as the acting treasurer, perhaps giving her a leg up with the Democratic Party selection, she would need Kathy Catazaro-Perry to appoint her.
Probably not gonna happen.
Longtime City Treasurer Paul Lambert is retiring at the end of the year, but he has one year left on his elected four year term.
So, how does someone get to be treasurer for that last year?
As you know, the Review has whole heartedly endorsed the candidacy of Massillon's former First Lady for Life, the calm, the cool, the collected, Joy Cicchinelli.
We tasked our newly re-employed legal team to research the issue.
According to the crack Massillon Review legal team, an appointment to the soon to be vacant treasurer's seat will be made by the Democratic Party, as the departing treasurer is a Democrat;
"The county central committee of the political party with which the last occupant of the office was affiliated, acting through its members who reside in the city where the vacancy occurs, shall appoint a person to hold the office and to perform the duties thereof until a successor is elected and has qualified..."
This may be a bit of a difficulty for our endorsed candidate, as her husband, The Extraordinary One, actively supported Republican candidates in the last municipal elections.
A difficult obstacle for us to overcome, but not impossible...
Now, according to our crack legal team, the Democratic Party has 45 days in which to choose a replacement treasurer.
So, the question becomes, who gets to be treasurer until the Democratic Party chooses a treasurer?
And this is where it gets interesting;
"The mayor of the city may appoint a person to hold the city office of director of law, auditor, or treasurer as an acting officer and to perform the duties thereof between the occurrence of the vacancy and the time when the person appointed by the central committee qualifies and takes the office."
The mayor of the city may appoint a person to hold the city office... of treasurer.
If Joy Cicchinelli would want to be appointed as the acting treasurer, perhaps giving her a leg up with the Democratic Party selection, she would need Kathy Catazaro-Perry to appoint her.
Probably not gonna happen.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Fool Me Once
It's official. Glenn Gamber, Massillon's City Council President, and faithful ally of our former mayor, The Extraordinary One, Frank Cicchinelli, is 'retiring' as Council President, effective December 28th.
This isn't Gamber's first attempt at 'retirement.'
In 2003, Republican Donnie Peters ran against then Massillon Ward 5 Councilman Glenn Gamber. Massillon's Ward 5, on the Southwest side of Massillon, is overwhelmingly Democratic. Donnie Peters almost upsets Glenn, and Glenn holds on to win by a mere 8 votes. As Donnie Peters gears up for a rematch in 2005, Glenn Gamber decided he has had enough of politics.
Glenn Gamber announces that he is 'retiring' from politics, and won't be seeking re-election.
Curiously enough, at the candidate filing deadline, Glenn files petitions to run for Massillon Council President. This was odd, because Massillon already had a Democratic Council President, Dennis Harwig. Was Glenn, who didn't think he could beat a Republican in an overwhelming Democratic ward, now thinking he could beat the sitting council president?
No.
Team Cicchinelli are fine chess players and were looking two moves down the board.
Dennis Harwig was magically appointed City Income Tax Investigator subsequent to Glenn Gamber filing to run against Harwig for council president. Harwig then vacates his council president's position when he takes his new job, allowing Glenn to win the Democratic Primary unopposed, and be appointed to the remainder of Harwig's term.
Through these political machinations, Glenn Gamber was able to continue his political career and be Massillon City Council President, effectively serving as Mayor Cicchinelli's Loyal Enforcer on Massillon City Council.
While we acknowledge that Glenn is leaving his position as council president, we don't believe he is leaving elected office.
We believe Glenn Gamber will retire from public service, take his pension and, more importantly, his retiree health insurance, and run for another city office.
To double dip.
Earning a pension, health care benefits, and drawing a salary when he chooses his next office.
He 'retired' once before.
We don't think he's actually going any where.
We do believe the next move on the chess board has already been decided upon.
This isn't Gamber's first attempt at 'retirement.'
In 2003, Republican Donnie Peters ran against then Massillon Ward 5 Councilman Glenn Gamber. Massillon's Ward 5, on the Southwest side of Massillon, is overwhelmingly Democratic. Donnie Peters almost upsets Glenn, and Glenn holds on to win by a mere 8 votes. As Donnie Peters gears up for a rematch in 2005, Glenn Gamber decided he has had enough of politics.
Glenn Gamber announces that he is 'retiring' from politics, and won't be seeking re-election.
Curiously enough, at the candidate filing deadline, Glenn files petitions to run for Massillon Council President. This was odd, because Massillon already had a Democratic Council President, Dennis Harwig. Was Glenn, who didn't think he could beat a Republican in an overwhelming Democratic ward, now thinking he could beat the sitting council president?
No.
Team Cicchinelli are fine chess players and were looking two moves down the board.
Dennis Harwig was magically appointed City Income Tax Investigator subsequent to Glenn Gamber filing to run against Harwig for council president. Harwig then vacates his council president's position when he takes his new job, allowing Glenn to win the Democratic Primary unopposed, and be appointed to the remainder of Harwig's term.
Through these political machinations, Glenn Gamber was able to continue his political career and be Massillon City Council President, effectively serving as Mayor Cicchinelli's Loyal Enforcer on Massillon City Council.
While we acknowledge that Glenn is leaving his position as council president, we don't believe he is leaving elected office.
We believe Glenn Gamber will retire from public service, take his pension and, more importantly, his retiree health insurance, and run for another city office.
To double dip.
Earning a pension, health care benefits, and drawing a salary when he chooses his next office.
He 'retired' once before.
We don't think he's actually going any where.
We do believe the next move on the chess board has already been decided upon.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Will Santa Frank Ride Again?
A longtime, faithful Review reader wondered if Santa Frank will once again hitch up the reindeer and ride through the Massillon night come Christmas Eve, delivering toys to the good girls and boys of our Fair City.
"It wouldn't be Christmas in Massillon without Santa Frank visiting on Christmas Eve. Will Santa Frank be coming this year?"
Of course he will.
He never returned the sleigh and the reindeer to his successor.
Believe.
Santa Frank will ride once more.
Joy to the World!
Longtime City Treasurer Paul Lambert is retiring at the end of December with one year left on his four year term. So who will replace him? Multiple faithful Review readers have emailed us about a potential replacement, so it looks like this particular rumor has some traction.
Word on the street is that our former First Lady for Life, Joy Cicchinelli, wants to be Massillon's next Watchdog of the Treasury.
Last we left Joy, she was bitterly complaining to Massillon School Superintendent Goodright, and a Massillon School Board member that then Mayor Elect Kathy Catazaro Perry was presenting the trophy at the 'Mayor's Cup Girls Basketball Tournament.'
Joy's beef was that Catazaro-Perry wasn't mayor yet, and shouldn't have been allowed to present the trophy.
It was the evening of December 30th, 2011, about one day before Catazaro-Perry officially took over the debt riddled mess known as Massillon City government.
Of course, neither Cicchinelli was in attendance for the basketball tournament.
As a matter of fact, they never came.
And why should they? It wasn't something important like High School Football.
The problem wasn't that the current mayor never came, it was that the mayor-elect came in his stead.
And Joy was not a happy camper.
It is believed that Joy has been busily spending her free time spewing venom against her husband's successor throughout cyberspace.
You know, constructive work for the good of the city.
We, however, believe Joy Cicchinelli would be an inspired choice for city treasurer, and whole heartedly endorse this endeavor.
Her level headedness, rational behavior, and her tendency to never overreact are qualifications making her well suited to this position.
Besides, how hard can the job be?
As a result of the financial black hole our Extraordinary Former Mayor left us in, there isn't a whole lot of money left to count.
The big question?
Whether or not Joy would sign the current mayor's paycheck every week.
Word on the street is that our former First Lady for Life, Joy Cicchinelli, wants to be Massillon's next Watchdog of the Treasury.
Last we left Joy, she was bitterly complaining to Massillon School Superintendent Goodright, and a Massillon School Board member that then Mayor Elect Kathy Catazaro Perry was presenting the trophy at the 'Mayor's Cup Girls Basketball Tournament.'
Joy's beef was that Catazaro-Perry wasn't mayor yet, and shouldn't have been allowed to present the trophy.
It was the evening of December 30th, 2011, about one day before Catazaro-Perry officially took over the debt riddled mess known as Massillon City government.
Of course, neither Cicchinelli was in attendance for the basketball tournament.
As a matter of fact, they never came.
And why should they? It wasn't something important like High School Football.
The problem wasn't that the current mayor never came, it was that the mayor-elect came in his stead.
And Joy was not a happy camper.
It is believed that Joy has been busily spending her free time spewing venom against her husband's successor throughout cyberspace.
You know, constructive work for the good of the city.
We, however, believe Joy Cicchinelli would be an inspired choice for city treasurer, and whole heartedly endorse this endeavor.
Her level headedness, rational behavior, and her tendency to never overreact are qualifications making her well suited to this position.
Besides, how hard can the job be?
As a result of the financial black hole our Extraordinary Former Mayor left us in, there isn't a whole lot of money left to count.
The big question?
Whether or not Joy would sign the current mayor's paycheck every week.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Please Sir, I Want Some More
The Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, John Kurtzman, doesn't like taxes.
Strike that.
He doesn't like some taxes.
Some taxes are good, like the Stark County Sales Tax, which generates money to run the government office where he works.
Thanks in part to John Kurtzman's campaigning, Stark County residents are now paying a higher sales tax.
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
And some taxes are bad, like the proposed income tax credit reduction proposed twice over the past year by Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
As a Massillon resident who works in Canton, John Kurtzman pays income tax to the City of Canton, where he works, and no income tax to the City of Massillon, where he lives.
He receives a 100% tax credit, meaning his Massillon income taxes are deducted by the amount he pays in Canton income taxes by 100%.
Most cities have a tax credit for residents residing in that particular city, but working in another city, but a 100% tax credit is unusually high, and extremely rare.
Catazaro-Perry's last attempt to have Massillon residents who work in another city to pay a portion of Massillon's income tax was a proposed 35% tax credit reduction.
If passed, this meant that folks like John Kurtzman would only have to pay 35% of the City's 1.8% income tax rate.
This would have been about 2/3 of one percent.
This amount was still unacceptable to John Kurtzman.
At the August 20th meeting of Massillon City Council, John Kurtzman was unable to attend, but Stark County Auditor employee John Oates, aka "Oatey," read a letter from John Kurtzman expressing his opposition to paying any City income tax what so ever because -
"it’s a penalty on the unfortunate bread winners who are forced to work outside the city"
Fast forward to the present.
At this past Monday's City Council meeting, City Council Finance Chair Donnie Peters proposed to raise the City's income tax rate .3% to 2.1%.
A raise in the City's income tax must be approved by a vote of the people.
More interesting, Peters also proposed eliminating the 100% tax credit on his .3% increase.
Peters, who vehemently opposed Catazaro-Perry's plans to generate more revenue via a tax credit reduction, was now proposing a tax credit reduction of his own.
Why the change?
Did Peters have a philosophical change in his views on taxation?
Isn't he concerned that John Kurtzman will be back to oppose this tax credit reduction because it is a "penalty" on the "unfortunate bread winners who are forced to work outside the city?"
The answer is no.
No one will complain about Donnie Peters' proposed tax reduction.
No one will point out Peters' hypocrisy for proposing a tax credit reduction in December, while chiding Catazaro-Perry for doing the same just four months prior.
Because the reasons are, of course, extraordinary...
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Zombie Apocalypse
The Undead.
You just can't be rid of them.
No matter what you do, they just won't go away.
"...he (Frank Cicchinelli), is an extraordinary mayor."
- Former Safety Service Director Mike Loudiana
Extraordinary.
Hold that thought.
In November of 2002, Massillon City Council finalized a general obligation bond on the Legends of Massillon Golf Course, for roughly $7,281,000 dollars. This took the old debt from the original 18 hole course, rolled it in with the nine hole expansion, which was over budget, and created one really big loan that the city administration knew it could never pay back.
But our once and future Mayor for Life was a man with a plan.
He was going to unload the unprofitable, debt ridden legends of Massillon Golf Course on to the Parks and Recreation Board.
This happened ten years ago.
It was ten years ago almost to the night that Massillon's City Council decided to "streamline" city government and "merge" the debt ridden Legends of Massillon Golf Course with the Parks and Recreation Department.
Of course, our Extraordinary former Mayor didn't concoct this ruse without cover.
He claimed his financial hi jinx were merely an attempt to "streamline" city government.
"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).
Except that it was "a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses."
A scheme that won't be paid off until 2032.
But he couldn't have done this alone.
Oh, no.
He had help.
He had the vote of then Massillon City Councilman Mike Loudiana.
And Mike was such an extraordinary supporter of our former mayor, that Cicchinelli eventually made Mike Loudiana his safety service director, essentially his right hand man in directing our fair city's ship of state.
And it was Mike Loudiana who was at our Extraordinary Mayor for Life's side while our mayor led our fair city into millions of dollars of debt, all the while racking up copious overtime for himself.
One would think that when the voters repudiated the Extraordinary One, a nickname whose genesis found life in Safety Service Director Loudiana's now infamous quote, that Loudiana would recognize his own role in this debacle, and quietly ride off in to the sunset.
Well, one would be wrong.
According to records at the Stark County Board of Elections, Mike Loudiana is making a comeback, and is running for a Massillon Council seat representing the First Ward, a seat currently held by Sarita Cunningham-Hedderly.
Hey, it's been a year, hopefully everyone will have forgotten Loudiana's role as a key player in the Cichinelli administration.
Or not.
We don't imagine this being the only attempt at political comeback by Team Cicchinelli alumni.
Just the first.
You just can't be rid of them.
No matter what you do, they just won't go away.
"...he (Frank Cicchinelli), is an extraordinary mayor."
- Former Safety Service Director Mike Loudiana
Extraordinary.
Hold that thought.
In November of 2002, Massillon City Council finalized a general obligation bond on the Legends of Massillon Golf Course, for roughly $7,281,000 dollars. This took the old debt from the original 18 hole course, rolled it in with the nine hole expansion, which was over budget, and created one really big loan that the city administration knew it could never pay back.
But our once and future Mayor for Life was a man with a plan.
He was going to unload the unprofitable, debt ridden legends of Massillon Golf Course on to the Parks and Recreation Board.
This happened ten years ago.
It was ten years ago almost to the night that Massillon's City Council decided to "streamline" city government and "merge" the debt ridden Legends of Massillon Golf Course with the Parks and Recreation Department.
Of course, our Extraordinary former Mayor didn't concoct this ruse without cover.
He claimed his financial hi jinx were merely an attempt to "streamline" city government.
"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).
Except that it was "a big scheme to have the parks department cover the golf course's expenses."
A scheme that won't be paid off until 2032.
But he couldn't have done this alone.
Oh, no.
He had help.
He had the vote of then Massillon City Councilman Mike Loudiana.
And Mike was such an extraordinary supporter of our former mayor, that Cicchinelli eventually made Mike Loudiana his safety service director, essentially his right hand man in directing our fair city's ship of state.
And it was Mike Loudiana who was at our Extraordinary Mayor for Life's side while our mayor led our fair city into millions of dollars of debt, all the while racking up copious overtime for himself.
One would think that when the voters repudiated the Extraordinary One, a nickname whose genesis found life in Safety Service Director Loudiana's now infamous quote, that Loudiana would recognize his own role in this debacle, and quietly ride off in to the sunset.
Well, one would be wrong.
According to records at the Stark County Board of Elections, Mike Loudiana is making a comeback, and is running for a Massillon Council seat representing the First Ward, a seat currently held by Sarita Cunningham-Hedderly.
Hey, it's been a year, hopefully everyone will have forgotten Loudiana's role as a key player in the Cichinelli administration.
Or not.
We don't imagine this being the only attempt at political comeback by Team Cicchinelli alumni.
Just the first.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
What's Good for the Goose
Larry Slagle took a 3.55% pay raise as a member of Massillon City Council this year.
It was automatic. It was unvoted.
The elected officials get a raise every year.
It is automatic. It is unvoted.
The city workers received a pay freeze, and a reduction of benefits.
27 lost their jobs because of the horrific state of our city's finances.
The city workers, at least those not in a union, were ordered by council, including Larry Slagle who voted in the affirmative, to pay 15% of their health care premiums.
We believe city workers, just like workers in the private sector, should pay part of their health care.
We do recognize this results in a decrease of their take home pay, and is essentially a pay cut.
This pay cut was supported by Larry Slagle, who took a raise for himself.
He froze the pay and cut the benefits of the worker bees.
And took a raise for himself.
And he is not ashamed.
“(We) have been told we should be ashamed because we have not given back our pay raises,” Slagle said at the close of Monday’s council meeting. “First of all, I’m not ashamed of that at all" (The Independent, May 9, 2012).
Last year's Larry Slagle vowed to examine the ordinance that gives members of city council automatic, unvoted pay raises for life.
"In 2011, Slagle vowed that he would examine the 1995 ordinance that establishes the pay-raise mechanism for the 14 city employees, which includes council, its president, the auditor, treasurer, law director and mayor" (The Independent, May 9, 2012).
And after thoroughly researching the issue, Councilman Slagle decided the elected officials of Massillon were "dramatically underpaid."
The members of Massillon City Council make $7,823 dollars per year for this part time job.
In North Canton, they make $4,800 per year.
In Louisville, they make $3,000 per year
Regardless, we agree people are not getting rich serving on council.
We do, however, take exception to the "we deserve more" argument on several fronts;
Firstly, Slagle knew what the salary was when he ran for the office and was elected all of six months ago.
We assume no one forced Mr. Slagle to run, and that he did so of his own free will.
Secondly, we challenge Mr. Slagle to find another governmental body where the elected officials get an annual, unvoted pay raise every year, for life.
Annual. Unvoted. Pay raise for life.
Good Luck!
Thirdly, being on council is a part time job.
$7,823 dollars for 52 Monday night meetings.
That's $150 dollars per meeting.
A part time job.
We ask this question. If annual, unvoted pay raises for life is such a fine idea, why not give the worker bees what you got?
This solution would end any and all labor strife within Massillon City government forever.
Give the workers the same annual, unvoted pay raise for life deal that you have.
No more contract negotiations.
No more bargaining.
No labor-management impasses ever.
Give them the same raises you get.
Instead of a pay freeze this year, they would get your 3.55% raise.
No you say?
Then you are a hypocrite.
What's good for the goose should be good for the gander.
And if you can't see the absurdity of freezing, cutting, and laying off the workers while you yourself take a pay increase, then your grasp on reality is tenuous at best.
Either treat everyone the same, or repeal the automatic raises.
Be consistent.
We realize you aren't getting rich on $7,823 dollars a year.
But you chose to do this, and this is not your full-time vocation.
Under your watch, 27 people just lost their full-time vocation.
And guess what?
It isn't anyone else's fault that you got your hand caught in the cookie jar.
It's on you.
And when you and your colleagues were "showin' tough love," and "cuttin' to the bone," it is disingenuous that you impose sacrifice on others while you take a pay increase for yourself, regardless of the amount.
No, you are not getting rich doing the job.
But your decision to take the raise, under the present financial circumstances facing the city was your choice.
And if you are "not ashamed" to take the raise, then you should not be angry when it is pointed out that you took the raise.
You did.
You took it.
You made a choice.
You knew the ramifications.
Accept the responsibility and quit looking for scapegoats.
If you have an issue with anyone, it is with the man in the mirror, and with no one else.
It was automatic. It was unvoted.
The elected officials get a raise every year.
It is automatic. It is unvoted.
The city workers received a pay freeze, and a reduction of benefits.
27 lost their jobs because of the horrific state of our city's finances.
The city workers, at least those not in a union, were ordered by council, including Larry Slagle who voted in the affirmative, to pay 15% of their health care premiums.
We believe city workers, just like workers in the private sector, should pay part of their health care.
We do recognize this results in a decrease of their take home pay, and is essentially a pay cut.
This pay cut was supported by Larry Slagle, who took a raise for himself.
He froze the pay and cut the benefits of the worker bees.
And took a raise for himself.
And he is not ashamed.
“(We) have been told we should be ashamed because we have not given back our pay raises,” Slagle said at the close of Monday’s council meeting. “First of all, I’m not ashamed of that at all" (The Independent, May 9, 2012).
Last year's Larry Slagle vowed to examine the ordinance that gives members of city council automatic, unvoted pay raises for life.
"In 2011, Slagle vowed that he would examine the 1995 ordinance that establishes the pay-raise mechanism for the 14 city employees, which includes council, its president, the auditor, treasurer, law director and mayor" (The Independent, May 9, 2012).
And after thoroughly researching the issue, Councilman Slagle decided the elected officials of Massillon were "dramatically underpaid."
The members of Massillon City Council make $7,823 dollars per year for this part time job.
In North Canton, they make $4,800 per year.
In Louisville, they make $3,000 per year
Regardless, we agree people are not getting rich serving on council.
We do, however, take exception to the "we deserve more" argument on several fronts;
Firstly, Slagle knew what the salary was when he ran for the office and was elected all of six months ago.
We assume no one forced Mr. Slagle to run, and that he did so of his own free will.
Secondly, we challenge Mr. Slagle to find another governmental body where the elected officials get an annual, unvoted pay raise every year, for life.
Annual. Unvoted. Pay raise for life.
Good Luck!
Thirdly, being on council is a part time job.
$7,823 dollars for 52 Monday night meetings.
That's $150 dollars per meeting.
A part time job.
We ask this question. If annual, unvoted pay raises for life is such a fine idea, why not give the worker bees what you got?
This solution would end any and all labor strife within Massillon City government forever.
Give the workers the same annual, unvoted pay raise for life deal that you have.
No more contract negotiations.
No more bargaining.
No labor-management impasses ever.
Give them the same raises you get.
Instead of a pay freeze this year, they would get your 3.55% raise.
No you say?
Then you are a hypocrite.
What's good for the goose should be good for the gander.
And if you can't see the absurdity of freezing, cutting, and laying off the workers while you yourself take a pay increase, then your grasp on reality is tenuous at best.
Either treat everyone the same, or repeal the automatic raises.
Be consistent.
We realize you aren't getting rich on $7,823 dollars a year.
But you chose to do this, and this is not your full-time vocation.
Under your watch, 27 people just lost their full-time vocation.
And guess what?
It isn't anyone else's fault that you got your hand caught in the cookie jar.
It's on you.
And when you and your colleagues were "showin' tough love," and "cuttin' to the bone," it is disingenuous that you impose sacrifice on others while you take a pay increase for yourself, regardless of the amount.
No, you are not getting rich doing the job.
But your decision to take the raise, under the present financial circumstances facing the city was your choice.
And if you are "not ashamed" to take the raise, then you should not be angry when it is pointed out that you took the raise.
You did.
You took it.
You made a choice.
You knew the ramifications.
Accept the responsibility and quit looking for scapegoats.
If you have an issue with anyone, it is with the man in the mirror, and with no one else.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
It's Not Over Until I Say it's Over!
If you look up good sportsmanship in the dictionary, the one thing you can be absolutely sure of that won't appear is a picture of our beloved 6 term, 24 year, former mayor for life, the extraordinary one, Frank Cicchinelli.
When he lost the Democratic primary one year ago today, he decided not to be a statesman, and quietly leave the stage.
The first thing he did was to go about assessing blame for his loss. And the stories about who was truly responsible are well travelled.
The guilty include;
The Independent newspaper - they were "anti-Cicchinelli" and were out to get him, despite the fact they endorsed him for a seventh term.
The Massillon Tiger Football Boosters - they could have done more to support one of their own.
The Carpetbaggers - those "anti-Cicchinelli" mayor haters who don't even live here. Remember the 'line in the sand?'
The people of Tuslaw - they worked against Frank for no good reason. We know he tried to annex the entire Tuslaw school system, but those people were making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Jackson Township Trustee John Pizzino - Mayor Cicchinelli's cousin. Cicchinelli demanded that Pizzino run against Massillon Clerk of Courts Johnnie Maier. Pizzino said no.
The no good voters - They forgot about all the good work our beloved mayor selflessly performed, solely for the good of the city.
The guilty did not include;
Himself.
None of it was his fault.
None of it.
Not the deplorable condition of our parks
Not the Legends of Massillon Golf Course debacle
Not the Arena swindle
Not the Hampton Inn sweetheart deal
Not the 59 Duncan Place scam
Not the overspending
Not the mismanagement
None of it.
To say he did not leave with grace and dignity is a vast understatement of biblical proportions.
In his last 8 months, he spent money he did not have.
He hired people he really could not afford.
He made sure his street was "one of the five worst streets in the city," in order to get it repaved.
With the help of City Auditor Jayne Ferrero, he left the new mayor with almost 3 million dollars of unpaid bills.
He set the city up for an extraordinary crash.
But it wouldn't happen on his watch.
This would be someone else's problem.
But he isn't finished.
Cicchinelli is not done.
He is still involved.
Working behind the scenes.
Working through his former loyalists.
Because it's not over until he says it is.
Multiple Massillon Review faithful readers have communicated the story of how just last week, our former mayor called our current fire chief and screamed at him. Cicchinelli took the fire chief to task for allowing "those people" to close Fire Station No. 3 on Wales Road.
Fire Station No. 3.
The building department deemed it's condition to be "deplorable."
The Fire Department understood why it was closed.
“We understand why the city closed it — the health concerns,” said firefighter Perkowski, of the International Association of Firefighters Local 251 (The Independent, April 28, 2012).
It needed to be closed because 'someone' didn't take care of it... for 24 years.
Uh, Mr. Cicchinelli? You aren't the fire chief's boss anymore.
And whether you believe it, or not, and we realize you won't, you are the person with the most responsibility for 27 people losing their jobs this week.
Perhaps you should contemplate this fact as you continue to "work behind the scenes."
And, as a point of correction.
It's over.
When he lost the Democratic primary one year ago today, he decided not to be a statesman, and quietly leave the stage.
The first thing he did was to go about assessing blame for his loss. And the stories about who was truly responsible are well travelled.
The guilty include;
The Independent newspaper - they were "anti-Cicchinelli" and were out to get him, despite the fact they endorsed him for a seventh term.
The Massillon Tiger Football Boosters - they could have done more to support one of their own.
The Carpetbaggers - those "anti-Cicchinelli" mayor haters who don't even live here. Remember the 'line in the sand?'
The people of Tuslaw - they worked against Frank for no good reason. We know he tried to annex the entire Tuslaw school system, but those people were making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Jackson Township Trustee John Pizzino - Mayor Cicchinelli's cousin. Cicchinelli demanded that Pizzino run against Massillon Clerk of Courts Johnnie Maier. Pizzino said no.
The no good voters - They forgot about all the good work our beloved mayor selflessly performed, solely for the good of the city.
The guilty did not include;
Himself.
None of it was his fault.
None of it.
Not the deplorable condition of our parks
Not the Legends of Massillon Golf Course debacle
Not the Arena swindle
Not the Hampton Inn sweetheart deal
Not the 59 Duncan Place scam
Not the overspending
Not the mismanagement
None of it.
To say he did not leave with grace and dignity is a vast understatement of biblical proportions.
In his last 8 months, he spent money he did not have.
He hired people he really could not afford.
He made sure his street was "one of the five worst streets in the city," in order to get it repaved.
With the help of City Auditor Jayne Ferrero, he left the new mayor with almost 3 million dollars of unpaid bills.
He set the city up for an extraordinary crash.
But it wouldn't happen on his watch.
This would be someone else's problem.
But he isn't finished.
Cicchinelli is not done.
He is still involved.
Working behind the scenes.
Working through his former loyalists.
Because it's not over until he says it is.
Multiple Massillon Review faithful readers have communicated the story of how just last week, our former mayor called our current fire chief and screamed at him. Cicchinelli took the fire chief to task for allowing "those people" to close Fire Station No. 3 on Wales Road.
Fire Station No. 3.
The building department deemed it's condition to be "deplorable."
The Fire Department understood why it was closed.
“We understand why the city closed it — the health concerns,” said firefighter Perkowski, of the International Association of Firefighters Local 251 (The Independent, April 28, 2012).
It needed to be closed because 'someone' didn't take care of it... for 24 years.
Uh, Mr. Cicchinelli? You aren't the fire chief's boss anymore.
And whether you believe it, or not, and we realize you won't, you are the person with the most responsibility for 27 people losing their jobs this week.
Perhaps you should contemplate this fact as you continue to "work behind the scenes."
And, as a point of correction.
It's over.
So Much for Tough Love
"She (Catazaro-Perry) is going to have to make cuts, make consolidations. She’s going to have to do some tough love.” (Massillon City Auditor Jayne Ferrero, The Independent, January 20, 2012).
In Auditor Jayne Ferrero's world, it is clearly evident that 'tough love' applies only to the city's worker bees, and not to herself. Ferrero took her 3.55% pay raise., costing our cash strapped city $1,890 dollars.
Independent reporter Matthew Rink lays out who took the raises and who didn't;
http://www.indeonline.com/newsnow/x1018078992/Amid-layoffs-elected-officials-take-automatic-raises?zc_p=0
Kudos to the Republicans
All 5 Republican members of city council returned their pay raises. This included the four new Republican members of city council;
Sarita Cunningham Hedderly, Ward 1
Nancy Halter, Ward 2
Ed Lewis, Ward 6
Milan Chovin, At Large
Perhaps the aforementioned will remind their leader, Councilman Donnie Peters, of his January promise to repeal the automatic, unvoted, annual pay raise for life legislation.
Stergios understands
(Law Director Perry) Stergios said he understands the argument that forfeiting the raise is a symbolic gesture during difficult economic times (The Independent, May 3, 2012).
He understands the argument. He's just keeping the money.
In Auditor Jayne Ferrero's world, it is clearly evident that 'tough love' applies only to the city's worker bees, and not to herself. Ferrero took her 3.55% pay raise., costing our cash strapped city $1,890 dollars.
Independent reporter Matthew Rink lays out who took the raises and who didn't;
http://www.indeonline.com/newsnow/x1018078992/Amid-layoffs-elected-officials-take-automatic-raises?zc_p=0
Kudos to the Republicans
All 5 Republican members of city council returned their pay raises. This included the four new Republican members of city council;
Sarita Cunningham Hedderly, Ward 1
Nancy Halter, Ward 2
Ed Lewis, Ward 6
Milan Chovin, At Large
Perhaps the aforementioned will remind their leader, Councilman Donnie Peters, of his January promise to repeal the automatic, unvoted, annual pay raise for life legislation.
Stergios understands
(Law Director Perry) Stergios said he understands the argument that forfeiting the raise is a symbolic gesture during difficult economic times (The Independent, May 3, 2012).
He understands the argument. He's just keeping the money.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Answers Are Coming
According to one of our faithful readers, the Independent newspaper will be running a story tomorrow detailing which elected officials "showed tough love," "cut it to the bone," and returned their unvoted, annual pay raise.
We will also be learning which elected officials took their unvoted, annual pay raise while the worker bees took cuts, freezes, and layoffs.
Hopefully they all had the common sense and basic decency to not take a raise this year.
We are fairly confident that is not the case.
We will also be learning which elected officials took their unvoted, annual pay raise while the worker bees took cuts, freezes, and layoffs.
Hopefully they all had the common sense and basic decency to not take a raise this year.
We are fairly confident that is not the case.
Shared Sacrifice
Massillon City Council didn't have much to say on Monday when 27 city employees lost their jobs.
These job losses, these families who will suffer as a result, are the human faces attached to the rhetoric of "show tough love," or "cut it to the bone," mantra which has been extraordinarily easy for some members of our city government to trumpet to the local newspaper.
Massillon's finances are a mess.
Our prior mayor spent money like a drunken sailor on shore leave.
Money he didn't have.
And the Auditor had no inclination to put the brakes on as he did it.
Now, while city council has cut benefits for the workers, froze employee salaries, and cheerleaded the "cut to the bone" bombast, they themselves received a 3.55% pay increase.
While others were losing their jobs, through no fault of their own, those in charge got a raise.
Last January, the Independent reported that Mayor Catazaro-Perry, Councilman Donnie Peters, Councilman Ed Lewis, and Councilwoman Nancy Halter returned the annual unvoted pay raise.
We are left wondering if anyone else returned their raise.
We are curious to know who is so brazen to accept a pay raise for themselves while the employees who work for them lose their jobs.
We really are curious.
And are asking our faithful readers for help.
We want names.
If someone knows who took the raises, and who returned them, please drop us an email.
The community deserves to know.
The Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System is on high alert.
These job losses, these families who will suffer as a result, are the human faces attached to the rhetoric of "show tough love," or "cut it to the bone," mantra which has been extraordinarily easy for some members of our city government to trumpet to the local newspaper.
Massillon's finances are a mess.
Our prior mayor spent money like a drunken sailor on shore leave.
Money he didn't have.
And the Auditor had no inclination to put the brakes on as he did it.
Now, while city council has cut benefits for the workers, froze employee salaries, and cheerleaded the "cut to the bone" bombast, they themselves received a 3.55% pay increase.
While others were losing their jobs, through no fault of their own, those in charge got a raise.
Last January, the Independent reported that Mayor Catazaro-Perry, Councilman Donnie Peters, Councilman Ed Lewis, and Councilwoman Nancy Halter returned the annual unvoted pay raise.
We are left wondering if anyone else returned their raise.
We are curious to know who is so brazen to accept a pay raise for themselves while the employees who work for them lose their jobs.
We really are curious.
And are asking our faithful readers for help.
We want names.
If someone knows who took the raises, and who returned them, please drop us an email.
The community deserves to know.
The Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System is on high alert.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Gas Bag
Our beloved city is broke. Left in the wake of the gross mismanagement and reckless spending of our once and future mayor, The Extraordinary One, King Francis the Temporarily displaced.
Yesterday, it was announced that 27 employees are being laid off.
The tragic result of years of fiscal malfeasance.
The chickens coming home to roost.
But the news isn't all bad.
As our faithful readers know, our elected officials get an annual, unvoted pay raise every year.
Seems hypocritical to lay people off, "taking food away from their children," while taking a pay raise for yourself.
But Massillon had a champion!
The Republican Leader of Massillon City Council, President Pro Tem, and Finance Committee Chairman, Donnie Peters was going to put a stop to this unsavory practice.
“I’m going to try to repeal it (the pay raise ordinance),” said Peters, the ranking Republican and Council president pro tem. “Everyone says it doesn’t make it (pay-raise issue) political. Well, make it political” (The Independent, January 27, 2012).
January 27th.
According to our crack Massillon Review research team, that was 95 DAYS AGO.
95 days ago.
And in that 95 days, the city's worker bees took pay freezes, benefit cuts, and 27 of them just lost their job.
But fear not, Massillon.
Donnie Peters is on the job.
And has done absolutely nothing to keep his promise.
Nothing.
Now, we understand the former Mayor's Loyal Enforcer won't permit him, but we don't see where he has even bothered to try.
An empty promise.
More hot air.
One more political gas bag.
Yesterday, it was announced that 27 employees are being laid off.
The tragic result of years of fiscal malfeasance.
The chickens coming home to roost.
But the news isn't all bad.
As our faithful readers know, our elected officials get an annual, unvoted pay raise every year.
Seems hypocritical to lay people off, "taking food away from their children," while taking a pay raise for yourself.
But Massillon had a champion!
The Republican Leader of Massillon City Council, President Pro Tem, and Finance Committee Chairman, Donnie Peters was going to put a stop to this unsavory practice.
“I’m going to try to repeal it (the pay raise ordinance),” said Peters, the ranking Republican and Council president pro tem. “Everyone says it doesn’t make it (pay-raise issue) political. Well, make it political” (The Independent, January 27, 2012).
January 27th.
According to our crack Massillon Review research team, that was 95 DAYS AGO.
95 days ago.
And in that 95 days, the city's worker bees took pay freezes, benefit cuts, and 27 of them just lost their job.
But fear not, Massillon.
Donnie Peters is on the job.
And has done absolutely nothing to keep his promise.
Nothing.
Now, we understand the former Mayor's Loyal Enforcer won't permit him, but we don't see where he has even bothered to try.
An empty promise.
More hot air.
One more political gas bag.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Taking Food Away From Their Children
Some taxes are good.
According to John Kurtzman, Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, the Stark County Sales tax, which was passed last November, is, in the words of Martha Stewart, "a good thing."
Mr. Kurtzman worked diligently to pass the county sales tax, which funded important things like the office where he draws his paycheck.
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
And some taxes are bad.
Like the proposed reduction in the City of Massillon's 100% tax credit.
Chief Counsel Kurtzman, and Prosecutor John Ferrero are of the strong belief that they should continue to pay zero dollars (that's zero with a 'z') of income tax to the community where they live, and that asking them to pay half the income tax everyone else pays is much too egregious;
"They are then taking food away from their children, they’re taking shoes away from them and its just unfair to hit one person or one family and not the other"
(Chief Counsel John Kurtzman, opposing the reduction of the 100% income tax credit, Massillon City Council minutes, February 6, 2012).
What we have learned.
When the county was facing a financial crisis, it was OK to raise taxes, thus taking "food and shoes away from our children," because this money was being used to fund the office where Mr. Kurtzman works.
Conversely, with Massillon facing a financial crisis, it is NOT OK to ask people like John Kurtzman, who live in Massillon, to pay half the city's income tax, as it is wrong to take "food and shoes away from our children" when the money comes from Mr. Kurtzman's wallet.
Now that that's clear, let's examine those who will truly have to worry about feeding and clothing their children so that Chief Counsel Kurtzman and Prosecutor Ferrero can continue to avoid paying any income tax to the city where they live.
http://www.indeonline.com/newsnow/x1018072816/Massillon-to-lay-off-27-including-10-firefighters-9-police-officers
A small price to pay so that Chief Counsel Kurtzman and Prosecutor Ferrero can live in our beloved city tax free.
According to John Kurtzman, Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, the Stark County Sales tax, which was passed last November, is, in the words of Martha Stewart, "a good thing."
Mr. Kurtzman worked diligently to pass the county sales tax, which funded important things like the office where he draws his paycheck.
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
And some taxes are bad.
Like the proposed reduction in the City of Massillon's 100% tax credit.
Chief Counsel Kurtzman, and Prosecutor John Ferrero are of the strong belief that they should continue to pay zero dollars (that's zero with a 'z') of income tax to the community where they live, and that asking them to pay half the income tax everyone else pays is much too egregious;
"They are then taking food away from their children, they’re taking shoes away from them and its just unfair to hit one person or one family and not the other"
(Chief Counsel John Kurtzman, opposing the reduction of the 100% income tax credit, Massillon City Council minutes, February 6, 2012).
What we have learned.
When the county was facing a financial crisis, it was OK to raise taxes, thus taking "food and shoes away from our children," because this money was being used to fund the office where Mr. Kurtzman works.
Conversely, with Massillon facing a financial crisis, it is NOT OK to ask people like John Kurtzman, who live in Massillon, to pay half the city's income tax, as it is wrong to take "food and shoes away from our children" when the money comes from Mr. Kurtzman's wallet.
Now that that's clear, let's examine those who will truly have to worry about feeding and clothing their children so that Chief Counsel Kurtzman and Prosecutor Ferrero can continue to avoid paying any income tax to the city where they live.
http://www.indeonline.com/newsnow/x1018072816/Massillon-to-lay-off-27-including-10-firefighters-9-police-officers
A small price to pay so that Chief Counsel Kurtzman and Prosecutor Ferrero can live in our beloved city tax free.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Au Revoir Kenn
Massillon's Park Czar Kenn Kaminski is leaving town for greener pastures. Rumor on the street is that he can barely keep his family fed on the paltry $90,000 dollars a year he pulls in as Massillon's highest paid municipal employee.
"Kaminski was the highest paid city employee with a salary of $90,169 annually" (The Independent, March 22, 2012).
Kaminski was a loyal flak to our prior mayor, the Extraordinary One, Frank Cicchinelli.
Kaminski always had Frank's back, and knew he was the one who had to take the bullets as a result of Cicchinelli's choices to spend dollars meant for our parks on a golf course that was financed in such a way that it could never turn a profit.
Kaminski was faithful to the bitter end, blaming the neglect that had consumed our parks on 'park vandals,' and not a lack of money for basic maintenance.
And if you complained about the deplorable state of our parks....
"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" (Kenn Kaminski, The Independent, May 10, 2010).
Yes, "anti-Cicchinelli."
We wish our former Parks Czar all the best as he assumes his new job, and draws a salary commiserate with his worth.
As a final good bye, we take a one last look at the havoc wrecked by Kenn Kaminski's 'park vandals.'
"Kaminski was the highest paid city employee with a salary of $90,169 annually" (The Independent, March 22, 2012).
Kaminski was a loyal flak to our prior mayor, the Extraordinary One, Frank Cicchinelli.
Kaminski always had Frank's back, and knew he was the one who had to take the bullets as a result of Cicchinelli's choices to spend dollars meant for our parks on a golf course that was financed in such a way that it could never turn a profit.
Kaminski was faithful to the bitter end, blaming the neglect that had consumed our parks on 'park vandals,' and not a lack of money for basic maintenance.
And if you complained about the deplorable state of our parks....
"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" (Kenn Kaminski, The Independent, May 10, 2010).
Yes, "anti-Cicchinelli."
We wish our former Parks Czar all the best as he assumes his new job, and draws a salary commiserate with his worth.
As a final good bye, we take a one last look at the havoc wrecked by Kenn Kaminski's 'park vandals.'
Ah yes!
Vandals
Good luck, Kenn.
Monday, March 12, 2012
For Life
Since 1995, members of Massillon City Council, the mayor, council president, law director, auditor, and treasurer get a pay raise every year.
An automatic, unvoted pay raise, every year, for life.
The city is broke, they get a pay raise.
They do a bad job, they get a pay raise.
They don't come to meetings, they get a pay raise.
An ordinance was passed in late 1995 granting these elected officials a yearly, unvoted pay raise.
This legislation was conceived by, and approved by none other than our former mayor for life, the extraordinary one, Frank Cicchinelli.
So year in, and year out, these elected officials get a pay raise.
Several times, a member of city council sees through this farce, and tries to stop it.
But 'the powers that be' put a stop to their efforts.
When now mayor, and then council member Kathy Catazaro-Perry, tried to overturn the pay raise for life ordinance, Council President Glenn Gamber wouldn't even permit a vote on the matter.
He asked for an informal, off the record show of hands so that those members of city council who wanted to keep their unvoted pay raises for life could do so, without a record of their vote being kept.
Earlier this year, back in January, 5th Ward Republican, Donnie Peters, was ready to end the practice of unvoted pay raises for life for city council.
“I’m going to try to repeal it (the pay raise ordinance),” said Peters, the ranking Republican and Council president pro tem. “Everyone says it doesn’t make it (pay-raise issue) political. Well, make it political” (The Independent, January 27, 2012).
That was 45 days ago.
Last Monday, Massillon City Council unanimously cut the benefits for the city's non-unionized employees. They then froze the salary schedule. For the workers.
While the worker bees are receiving cuts and pay freezes, city council members took a 3.5% pay raise.
As they discuss cuts and layoffs for the workers, they took a raise.
We realize it isn't a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, in the vat of red ink that our former mayor left for city government to drown in.
But it is symbolic.
Leadership means setting an example, and leading the way.
Leadership doesn't mean taking raises while cutting the wages and benefits of others.
Sacrifice should be shared.
It isn't.
And probably won't be.
Peters proposal hasn't seen the light of day.
And we doubt it will.
Perhaps the council president threatened to park next to Peters in the city hall parking lot if Peters kept pushing the issue.
We do imagine that some behind the scenes pressure was applied.
It has been 45 days since the proposal to repeal the annual, unvoted pay raises for life ordinance was brought forward by Donnie Peters.
And what has city council done?
Nothing.
Not a peep.
Not a word.
Not a sound.
Nothing.
While cutting the benefits for the employees, the bosses want to make sure they continue to get their raises.
Every year.
For Life.
An automatic, unvoted pay raise, every year, for life.
The city is broke, they get a pay raise.
They do a bad job, they get a pay raise.
They don't come to meetings, they get a pay raise.
An ordinance was passed in late 1995 granting these elected officials a yearly, unvoted pay raise.
This legislation was conceived by, and approved by none other than our former mayor for life, the extraordinary one, Frank Cicchinelli.
So year in, and year out, these elected officials get a pay raise.
Several times, a member of city council sees through this farce, and tries to stop it.
But 'the powers that be' put a stop to their efforts.
When now mayor, and then council member Kathy Catazaro-Perry, tried to overturn the pay raise for life ordinance, Council President Glenn Gamber wouldn't even permit a vote on the matter.
He asked for an informal, off the record show of hands so that those members of city council who wanted to keep their unvoted pay raises for life could do so, without a record of their vote being kept.
Earlier this year, back in January, 5th Ward Republican, Donnie Peters, was ready to end the practice of unvoted pay raises for life for city council.
“I’m going to try to repeal it (the pay raise ordinance),” said Peters, the ranking Republican and Council president pro tem. “Everyone says it doesn’t make it (pay-raise issue) political. Well, make it political” (The Independent, January 27, 2012).
That was 45 days ago.
Last Monday, Massillon City Council unanimously cut the benefits for the city's non-unionized employees. They then froze the salary schedule. For the workers.
While the worker bees are receiving cuts and pay freezes, city council members took a 3.5% pay raise.
As they discuss cuts and layoffs for the workers, they took a raise.
We realize it isn't a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, in the vat of red ink that our former mayor left for city government to drown in.
But it is symbolic.
Leadership means setting an example, and leading the way.
Leadership doesn't mean taking raises while cutting the wages and benefits of others.
Sacrifice should be shared.
It isn't.
And probably won't be.
Peters proposal hasn't seen the light of day.
And we doubt it will.
Perhaps the council president threatened to park next to Peters in the city hall parking lot if Peters kept pushing the issue.
We do imagine that some behind the scenes pressure was applied.
It has been 45 days since the proposal to repeal the annual, unvoted pay raises for life ordinance was brought forward by Donnie Peters.
And what has city council done?
Nothing.
Not a peep.
Not a word.
Not a sound.
Nothing.
While cutting the benefits for the employees, the bosses want to make sure they continue to get their raises.
Every year.
For Life.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Sleeps Like a Baby
Just last year, John Kurtzman, Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, was stumping for an increase in the county sales tax. The sales tax would be used to pay things like... the Stark County Prosecutor's office, where Kurtzman draws a taxpayer funded paycheck.
The sales tax, according to Kurtzman, was a good thing;
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
Unfortunately, last year's John Kurtzman must not have talked to this year's John Kurtzman about the importance of government being properly funded.
Because when Massillon City Council started debating possibly reducing the city's tax credit to 50 percent, meaning that people like John Kurtzman, who lives in Massillon, but pays zero (that's zero with a 'z') taxes to Massillon, would have to pay half the city's income tax, John Kurtzman led the opposition.
“You are now pitting families against families,” he said. “When these people file their tax returns in April, they have to pay more taxes...They are taking food away from their children" (John Kurtzman, The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Kurtzman had no qualms against "taking food away from their children" when he worked to raise the county sales tax.
Kurtzman and his boss, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, were once again back at Massillon City Council last night to express their opposition to people like John Ferrero and John Kurtzman, both Massillon residents, having to pay any city taxes.
John Kurtzman once more took to the microphone to read letters from taxpayers who couldn't afford the reduction in the tax credit.
We want to know why last year's John Kurtzman didn't read letters from those people who couldn't afford the sales tax he and John Ferrero were pushing.
It's absolute hypocrisy.
John Ferrero and John Kurtzman don't want to pay any taxes to fund Massillon City government.
And they don't.
But they sure were just fine with raising taxes to fund their own office, and their own salaries.
“We’ve got to protect our clients,” he (Ferrero) said. “I can’t sleep at night thinking about that scenario (cuts). How did a proud county come to this? It’s a situation that’s going to be a nightmare” (John Ferrero, The Independent, October 29, 2011).
Four months ago.
Four months ago, John Ferrero couldn't sleep at night thinking about cuts... for himself.
Four months later, it appears John Ferrero couldn't sleep at night thinking about taxes... that he himself would have to pay.
The tax credit reduction failed last night, and failed substantially.
And people have a right to their vote, and to express their opinion on the issue.
And that's OK.
What isn't OK is the gut wrenchingly disgusting, unvarnished, blatant hypocrisy on display by Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, and his Chief Counsel John Kurtzman.
Four months ago, they were pushing a tax to benefit themselves.
Four months later, they were vigorously opposing paying any tax, not one red cent, to benefit the city where they live. (and pay no taxes).
But at least John Ferrero will finally be able to sleep at night.
Because he won't have to pay Massillon City income taxes on his $115,000 dollar plus tax payer funded salary.
And we won't have to worry, in the words of his employee, John Kurtzman, about food being taken away from the children.
But the kids were probably hungry already.
From the money taken from their families by the Ferrero/Kurtzman sales tax passed just four months earlier.
The sales tax, according to Kurtzman, was a good thing;
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
Unfortunately, last year's John Kurtzman must not have talked to this year's John Kurtzman about the importance of government being properly funded.
Because when Massillon City Council started debating possibly reducing the city's tax credit to 50 percent, meaning that people like John Kurtzman, who lives in Massillon, but pays zero (that's zero with a 'z') taxes to Massillon, would have to pay half the city's income tax, John Kurtzman led the opposition.
“You are now pitting families against families,” he said. “When these people file their tax returns in April, they have to pay more taxes...They are taking food away from their children" (John Kurtzman, The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Kurtzman had no qualms against "taking food away from their children" when he worked to raise the county sales tax.
Kurtzman and his boss, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, were once again back at Massillon City Council last night to express their opposition to people like John Ferrero and John Kurtzman, both Massillon residents, having to pay any city taxes.
John Kurtzman once more took to the microphone to read letters from taxpayers who couldn't afford the reduction in the tax credit.
We want to know why last year's John Kurtzman didn't read letters from those people who couldn't afford the sales tax he and John Ferrero were pushing.
It's absolute hypocrisy.
John Ferrero and John Kurtzman don't want to pay any taxes to fund Massillon City government.
And they don't.
But they sure were just fine with raising taxes to fund their own office, and their own salaries.
“We’ve got to protect our clients,” he (Ferrero) said. “I can’t sleep at night thinking about that scenario (cuts). How did a proud county come to this? It’s a situation that’s going to be a nightmare” (John Ferrero, The Independent, October 29, 2011).
Four months ago.
Four months ago, John Ferrero couldn't sleep at night thinking about cuts... for himself.
Four months later, it appears John Ferrero couldn't sleep at night thinking about taxes... that he himself would have to pay.
The tax credit reduction failed last night, and failed substantially.
And people have a right to their vote, and to express their opinion on the issue.
And that's OK.
What isn't OK is the gut wrenchingly disgusting, unvarnished, blatant hypocrisy on display by Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, and his Chief Counsel John Kurtzman.
Four months ago, they were pushing a tax to benefit themselves.
Four months later, they were vigorously opposing paying any tax, not one red cent, to benefit the city where they live. (and pay no taxes).
But at least John Ferrero will finally be able to sleep at night.
Because he won't have to pay Massillon City income taxes on his $115,000 dollar plus tax payer funded salary.
And we won't have to worry, in the words of his employee, John Kurtzman, about food being taken away from the children.
But the kids were probably hungry already.
From the money taken from their families by the Ferrero/Kurtzman sales tax passed just four months earlier.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Driving Glenn Gamber
This link was sent to us by one of our faithful readers.
It was titled, 'Glenn Gamber on the way to City Council.'
It was titled, 'Glenn Gamber on the way to City Council.'
And They Lived Happily Ever After
“I’m going to try to repeal it,” said (Donnie) Peters, the ranking Republican and Council president pro tem. “Everyone says it doesn’t make it (pay-raise issue) political. Well, make it political” (The Independent, January 27, 2012).
Well?
What happened?
The City of Massillon is facing a major financial crisis as the result of our former mayor for life racking up substantial bills under the less than watchful eye of his loyal supporter, Auditor Jayne Ferrero.
As a result, there are on going discussions about layoffs, cuts, and reduced benefits for the city's worker bees. Meanwhile, the ruling class, the aristocracy, our elected officials, receive unvoted, annual pay raise for life.
This year, while the workers get a freeze, the elected officials get a 3.55% raise.
In good years and bad years.
Whether the city can pay for it, or not.
Current mayor Kathy Catzaro-Perry tried to put a stop to this practice when she was a member of council. She failed. The former mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn "Park Next to Me at your Own Risk" Gamber, wouldn't even permit an on the record vote. He asked for a show of hands from those who wanted to repeal the raises, so that those council members who wanted to keep their annual, unvoted pay raises, wouldn't have to make a public vote to do so.
But Massillon has a champion.
A man who was going to stand up for the people.
A man who would brush aside political pressure, and do the right thing.
5th Ward Republican Donnie Peters.
Donnie Peters would end this practice of unvoted, annual pay raises for the political class.
Or so we were led to believe.
What has happened in the month since Donnie Peters made his declaration that the unvoted pay raises must end?
Nothing.
Surprise.
Not one vote.
Not one discussion.
Nothing.
Donnie Peters was nothing but hot air.
Majority Leader?
Hardly.
We know who runs council.
It's the guy who can't drive.
And he ain't giving up his raise.
And Donnie Peters is helpless to do anything about it.
The end.
Well?
What happened?
The City of Massillon is facing a major financial crisis as the result of our former mayor for life racking up substantial bills under the less than watchful eye of his loyal supporter, Auditor Jayne Ferrero.
As a result, there are on going discussions about layoffs, cuts, and reduced benefits for the city's worker bees. Meanwhile, the ruling class, the aristocracy, our elected officials, receive unvoted, annual pay raise for life.
This year, while the workers get a freeze, the elected officials get a 3.55% raise.
In good years and bad years.
Whether the city can pay for it, or not.
Current mayor Kathy Catzaro-Perry tried to put a stop to this practice when she was a member of council. She failed. The former mayor's Loyal Enforcer, Council President Glenn "Park Next to Me at your Own Risk" Gamber, wouldn't even permit an on the record vote. He asked for a show of hands from those who wanted to repeal the raises, so that those council members who wanted to keep their annual, unvoted pay raises, wouldn't have to make a public vote to do so.
But Massillon has a champion.
A man who was going to stand up for the people.
A man who would brush aside political pressure, and do the right thing.
5th Ward Republican Donnie Peters.
Donnie Peters would end this practice of unvoted, annual pay raises for the political class.
Or so we were led to believe.
What has happened in the month since Donnie Peters made his declaration that the unvoted pay raises must end?
Nothing.
Surprise.
Not one vote.
Not one discussion.
Nothing.
Donnie Peters was nothing but hot air.
Majority Leader?
Hardly.
We know who runs council.
It's the guy who can't drive.
And he ain't giving up his raise.
And Donnie Peters is helpless to do anything about it.
The end.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Recorded Shenanigans?
There was an accident in the Massillon City Hall parking lot last week before the city council meeting.
It has been alleged that Council President Glenn Gamber hit a car in the parking lot, and then left the scene, without notifying the police, or the car owner.
According to Glenn Gamber's version of the story, he "bumped" into the other car so lightly, he didn't realize he even hit it.
According to several faithful Review readers, Gamber hit the car twice, the second time backing into it at such an extreme angle, that Gamber knocked the other car's bumper to the ground.
It is alleged that Gamber sat in his own vehicle for a number of minutes before exiting the car, that the car owner called the police, who came to investigate while Gamber was attending the council meeting, and that the police left Gamber a note to contact them.
It is also alleged that Gamber left the scene before he called the police. As the police are also located in city hall, Gamber could have just walked back in the building to talk to them, but chose not to.
The last part of this version of the incident is that the whole thing was recorded on a city hall camera system.
So which version of this story is correct?
We certainly hope it is the former, and not the latter.
It has been alleged that Council President Glenn Gamber hit a car in the parking lot, and then left the scene, without notifying the police, or the car owner.
According to Glenn Gamber's version of the story, he "bumped" into the other car so lightly, he didn't realize he even hit it.
According to several faithful Review readers, Gamber hit the car twice, the second time backing into it at such an extreme angle, that Gamber knocked the other car's bumper to the ground.
It is alleged that Gamber sat in his own vehicle for a number of minutes before exiting the car, that the car owner called the police, who came to investigate while Gamber was attending the council meeting, and that the police left Gamber a note to contact them.
It is also alleged that Gamber left the scene before he called the police. As the police are also located in city hall, Gamber could have just walked back in the building to talk to them, but chose not to.
The last part of this version of the incident is that the whole thing was recorded on a city hall camera system.
So which version of this story is correct?
We certainly hope it is the former, and not the latter.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Possible Shenanigans
According to a faithful reader of the Massillon Review, a member of Massillon City Council plowed into a car in the Massillon City Hall parking lot Tuesday night, and then left the scene without reporting this alleged accident. If anyone can corroborate, or debunk this story, and has any additional information concerning this, please email us here at the Review. We certainly hope this story isn't true, and is just a bad rumor. Our city government has enough problems without a member of council going rogue and thinking that they are above the law.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Do Nothing
They were back.
Massillon Auditor Jayne Ferrero's top assistant, Chief Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello, and Stark County Prosecutor John Fererro's top assistant, Chief Counsel John Kurtzman.
They were back to make an encore performance at city council to pitch the Ferrero family plan to fix Massillon city government.
Do nothing.
With the City of Massillon is swimming in a 'vat of red ink,' awash in unpaid bills as a result of former mayor Frank Cicchinelli's unchecked overspending, and current city auditor, and Cicchinelli ally Jayne Ferrero, providing the unchecked part, city finances are facing a multi-million dollar deficit.
New mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry has a plan.
Cut spending and raise additional money to dig the city out of the financial chasm created by Frank Cicchinelli and exacerbated by Auditor Ferrero.
Ferrero's non-existent oversight over Cicchinelli's reckless spending was akin to giving a drunken Kardashian sister a gold card and dropping her in the middle of a shopping mall.
There was excessive spending.
Back in November, Auditor Ferrero had a plan to raise revenue.
Currently Massillon has a 100% tax credit.
This means that if you live in Massillon, and work in another city with an income tax, like Canton, you would pay 100% of the income tax due Canton, where you work, and 0% (that's zero with a 'z') income tax to Massillon, where you live.
Auditor Ferrero wanted to reduce this credit to 50%.
The effect would be that Massillon residents who currently pay no city income tax, would pay half the city's income tax, a tax rate of less than 1%.
Jayne Ferrero pitched her tax plan.
Until her brother in law, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, opposed it.
John Ferrero currently earns $115,703 dollars annually as Stark County Prosecutor.
He lives in Massillon.
He pays $0 dollars (that's zero with a 'z') in city income tax.
He opposes the reduction in the tax credit.
After working last year to raise our sales tax to provide funds for his own government office.
The tax credit reduction was Jayne Ferrero's idea.
And when brother in law John Ferrero opposed it, she grew silent.
Last night at city council, her chief deputy auditor, Pat Pentello spoke.
Pentello argued against employees having to pay a small part of their government provided health insurance.
Pentello, who as a result of her job duties, should know better than most people just how bad the city's finances are, quickly put her own interests ahead of the common good.
She argued against employees paying a piece of their insurance.
She once more argued against cuts.
John Ferrero's chief counsel, John Kurtzman, with his boss sitting in the room, once more spoke against reducing the tax credit.
He once more argued against raising revenues.
So, for the second council meeting in a row, the top assistants for Auitor Jayne Ferrero and Prosecutor John Ferrero, pitched the Ferrero family plan for Massillon.
No cuts.
No revenue.
Do nothing.
Their long time political ally Frank Cicchinelli must be very proud.
He couldn't have done any better himself in setting the city up for failure this year.
His proxies are doing an extraordinary job.
Massillon Auditor Jayne Ferrero's top assistant, Chief Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello, and Stark County Prosecutor John Fererro's top assistant, Chief Counsel John Kurtzman.
They were back to make an encore performance at city council to pitch the Ferrero family plan to fix Massillon city government.
Do nothing.
With the City of Massillon is swimming in a 'vat of red ink,' awash in unpaid bills as a result of former mayor Frank Cicchinelli's unchecked overspending, and current city auditor, and Cicchinelli ally Jayne Ferrero, providing the unchecked part, city finances are facing a multi-million dollar deficit.
New mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry has a plan.
Cut spending and raise additional money to dig the city out of the financial chasm created by Frank Cicchinelli and exacerbated by Auditor Ferrero.
Ferrero's non-existent oversight over Cicchinelli's reckless spending was akin to giving a drunken Kardashian sister a gold card and dropping her in the middle of a shopping mall.
There was excessive spending.
Back in November, Auditor Ferrero had a plan to raise revenue.
Currently Massillon has a 100% tax credit.
This means that if you live in Massillon, and work in another city with an income tax, like Canton, you would pay 100% of the income tax due Canton, where you work, and 0% (that's zero with a 'z') income tax to Massillon, where you live.
Auditor Ferrero wanted to reduce this credit to 50%.
The effect would be that Massillon residents who currently pay no city income tax, would pay half the city's income tax, a tax rate of less than 1%.
Jayne Ferrero pitched her tax plan.
Until her brother in law, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, opposed it.
John Ferrero currently earns $115,703 dollars annually as Stark County Prosecutor.
He lives in Massillon.
He pays $0 dollars (that's zero with a 'z') in city income tax.
He opposes the reduction in the tax credit.
After working last year to raise our sales tax to provide funds for his own government office.
The tax credit reduction was Jayne Ferrero's idea.
And when brother in law John Ferrero opposed it, she grew silent.
Last night at city council, her chief deputy auditor, Pat Pentello spoke.
Pentello argued against employees having to pay a small part of their government provided health insurance.
Pentello, who as a result of her job duties, should know better than most people just how bad the city's finances are, quickly put her own interests ahead of the common good.
She argued against employees paying a piece of their insurance.
She once more argued against cuts.
John Ferrero's chief counsel, John Kurtzman, with his boss sitting in the room, once more spoke against reducing the tax credit.
He once more argued against raising revenues.
So, for the second council meeting in a row, the top assistants for Auitor Jayne Ferrero and Prosecutor John Ferrero, pitched the Ferrero family plan for Massillon.
No cuts.
No revenue.
Do nothing.
Their long time political ally Frank Cicchinelli must be very proud.
He couldn't have done any better himself in setting the city up for failure this year.
His proxies are doing an extraordinary job.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
LaFlavour of the Month
According to Vince Scarpitti of the band LaLavour, our new mayor needs to re-prioritize her efforts.
She needs to find the time to deal with the critical issue facing city government.
While dealing with the multi-million dollar budget chasm inherited from our former mayor for life may seem to be important, it isn't.
While trying to keep our safety forces paid and protecting the community may seem like big deals, they aren't.
While cleaning up the mess and putting out the fires left by the prior regime may seem critical, we need to focus on the big picture.
We need to work on what's important.
The Summer Concert series.
Scarpitti is concerned about the future of these downtown concerts.
And he believes Kathy Catazaro-Perry is being political by not focusing like a laser to bring them back.
She's been in office 47 days now.
She needs to get to work and put politics aside.
“Any reason they give is null and void if they don’t even ask the people who have always paid for it,” he said. “If they (sponsors) say ‘no,’ then naturally there is some validity in saying let’s let it die. But to not ask is quite blatantly politics – ‘well, Frank did that. It was his baby. I’m not going to do it.’ It wasn’t Frank’s baby, that belonged to the community” (Vince Scarpitti, The Independent, February 15, 2012).
"blatantly politics."
We agree.
Catazaro-Perry needs to get serious, roll up her sleeves, and raise the money for summer concerts so she can pay musicians... like Vince Scarpitti, and his band LaFlavour.
The community should be grateful for the purity of motive exercised by Vince in his sincere concern for the cultural renaissance of Massillon.
Thank you, Vince. Your unselfishness is greatly appreciated.
But we have an idea, too.
Vince and the band love to play in our fair city, as evidenced by their availability to play at a fundraiser for our prior mayor;
"Mayor Frank Cicchinelli is holding a fundraiser for reelection from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 7 at the Massillon Knights of Columbus, 988 Cherry Road NW, Massillon.
Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 330-832-3373 or 330-844-2597. The ticket price includes a full meal, beverage and desert, and entertainment by the band LaFlavour" (The Independent, March 31, 2011).
We believe Vince and LaFlavour should get the ball rolling in this drive for summer concerts and play the Summer Concert series for the exact same cost they charged Frank Cicchinelli.
It would be greatly appreciated by the City during these precarious fiscal times, provide much needed entertainment for the masses, and would confirm that Vince Scarpitti's comments were neither "blatantly politics," nor self serving.
We can't wait for the show!
She needs to find the time to deal with the critical issue facing city government.
While dealing with the multi-million dollar budget chasm inherited from our former mayor for life may seem to be important, it isn't.
While trying to keep our safety forces paid and protecting the community may seem like big deals, they aren't.
While cleaning up the mess and putting out the fires left by the prior regime may seem critical, we need to focus on the big picture.
We need to work on what's important.
The Summer Concert series.
Scarpitti is concerned about the future of these downtown concerts.
And he believes Kathy Catazaro-Perry is being political by not focusing like a laser to bring them back.
She's been in office 47 days now.
She needs to get to work and put politics aside.
“Any reason they give is null and void if they don’t even ask the people who have always paid for it,” he said. “If they (sponsors) say ‘no,’ then naturally there is some validity in saying let’s let it die. But to not ask is quite blatantly politics – ‘well, Frank did that. It was his baby. I’m not going to do it.’ It wasn’t Frank’s baby, that belonged to the community” (Vince Scarpitti, The Independent, February 15, 2012).
"blatantly politics."
We agree.
Catazaro-Perry needs to get serious, roll up her sleeves, and raise the money for summer concerts so she can pay musicians... like Vince Scarpitti, and his band LaFlavour.
The community should be grateful for the purity of motive exercised by Vince in his sincere concern for the cultural renaissance of Massillon.
Thank you, Vince. Your unselfishness is greatly appreciated.
But we have an idea, too.
Vince and the band love to play in our fair city, as evidenced by their availability to play at a fundraiser for our prior mayor;
"Mayor Frank Cicchinelli is holding a fundraiser for reelection from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 7 at the Massillon Knights of Columbus, 988 Cherry Road NW, Massillon.
Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 330-832-3373 or 330-844-2597. The ticket price includes a full meal, beverage and desert, and entertainment by the band LaFlavour" (The Independent, March 31, 2011).
We believe Vince and LaFlavour should get the ball rolling in this drive for summer concerts and play the Summer Concert series for the exact same cost they charged Frank Cicchinelli.
It would be greatly appreciated by the City during these precarious fiscal times, provide much needed entertainment for the masses, and would confirm that Vince Scarpitti's comments were neither "blatantly politics," nor self serving.
We can't wait for the show!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Say it ain't so, Moe, Say it ain't so!
Park Board member Thomas "Moe" Rickett is unhappy.
He is unhappy that the Park Board is stuck subsidizing the debt from the Legends of Massillon Golf Course.
“We have given our fair share, and more, to the city from the tax money that was voted on by the citizens of our city for parks and recreation — money that was solely intended for that purpose only,” (Thomas "Moe" Rickett, The Independent, February 10, 2012).
And we agree.
The golf course expansion and subsequent scheme to dump the resultant staggering debt on the Parks Department was one of the larger debacles of the Cicchinelli era.
And there were many.
But Frank Cicchinelli didn't do this all by himself.
He needed help.
Back in December of 2002, Massillon's then Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City, had a little problem. He just expanded the Legends of Massillon golf course from 18 holes to 27 holes. The problem was, in expanding the course, they essentially rebuilt the entire course, and the price tag for the 9 hole expansion was more than it cost to built the entire course the first time around.
The golf course debt was staggering, and Cicchinelli had no means to pay for it.
The debt was so large that the golf course would never turn a profit, and be an eternal drag on city finances.
But ever the shrewd manipulator, he was a man with a plan.
Cicchinelli would unload the golf course, and more importantly its unsustainable debt, on the Parks Department.
In 1995, the residents of Massillon passed a .3% income tax for parks and recreation.
The citizens naively believed their tax dollars would be spent on parks and recreation.
Frank Cicchinelli didn't care about what was promised to the people, all he saw was a way to wash his hands of the golf course's red ink.
He wanted to use the parks tax money to pay for the golf course.
He would first need the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board to agree to this boondoggle before he could sell his plan to city council.
Would they be that stupid?
Certainly.
First the Parks Board.
Cicchinelli made them a promise.
"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).
It was all about "maximizing resources" and "giving top notch service to the public."
For review;
The mayor appoints three people to the "Independent" Parks Board.
The Massillon Board of Education appoints the other two.
It appears over the years that Frank Cicchinelli's key criteria for appointments to the Parks Board was the extent of a person's willingness to do whatever the mayor wanted done. Hence their constant referral as "The Park Board Lackeys."
Back in 2002, the "Park Board Lackeys" voted to merge the golf course with the Parks Department, and be on the hook for the golf course debt.
Which was expected.
But they were not alone.
This was not a 3 to 2 vote.
They were joined in support by School Board appointee Thomas "Moe" Rickett.
Moe voted to do this.
He authorized this scam.
He supported Frank Cicchinelli's scheme.
And now he isn't happy.
But guess what?
He has only one person to blame.
Thomas "Moe" Rickett
The chickens have come home to roost, and it is Moe Rickett inside the hen house.
He is unhappy that the Park Board is stuck subsidizing the debt from the Legends of Massillon Golf Course.
“We have given our fair share, and more, to the city from the tax money that was voted on by the citizens of our city for parks and recreation — money that was solely intended for that purpose only,” (Thomas "Moe" Rickett, The Independent, February 10, 2012).
And we agree.
The golf course expansion and subsequent scheme to dump the resultant staggering debt on the Parks Department was one of the larger debacles of the Cicchinelli era.
And there were many.
But Frank Cicchinelli didn't do this all by himself.
He needed help.
Back in December of 2002, Massillon's then Extraordinary Mayor for Life, King Francis the Eternal, Lord Sovereign of the City, had a little problem. He just expanded the Legends of Massillon golf course from 18 holes to 27 holes. The problem was, in expanding the course, they essentially rebuilt the entire course, and the price tag for the 9 hole expansion was more than it cost to built the entire course the first time around.
The golf course debt was staggering, and Cicchinelli had no means to pay for it.
The debt was so large that the golf course would never turn a profit, and be an eternal drag on city finances.
But ever the shrewd manipulator, he was a man with a plan.
Cicchinelli would unload the golf course, and more importantly its unsustainable debt, on the Parks Department.
In 1995, the residents of Massillon passed a .3% income tax for parks and recreation.
The citizens naively believed their tax dollars would be spent on parks and recreation.
Frank Cicchinelli didn't care about what was promised to the people, all he saw was a way to wash his hands of the golf course's red ink.
He wanted to use the parks tax money to pay for the golf course.
He would first need the "Independent" Parks and Recreation Board to agree to this boondoggle before he could sell his plan to city council.
Would they be that stupid?
Certainly.
First the Parks Board.
Cicchinelli made them a promise.
"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).
It was all about "maximizing resources" and "giving top notch service to the public."
For review;
The mayor appoints three people to the "Independent" Parks Board.
The Massillon Board of Education appoints the other two.
It appears over the years that Frank Cicchinelli's key criteria for appointments to the Parks Board was the extent of a person's willingness to do whatever the mayor wanted done. Hence their constant referral as "The Park Board Lackeys."
Back in 2002, the "Park Board Lackeys" voted to merge the golf course with the Parks Department, and be on the hook for the golf course debt.
Which was expected.
But they were not alone.
This was not a 3 to 2 vote.
They were joined in support by School Board appointee Thomas "Moe" Rickett.
Moe voted to do this.
He authorized this scam.
He supported Frank Cicchinelli's scheme.
And now he isn't happy.
But guess what?
He has only one person to blame.
Thomas "Moe" Rickett
The chickens have come home to roost, and it is Moe Rickett inside the hen house.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Hypocricy Early Warning System at Full Alert
Last year, Auditor Jayne Ferrero pitched the idea of reducing the city's 100% tax credit to 50%.
In simple English, this is how it works.
Massillon has a 1.8% income tax. Currently, if you live in Massillon, and work in Canton, which has a 2% income tax, you pay 2% to Canton and nothing to Massillon, where you live.
If the tax credit is reduced to 50%, and you live in Massillon, and work in another city that has an income tax, you would pay half the Massillon income tax, which would be less than 1%, instead of the zero percent (that's zero with a 'z') that you pay now.
It was Jayne Ferrero's plan.
It was Jayne Ferrero's idea.
And she wanted then mayor elect, Kathy Catazaro-Perry, to support her plan;
"She (Kathy Catazaro-Perry) said she met Friday with Auditor Jayne Ferrero to further discuss the city’s finances ahead of taking office next year. According to Catazaro-Perry, Ferrero told her, “We really need that tax credit,” and so she (Catazaro-Perry) agreed to give her verbal approval so that it could at least be discussed. But then she was told that fellow Finance Committee member David Hersher removed his signature. (The Independent, November 22, 2011).
And then, Jayne Ferrero fell silent.
And she didn't even show up at the Massillon City Council meeting on November 21st when her plan was debated by city council.
But another Ferrero did come to council that night.
Her Brother in Law, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, and his chief counsel, John Kurtzman came to visit Massillon City Council.
Who, according to reports, came to make known their opposition.
Coincidentally, neither Prosecutor Ferrero, nor chief counsel Kurtzman, currently pay any city income tax, despite them both living in the city.
The 50% reduction in the tax credit would cost them personally.
And now, as the Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System has red lined, and Kathy Catazaro-Perry is pushing a reduction in the tax credit, as originally proposed by Jayne Ferrero, Jayne Ferrero doesn't have an opinion.
"Ferrero, whose decision to use $3 million dollars of available revenue to pay past due bills rankled Catazaro-Perry, says she has no opinion on the latest tax credit proposal" (The Independent, February 13, 2012).
Ferrero now "has no opinion."
She used to have an opinion.
The tax credit reduction was a good idea.
Before her Brother in Law had an opinion.
That it was a bad idea.
So now Jayne Ferrero has no opinion.
Or, apparently, no convictions.
In simple English, this is how it works.
Massillon has a 1.8% income tax. Currently, if you live in Massillon, and work in Canton, which has a 2% income tax, you pay 2% to Canton and nothing to Massillon, where you live.
If the tax credit is reduced to 50%, and you live in Massillon, and work in another city that has an income tax, you would pay half the Massillon income tax, which would be less than 1%, instead of the zero percent (that's zero with a 'z') that you pay now.
It was Jayne Ferrero's plan.
It was Jayne Ferrero's idea.
And she wanted then mayor elect, Kathy Catazaro-Perry, to support her plan;
"She (Kathy Catazaro-Perry) said she met Friday with Auditor Jayne Ferrero to further discuss the city’s finances ahead of taking office next year. According to Catazaro-Perry, Ferrero told her, “We really need that tax credit,” and so she (Catazaro-Perry) agreed to give her verbal approval so that it could at least be discussed. But then she was told that fellow Finance Committee member David Hersher removed his signature. (The Independent, November 22, 2011).
And then, Jayne Ferrero fell silent.
And she didn't even show up at the Massillon City Council meeting on November 21st when her plan was debated by city council.
But another Ferrero did come to council that night.
Her Brother in Law, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, and his chief counsel, John Kurtzman came to visit Massillon City Council.
Who, according to reports, came to make known their opposition.
Coincidentally, neither Prosecutor Ferrero, nor chief counsel Kurtzman, currently pay any city income tax, despite them both living in the city.
The 50% reduction in the tax credit would cost them personally.
And now, as the Massillon Review Hypocrisy Early Warning System has red lined, and Kathy Catazaro-Perry is pushing a reduction in the tax credit, as originally proposed by Jayne Ferrero, Jayne Ferrero doesn't have an opinion.
"Ferrero, whose decision to use $3 million dollars of available revenue to pay past due bills rankled Catazaro-Perry, says she has no opinion on the latest tax credit proposal" (The Independent, February 13, 2012).
Ferrero now "has no opinion."
She used to have an opinion.
The tax credit reduction was a good idea.
Before her Brother in Law had an opinion.
That it was a bad idea.
So now Jayne Ferrero has no opinion.
Or, apparently, no convictions.
Monday, February 13, 2012
An Extraordinarily Joyful Occassion
Mark your calendars.
According to today's Independent, there will be a 'Celebration' set to honor our beloved former mayor for life, Frank Cicchinelli.
And it is good that we celebrate the Cicchinelli era, because;
"...he (Frank Cicchinelli), is an extraordinary mayor."
(Former Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana)
Ah yes, 'extraordinary.'
And on March 4th, at the Massillon Knights of Columbus, we will be reminiscing as we stroll down memory lane.
So let us stroll...
"It (The Hampton Inn) was a good expenditure of tax dollars and the city is better off for it" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, May 8, 2009).
"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).
"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).
"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.
"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).
According to City Engineer Keith Dylewski, these "select streets" "scored high on a ratings system used by his department" (Keith Dylewski justifying repairs to the mayor's street, The Independent, August 16, 2011).
"Correcting an earlier report, Dylewski said the paving project was not scored on a ratings system, but its condition still warrants the proposed repairs" (The Independent, August 29, 2011).
"With all due respect, I'd like to have one week's notice," Burgasser said. "I think that (Police) Chief (Robert) Williams would agree. We need to have time to call in the National Guard..." (Fire Chief Tom Burgasser, The Independent, March 26, 2011).
Good Times. Good Times.
"Cicchinelli, the city's longest serving mayor at 24 years, will be honored for his service to the city. Anyone with photos of the mayor or stories they would like to share is asked to contact Joy Cicchinelli at 330-844-2597."
"Tickets are $25 and are available by contacting Joy or sending checks in her name to 2105 Cyprus Drive SE, Massillon, OH 44646."
Perhaps we should ask Joy to send some of that money to the city to help pay down the extraordinary debt her husband created as mayor.
Because if your gonna dance to the music, you should help pay the band.
"When Kathy Catazaro-Perry takes over as the city’s mayor early next month, she will not have much time for on-the-job training before having to jump head-first into the vat of budgetary red ink inherited from the current administration" (Editorial, The Independent, November 30, 2011).
"Vat of budgetary red ink."
Yes, we can see why a celebration is in order.
According to today's Independent, there will be a 'Celebration' set to honor our beloved former mayor for life, Frank Cicchinelli.
And it is good that we celebrate the Cicchinelli era, because;
"...he (Frank Cicchinelli), is an extraordinary mayor."
(Former Safety-Service Director Mike Loudiana)
Ah yes, 'extraordinary.'
And on March 4th, at the Massillon Knights of Columbus, we will be reminiscing as we stroll down memory lane.
So let us stroll...
"It (The Hampton Inn) was a good expenditure of tax dollars and the city is better off for it" (Frank Cicchinelli, The Independent, May 8, 2009).
"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).
"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).
"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.
"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).
According to City Engineer Keith Dylewski, these "select streets" "scored high on a ratings system used by his department" (Keith Dylewski justifying repairs to the mayor's street, The Independent, August 16, 2011).
"Correcting an earlier report, Dylewski said the paving project was not scored on a ratings system, but its condition still warrants the proposed repairs" (The Independent, August 29, 2011).
"With all due respect, I'd like to have one week's notice," Burgasser said. "I think that (Police) Chief (Robert) Williams would agree. We need to have time to call in the National Guard..." (Fire Chief Tom Burgasser, The Independent, March 26, 2011).
Good Times. Good Times.
"Cicchinelli, the city's longest serving mayor at 24 years, will be honored for his service to the city. Anyone with photos of the mayor or stories they would like to share is asked to contact Joy Cicchinelli at 330-844-2597."
"Tickets are $25 and are available by contacting Joy or sending checks in her name to 2105 Cyprus Drive SE, Massillon, OH 44646."
Perhaps we should ask Joy to send some of that money to the city to help pay down the extraordinary debt her husband created as mayor.
Because if your gonna dance to the music, you should help pay the band.
"When Kathy Catazaro-Perry takes over as the city’s mayor early next month, she will not have much time for on-the-job training before having to jump head-first into the vat of budgetary red ink inherited from the current administration" (Editorial, The Independent, November 30, 2011).
"Vat of budgetary red ink."
Yes, we can see why a celebration is in order.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Massillon Review Crusade Against Hunger
"They are taking food away from their children" (John Kurtzman, The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Our citizens have less money to buy groceries after Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero and his Chief Counsel, John Kurtzman, helped to raise the sales tax.
And in Massillon, our city government is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall.
Auditor Jayne Ferrero and her staff don't want cuts.
Prosecutor John Ferrero and his chief counsel don't want revenues raised.
And our elected officials took yet another un-voted, automatic pay raise.
With no new revenues, no cuts, and tax dollars being spent on pay raises for elected officials.
With this year's money being spent to pay last year's bills.
And a massive budget hole created by former mayor, Frank Cicchinelli, enabled by the auditor, Jayne Ferrero, we fear Massillon may have to lay off city employees.
Because, in the self fulfilling prophecy of Jayne Ferrero, our new mayor will have to exercise "tough love."
And as a result, people will be out of work.
Thus "taking food away from their children."
With additional mouths to feed, this predicament will surely stress the social safety net.
So we want to help.
As a result, we are commencing the Massillon Review Crusade Against Hunger.
While we have read that some elected officials, like Donnie Peters, and Kathy Catazaro-Perry have returned their automatic, un-voted pay raises, we haven't read where our auditor has.
And she certainly deserves yet another raise, because all that time spent paying Frank's delinquent bills, under certifying the city's money, and resisting cuts is hard work.
With your help, we plan on raising $1,890 dollars, the amount of Jayne Ferrero's un-voted, automatic 2012 pay raise, for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank in the name of Jayne Ferrero.
The Foodbank provides food to local food pantries, hot meal centers, shelters, and community centers.
The Foodbank is rated by Charity Navigator as a four star operation, earning their highest possible score.
All kidding aside, this is a marvelous charity that provides food to those in need, and merits our support regardless.
We have provided a link to the Foodbank web site donation page;
http://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/financial-contribution.aspx
Scroll down to "Tribute Gifts"
We are asking our readers to make a donation in honor of Jayne Ferrero.
The Foodbank will then send her a special greeting in her honor for every donation.
Auditor Jayne Ferrero
One James Duncan Plaza S.E.
Massillon, Ohio 44646
Because, "They are taking food away from our children," we need to step up and help.
Let's raise the $1,890 and show that our faithful readers care.
And despite the reckless actions of some of our elected officials, we certainly don't want them "taking food away from our children."
Our citizens have less money to buy groceries after Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero and his Chief Counsel, John Kurtzman, helped to raise the sales tax.
And in Massillon, our city government is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall.
Auditor Jayne Ferrero and her staff don't want cuts.
Prosecutor John Ferrero and his chief counsel don't want revenues raised.
And our elected officials took yet another un-voted, automatic pay raise.
With no new revenues, no cuts, and tax dollars being spent on pay raises for elected officials.
With this year's money being spent to pay last year's bills.
And a massive budget hole created by former mayor, Frank Cicchinelli, enabled by the auditor, Jayne Ferrero, we fear Massillon may have to lay off city employees.
Because, in the self fulfilling prophecy of Jayne Ferrero, our new mayor will have to exercise "tough love."
And as a result, people will be out of work.
Thus "taking food away from their children."
With additional mouths to feed, this predicament will surely stress the social safety net.
So we want to help.
As a result, we are commencing the Massillon Review Crusade Against Hunger.
While we have read that some elected officials, like Donnie Peters, and Kathy Catazaro-Perry have returned their automatic, un-voted pay raises, we haven't read where our auditor has.
And she certainly deserves yet another raise, because all that time spent paying Frank's delinquent bills, under certifying the city's money, and resisting cuts is hard work.
With your help, we plan on raising $1,890 dollars, the amount of Jayne Ferrero's un-voted, automatic 2012 pay raise, for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank in the name of Jayne Ferrero.
The Foodbank provides food to local food pantries, hot meal centers, shelters, and community centers.
The Foodbank is rated by Charity Navigator as a four star operation, earning their highest possible score.
All kidding aside, this is a marvelous charity that provides food to those in need, and merits our support regardless.
We have provided a link to the Foodbank web site donation page;
http://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/financial-contribution.aspx
Scroll down to "Tribute Gifts"
We are asking our readers to make a donation in honor of Jayne Ferrero.
The Foodbank will then send her a special greeting in her honor for every donation.
Auditor Jayne Ferrero
One James Duncan Plaza S.E.
Massillon, Ohio 44646
Because, "They are taking food away from our children," we need to step up and help.
Let's raise the $1,890 and show that our faithful readers care.
And despite the reckless actions of some of our elected officials, we certainly don't want them "taking food away from our children."
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Hungry Children
"You bet John Ferrero knew. He was at council. So was ALL of Jayne Ferrero's staff."
(A response from a faithful Massillon Review reader).
According to our faithful reader, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero must have whole heartedly supported his employee, Chief Counsel to the Prosecutor, John Kurtzman's pleas against reducing the tax credit, so that Massillon residents who pay no city taxes would have to pay some city taxes.
“You are now pitting families against families,” he said. “When these people file their tax returns in April, they have to pay more taxes...They are taking food away from their children" (John Kurtzman, The Independent, February 8, 2012).
And the children should already be a little hungry from the food money they lost to the tax John Kurtzman and John Ferrero were successfully pitching just last Fall.
Prosecutor John Ferrero was campaigning hard for a county sales tax.
Because he couldn't sleep at night thinking about cuts.
“I can’t sleep at night thinking about that scenario (cuts). How did a proud county come to this? It’s a situation that’s going to be a nightmare” (John Ferrero, The Independent, October 29, 2011).
Cuts would be a 'nightmare.'
So he needed a county sales tax.
But Massillon doesn't need more money for city operations.
Where he lives.
And where he and his chief counsel pay no taxes.
And that's a good thing.
Back to cuts.
According to our reader, the entire Auditor's staff was at Monday's city council meeting.
We assume they were there to cheer lead Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello as she pleaded for council not to freeze, or cut wages. Pentello works for Auditor Jayne Ferrero.
"Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello told council that non-union employees should not be the first group asked to make sacrifices" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
So, in a nutshell.
The Ferrero plan for city government, which is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall, is twofold.
Auditor Ferrero wants no cuts.
Prosecutor Ferrero wants no additional money.
Which still leaves us with a multi-million dollar shortfall.
Why are they doing what they are doing?
Is it their political relationship with the former mayor?
Is it a desire to see the city go bust?
And with no cuts, and no new revenue, we would imagine that city workers will be laid off.
And it will be their children who will, in the words of John Kurtzman, have their food taken away.
But they should know who to thank.
Auditor Ferrero who opposes cuts.
and Prosecutor Ferrero who opposes raising revenue.
(A response from a faithful Massillon Review reader).
According to our faithful reader, Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero must have whole heartedly supported his employee, Chief Counsel to the Prosecutor, John Kurtzman's pleas against reducing the tax credit, so that Massillon residents who pay no city taxes would have to pay some city taxes.
“You are now pitting families against families,” he said. “When these people file their tax returns in April, they have to pay more taxes...They are taking food away from their children" (John Kurtzman, The Independent, February 8, 2012).
And the children should already be a little hungry from the food money they lost to the tax John Kurtzman and John Ferrero were successfully pitching just last Fall.
Prosecutor John Ferrero was campaigning hard for a county sales tax.
Because he couldn't sleep at night thinking about cuts.
“I can’t sleep at night thinking about that scenario (cuts). How did a proud county come to this? It’s a situation that’s going to be a nightmare” (John Ferrero, The Independent, October 29, 2011).
Cuts would be a 'nightmare.'
So he needed a county sales tax.
But Massillon doesn't need more money for city operations.
Where he lives.
And where he and his chief counsel pay no taxes.
And that's a good thing.
Back to cuts.
According to our reader, the entire Auditor's staff was at Monday's city council meeting.
We assume they were there to cheer lead Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello as she pleaded for council not to freeze, or cut wages. Pentello works for Auditor Jayne Ferrero.
"Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello told council that non-union employees should not be the first group asked to make sacrifices" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
So, in a nutshell.
The Ferrero plan for city government, which is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall, is twofold.
Auditor Ferrero wants no cuts.
Prosecutor Ferrero wants no additional money.
Which still leaves us with a multi-million dollar shortfall.
Why are they doing what they are doing?
Is it their political relationship with the former mayor?
Is it a desire to see the city go bust?
And with no cuts, and no new revenue, we would imagine that city workers will be laid off.
And it will be their children who will, in the words of John Kurtzman, have their food taken away.
But they should know who to thank.
Auditor Ferrero who opposes cuts.
and Prosecutor Ferrero who opposes raising revenue.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Tough Love
Massillon City Auditor Marie Antoinette Fererro had some advice for the new mayor, Kathy Catazaro-Perry, in dealing with the monstrous budget hole that Fererro helped create, by acting as enabler in chief for her beloved former mayor, Frank Cicchinelli.
"She (Catazaro-Perry) is going to have to make cuts, make consolidations. She’s going to have to do some tough love.” (Jayne Ferrero, The Independent, January 20, 2012).
"make cuts"
"tough love"
Ferrero has been on a jihad as of late, personally blasting a hole into the city's already weakened finances.
Ferrero is intentionally shorting the new mayor about three million dollars so Ferrero may pay off the old mayor's bills.
Right now.
So Catazaro-Perry will have to not only cover this year's bills this year,
but she will have to cover last year's bills as well.
Frank's bills.
But it's OK, because Jayne Ferrero has the answers;
"She (Catazaro-Perry) is going to have to make cuts, make consolidations. She’s going to have to do some tough love.” (Jayne Ferrero, The Independent, January 20, 2012).
again, "tough love"
again, "make cuts"
So, in the spirit of making cuts, Jayne Ferrero's top assistant, her second in command, her Deputy Auditor, Pat Pentello, comes to city council last night and pleads with city council to not make cuts, to not freeze employee compensation.
"Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello told council that non-union employees should not be the first group asked to make sacrifices" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Perhaps Pentello did not receive her boss's "tough love" memo?
We are supremely confident that Auditor Ferrero knew that her second in command was coming to council to plead against "making cuts," and to argue against "tough love."
We are beginning to think that Ferrero's "tough love" mantra is only meant for one person.
Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
While Auditor Ferrero's Top Assistant was arguing against budget cuts, her brother in law John Ferrero's Top Assistant was arguing against raising additional revenue.
Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, John Kurtzman, was arguing against reducing the city's 100% tax credit.
"John Kurtzman, chief counsel for Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, spoke against the tax-credit reduction, which would run for two years starting April 1" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Currently John Kurtzman and his boss, Prosecutor John Ferrero, pay zero (that's zero with a "z") taxes to the City of Massillon.
And they don't want that changed.
Now, Kurtzman was all for taxes before he was against taxes.
Kurtzman, just last fall, was stumping for an increase in the county sales tax at the behest of his boss, John Ferrero.
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
Didn't John Kurtzman realize the devastating impact an increased sales tax would have on our community?
Let's just ask John Kurtzman.
“You are now pitting families against families,” he said. “When these people file their tax returns in April, they have to pay more taxes...They are taking food away from their children" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Kurtzman had no issue against "taking food away from their children" when he worked to raise the county sales tax.
We are also supremely confident that Prosecutor John Ferrero knew his second in command was coming to city council to oppose the raising of new revenues.
So, to sum up;
The City is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall created by our prior mayor's reckless, unchecked spending.
The shortfall has been exacerbated by Auditor Ferrero shorting the city revenues she could have certified for 2012, and paying all of Frank Cicchinelli's unpaid bills right now, this second, and not allowing the new administration to negotiate a payment plan.
While Auditor Ferrero's second in command is arguing against cuts,
Her brother in law's second in command is arguing against raising new revenue.
So, the Ferrero family plan for city government is to do nothing.
No cuts.
No new revenue.
So that the new mayor is blamed when Massillon government burns down to the ground in the center of a multi-million dollar shortfall.
Let's just call it "tough love."
For only one person.
For Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
"She (Catazaro-Perry) is going to have to make cuts, make consolidations. She’s going to have to do some tough love.” (Jayne Ferrero, The Independent, January 20, 2012).
"make cuts"
"tough love"
Ferrero has been on a jihad as of late, personally blasting a hole into the city's already weakened finances.
Ferrero is intentionally shorting the new mayor about three million dollars so Ferrero may pay off the old mayor's bills.
Right now.
So Catazaro-Perry will have to not only cover this year's bills this year,
but she will have to cover last year's bills as well.
Frank's bills.
But it's OK, because Jayne Ferrero has the answers;
"She (Catazaro-Perry) is going to have to make cuts, make consolidations. She’s going to have to do some tough love.” (Jayne Ferrero, The Independent, January 20, 2012).
again, "tough love"
again, "make cuts"
So, in the spirit of making cuts, Jayne Ferrero's top assistant, her second in command, her Deputy Auditor, Pat Pentello, comes to city council last night and pleads with city council to not make cuts, to not freeze employee compensation.
"Deputy Auditor Pat Pentello told council that non-union employees should not be the first group asked to make sacrifices" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Perhaps Pentello did not receive her boss's "tough love" memo?
We are supremely confident that Auditor Ferrero knew that her second in command was coming to council to plead against "making cuts," and to argue against "tough love."
We are beginning to think that Ferrero's "tough love" mantra is only meant for one person.
Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
While Auditor Ferrero's Top Assistant was arguing against budget cuts, her brother in law John Ferrero's Top Assistant was arguing against raising additional revenue.
Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, John Kurtzman, was arguing against reducing the city's 100% tax credit.
"John Kurtzman, chief counsel for Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, spoke against the tax-credit reduction, which would run for two years starting April 1" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Currently John Kurtzman and his boss, Prosecutor John Ferrero, pay zero (that's zero with a "z") taxes to the City of Massillon.
And they don't want that changed.
Now, Kurtzman was all for taxes before he was against taxes.
Kurtzman, just last fall, was stumping for an increase in the county sales tax at the behest of his boss, John Ferrero.
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
Didn't John Kurtzman realize the devastating impact an increased sales tax would have on our community?
Let's just ask John Kurtzman.
“You are now pitting families against families,” he said. “When these people file their tax returns in April, they have to pay more taxes...They are taking food away from their children" (The Independent, February 8, 2012).
Kurtzman had no issue against "taking food away from their children" when he worked to raise the county sales tax.
We are also supremely confident that Prosecutor John Ferrero knew his second in command was coming to city council to oppose the raising of new revenues.
So, to sum up;
The City is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall created by our prior mayor's reckless, unchecked spending.
The shortfall has been exacerbated by Auditor Ferrero shorting the city revenues she could have certified for 2012, and paying all of Frank Cicchinelli's unpaid bills right now, this second, and not allowing the new administration to negotiate a payment plan.
While Auditor Ferrero's second in command is arguing against cuts,
Her brother in law's second in command is arguing against raising new revenue.
So, the Ferrero family plan for city government is to do nothing.
No cuts.
No new revenue.
So that the new mayor is blamed when Massillon government burns down to the ground in the center of a multi-million dollar shortfall.
Let's just call it "tough love."
For only one person.
For Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Same Old Song
Last November, there was a seismic shift in control of Massillon City Council.
But today, just three months later, you would never know it happened.
Massillon City Council previously had just one elected Republican member, Fifth Ward Councilman Donnie Peters. The Democrats controlled the other eight seats on council.
As a result, the Democrats ran the show.
Totally and completely.
This past election, the voters elected a majority of Republicans to lead Massillon's City Council.
Perhaps they were tired of the business as usual.
Perhaps they believed the previous city council was nothing but a feckless rubber stamp for our formerly Extraordinary Mayor for Life, and they wanted a change.
Perhaps they just thought the Republican candidates were plain better looking than their Democratic counterparts.
The reason is not relevant.
The fact of the matter is the voters of Massillon replaced Democratic council members with Republican council members.
Nancy Halter (Ward 1), Sarita Cunningham (Ward 2), Ed Lewis (Ward 6), and Milan Chovin (At Large), joined Donnie Peters (Ward 5) to create a Republican majority.
Kind of.
One of the first jobs the new council undertook was to elect it's leader, the person known as the President Pro-Tem of council.
The President Pro-Tem position is a leadership position, and is usually made by the political party controlling the majority of council seats.
It was well known that the Republicans would move to appoint Donnie Peters their leader, as he was the only incumbent Republican on city council.
They did.
They probably assumed their leader would have their back.
He didn't.
According to one city hall insider, there are two council committees that are truly significant. While all the council committees are important, our faithful reader opines that two are where the action is;
Finance and Community Development.
Especially the Finance Committee, which will have to grapple with the budget crisis created by our former mayor and his Loyal Defender.
Now, one would assume that since the Republicans are in the majority, Republicans would comprise a majority on these two important council committees.
One would be wrong.
Republicans only received one seat on the critical Finance Committee, and Zero seats on the Community
Development Committee.
Six committee seats.
One appointment.
The Finance Committee includes Nancy Halter (R), Paul Manson (D) and Larry Slagle (D).
The Democrats have a majority on the Finance Committee.
And they should, too, considering the fine job they did overseeing the prior mayor's spending.
The Community Development Committee includes Paul Manson (D), Tony Townsend (D) and Andrea Scassa (D).
Zero Republicans.
Note how Paul Manson, the most loyal of the former rubber stamps, is on both these committees.
What happened?
We thought the Republicans won in November.
They did and they didn't.
Word on the street is that their Leader, Donnie Peters, negotiated committee assignments with the Democrats, and that he pretty much gave the Democrats whatever they wanted, to the chagrin of his Republican colleagues.
But why?
It gets better.
According to our faithful reader, City Council only has one employee, the Council Clerk.
Normally, when one party takes over from another, they hire their own person as council clerk.
Not this time.
The Democratic council clerk is still on the job.
But why?
Why does it appear that the Democrats are still running the show?
Why is Massillon City Council playing the Same Old Song?
Didn't people vote for change?
What happened?
But today, just three months later, you would never know it happened.
Massillon City Council previously had just one elected Republican member, Fifth Ward Councilman Donnie Peters. The Democrats controlled the other eight seats on council.
As a result, the Democrats ran the show.
Totally and completely.
This past election, the voters elected a majority of Republicans to lead Massillon's City Council.
Perhaps they were tired of the business as usual.
Perhaps they believed the previous city council was nothing but a feckless rubber stamp for our formerly Extraordinary Mayor for Life, and they wanted a change.
Perhaps they just thought the Republican candidates were plain better looking than their Democratic counterparts.
The reason is not relevant.
The fact of the matter is the voters of Massillon replaced Democratic council members with Republican council members.
Nancy Halter (Ward 1), Sarita Cunningham (Ward 2), Ed Lewis (Ward 6), and Milan Chovin (At Large), joined Donnie Peters (Ward 5) to create a Republican majority.
Kind of.
One of the first jobs the new council undertook was to elect it's leader, the person known as the President Pro-Tem of council.
The President Pro-Tem position is a leadership position, and is usually made by the political party controlling the majority of council seats.
It was well known that the Republicans would move to appoint Donnie Peters their leader, as he was the only incumbent Republican on city council.
They did.
They probably assumed their leader would have their back.
He didn't.
According to one city hall insider, there are two council committees that are truly significant. While all the council committees are important, our faithful reader opines that two are where the action is;
Finance and Community Development.
Especially the Finance Committee, which will have to grapple with the budget crisis created by our former mayor and his Loyal Defender.
Now, one would assume that since the Republicans are in the majority, Republicans would comprise a majority on these two important council committees.
One would be wrong.
Republicans only received one seat on the critical Finance Committee, and Zero seats on the Community
Development Committee.
Six committee seats.
One appointment.
The Finance Committee includes Nancy Halter (R), Paul Manson (D) and Larry Slagle (D).
The Democrats have a majority on the Finance Committee.
And they should, too, considering the fine job they did overseeing the prior mayor's spending.
The Community Development Committee includes Paul Manson (D), Tony Townsend (D) and Andrea Scassa (D).
Zero Republicans.
Note how Paul Manson, the most loyal of the former rubber stamps, is on both these committees.
What happened?
We thought the Republicans won in November.
They did and they didn't.
Word on the street is that their Leader, Donnie Peters, negotiated committee assignments with the Democrats, and that he pretty much gave the Democrats whatever they wanted, to the chagrin of his Republican colleagues.
But why?
It gets better.
According to our faithful reader, City Council only has one employee, the Council Clerk.
Normally, when one party takes over from another, they hire their own person as council clerk.
Not this time.
The Democratic council clerk is still on the job.
But why?
Why does it appear that the Democrats are still running the show?
Why is Massillon City Council playing the Same Old Song?
Didn't people vote for change?
What happened?
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