It was titled, 'Glenn Gamber on the way to City Council.'
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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