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.
