Grown Ups At Work

Massillon's Financial Planning and Supervision Commission had its very first meeting yesterday as it began the process of cleaning up the "vat of red ink" left to Massillon City government by our former Mayor for Life, the Extraordinary One, Frank Cicchinelli.

According to the Independent newspaper, "they gathered for nearly three hours in Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry's office for a general introductory and procedural meeting, as well as to outline some goals of the group."

However, no where in the article did we read about a contentious debate over where the mayor and her staff would sit.

Apparently, everyone in the room behaved like adults, and didn't play petty, junior high school lunch room games over where the members of the commission would sit.

Unfortunately for the people of the City of Champions, we can't say that about everyone charged with overseeing Massillon's health and welfare.

On Monday night, with their trademark laser like focus on the big issues facing our community, Massillon City Council finally had a vote on the pressing issue of the day.

Deciding where the mayor and her staff would sit.

As we last left High School Confidential, the Republicans on council were mad that "that woman," Kathy Catazaro-from-Perry hired a Republican as her safety and service director. Republican Al Hennon's decision to join the administration of a Democratic mayor was met with anger and name calling from some of his Republican colleagues.

The solution? They were not going to let Mayor Kathy sit at their table during lunch, and an ordinance was introduced moving the mayor and her staff from the front of the council chambers during council meetings.

And Monday night was the vote.

And the vote failed on a five to four vote.

The good news is that five members of Massillon City Council realized that this was ridiculous, stupid, immature and petty, and were adult enough to vote no.

The bad news is that four members of council were not.

Milan Chovin
Nancy Halter
Sarita Cunningham-Hedderly
and Quinessa Hampton

were more interested in junior high school vengeance than the adult responsibilities the voters tasked them with when they were chosen to serve.

If this vote is any indication of the maturity and level of responsibility belonging to some of the members on Massillon City Council, and we believe it is, then the next two years will be extraordinary for the amount of shenanigans we can expect from some of our city council members.

It will give us much to write about.

And the people of Massillon much to be sad about.