Rest and Relaxation

So, everyone deserves a little time off to rest and recharge the batteries. Even Massillon City Council. Rubber stamping for Massillon's Mayor for Life is hard work. We certainly don't want council members developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

City Council meets in regular session the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, and meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month in work sessions/committee hearings. Republican Donnie Peters and Democrat Larry Slagle wanted to move the work sessions/committee hearings to the 1st and 3rd Monday, right before the regular meeting, so they would only have to meet twice a month in July and August.

Apparently, several of our faithful readers believe our council has more than earned some time off. Everyone else gets vacation, right? And besides, they work hard outside of council meetings. We refer to Larry Slagle, who, while complaining about the Independent criticizing his summer vacation plans for council, stated "I spend much more time outside this room on city council business than I do in the room" (The Independent, June 15, 2010).

We understand. Traipsing through our parks and looking for "park vandals" with Parks Director Kenn Kaminski, and meeting with our Mayor for Life to learn why spending our tax dollars on hotels and restaurants is a good thing can be time consuming. We have reconsidered our position.

City Council deserves a vacation. On one condition. If all is well, and the auditor assures you that the city is not currently short in meeting its budgetary obligations for 2010, you get the time off. If the city is short, you really do need to get back to work. Call her up. Ask her. Let us know.