By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

The Galion City Council and administration had to weather three storms of heavy criticism from the public to kick off Tuesday night’s meeting. Paula Durbin, Roberta Wade, and Don Faulds all presented pointed critiques of what they perceived to be failings of the city government.

Durbin got things rolling during the roll call of elected officials. As city treasurer her name is called from this list to see who is in attendance, something of which she was unaware. She included this in her larger theme of “bullying” from the administration.

She mentioned a meeting from January 2014 in which she claimed Mayor Tom O’Leary made several racist remarks, to which Carl Watt, Brian Treisch, and Thomas Palmer said nothing. She cited this as her reason for not attending council meetings, along with the fact that she was rarely asked for input of any sort.

But she continued by saying she would gladly attend any meeting when asked, but she simply needed to be asked.

“I’ve been bullied, harassed, and threatened, but I’m not resigning,” Durbin said as she handed out a list of alleged offences that have been committed against her to council.

Wade, former City Council member and city law director, kept the ball in motion with a criticism of Auditor Brian Treisch’s office. She refuted claims made by Treisch that income tax revenues were up 15 percent over last year, claiming they were only up 3.9 percent.

She also took umbrage with the notion that the electric fund is being depleted through increased power use from the industrial sector. She claimed that electric usage has only increased 1.39 percent in the period since May of 2012, which is essentially a flat figure. The real issue is the price jump of 33.8 percent in this period. She warned every one of the dangers of the “false info” emanating from this administration.

Faulds, the former City council president who resigned that position, finished things off by raising questions about the city’s relationship with Lyn McKeever and Associates. He questioned the presence of repeated, non-itemized bills that fail to outline which services were rendered. He specifically cited a figure of almost $70,000 that has been paid to McKeever toward the Shumaker Ditch project, of which very little work has been done.

Faulds also took exception to the treatment that Howard Morrow received. Faulds outlined how O’Leary met with Morrow “almost daily” when planning the Hesby Drive project, but when Morrow came to council and presented concerns he was “belittled and degraded by the mayor and ignored by the council.”

“If he (Morrow) was here I would ask for an ovation,” Faulds declared.

Council listened attentively during the concerns and later in the meeting a few spoke up to address them. It was repeatedly mentioned that these were issues that could have come forward at committee meetings, where the atmosphere is better suited for discussing these issues.

Shirley Clark was particularly critical. “They don’t want to work with us, they want to come to council and make a big noise.”

Watt ended the meeting by, “Thanking everyone for keeping their cool. Attacks can be hard to withstand.” He once again encouraged people with concerns to come to committee meetings which he says is better suited to address such items.

He stressed how important it was for people to have the right to come to council and make comments, but tempered that with, “just because no rebuttals were made doesn’t mean that we agree with everything that was said.”

Four pieces of legislation were passed: 2014-74 the GPD General Services Contract from last meeting passed its second reading; 2014-78 to correct the negative balance in the Cheshire Fund passed a first reading; 2014-79 an agreement to streamline leasing arrangements with MedFlight at the airport passed as an emergency; 2014-80 added $10,000 to Health Fund appropriations, this will allow for the hiring of a health inspector for the remainder of the year; and an OCJS Grant for the Police Department narrowly passed a first reading 4-3.

The police levy would provide an $18,000 grant with a $2,000 match from Galion for police body cameras. Susan Beach expressed concerns about the amount of information that state is asking for in exchange. She saw this as very dangerous omen for privacy rights and wanted Police Chief Brian Saterfield on hand to explain.

Saterfield was away teaching police training courses but will be in attendance at the next meeting. If council is satisfied, there will still be time to pass this grant agreement in time for the Oct. 31 deadline.