By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
Galion’s City Council meeting ended with a bang Tuesday night when Law Director Roberta Wade’s bombshell revelation was revealed to be a dud.
Wade’s pronouncement, and its subsequent clarification, led to some disruption from the audience. In attendance was Jeff Price, who called Wade “very unprofessional” and “an instigator.”
Price was quickly called to order by Council President Don Faulds, to which Price replied, “I don’t care what you think.”
Faulds then asked him to leave which Price refused. Police Chief Brian Saterfield escorted Price from the meeting.
Wade’s announcement had to deal with the city’s power cost adjuster, and the ordinance that directed it be done twice a year, typically in February and August. Wade stated that that afternoon she had examined some of her personal bills against the utility department’s records and found that no such adjustments had been made since 2009. This responsibility had belonged to the City Manager’s Office. Due to the late nature of her discovery she had not time to prepare an official report for the meeting, but hoped to have one by the end of the week.
Wade’s assertion did not last long unchallenged, however. Belinda Miller and auditor Brian Treisch quickly refuted Wade’s statement. They confirmed that the rates had to be checked twice a year, but that adjustments were not mandated. There is a baseline formula to use as a reference, and if deviations are not significant enough a change is not demanded.
Wade also received some criticism from the mayor, as Tom O’Leary did not like the insinuation that his office was not doing its job.
Wade denied laying the blame at his feet, reiterating that it had been the responsibility of the city manager’s office. O’Leary also was upset at the timing of the announcement, especially in light of the explanations that quickly followed.
“It seems like an internal discussion to be had, not an expose at the end of a council meeting,” O’Leary said.
The meeting began with the announcement of the resignation of 1st Ward Councilman, Andy Daniels. Daniels has purchased a house in Morrow County, which disqualifies him from serving any further. His resignation became effective on October 18. Council is not planning to take any action until after the election, where Marty Weber will now be running unopposed.
Refinements to the City’s official staffing levels received more attention, with the Utility Office Manager position coming one step closer to realization.
Councilman Matt Strickler asked the mayor point blank, “Is this necessary?”
The mayor responded that he did think it was necessary, citing that this office has had a full-time manager for “at least” the last 50 years, and that under the city charter the bulk of these duties were handled by the assistant finance director, a position which no longer exists. Many of these duties are now being handled “remotely” by the mayor’s office, an arrangement which is less than ideal.
“If we expect to go forward and improve processes it will be very difficult to do that remotely,” O’Leary said. “We’re surviving but not excelling.”
Ordinance no. 2013-77, which authorizes the number of employees in each department, received some suggestions from Chief Saterfield. The two captain’s positions, which are currently vacant, were not listed on the chart.
While Saterfield stated, “We have no intention of filling,” those positions, they need to be listed on the chart. It seems the problem comes from a collective bargaining standpoint, that positions cannot be arbitrarily abolished.
Saterfield stressed repeatedly that he was not asking for more personnel, but that distinction between “vacant” and “abolished” was an important one according to the Ohio Revised Code. The positions were reinstated into the legislation, as well as clarifying that of the seven listed dispatchers, three were full time and four were part time.
In the council president’s comments, Faulds gave a Prairie State/AMP update. He has been in personal contact with the Ohio Attorney General’s office, the Ohio Consumer’s Council, and the Public Utilities Commission, but had little success to report. The Ohio Consumer’s Council stated that since the City was a municipal power source they were not a consumer, which precludes them from representation. He was rebuffed by the utilities commission, and his contact at the Attorney General’s office said they could submit documents for the office to review, but the outcome would likely be “unfavorable.” If action is to go forward, it might have to come down to the city hiring its own counsel, or assigning these duties to existing counsel.
“My concern is this city and its residents,” Faulds said, “I just wanted to bring everyone up to date.”
Greg Kirk invited all of the candidates to the Galion Live Candidates night. It will be held at 7 p.m., on Oct. 24, at the Galion Building and Loan Bucyrus Road office. The address is 920 Bucyrus St, and Kirk advised attendees to come to the front door.