By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
The members of Galion Boy Scout Troop 413 can consider their Citizenship badges well-earned after sitting through Tuesday night’s Galion City Council meeting. Troop 413 opened the meeting by saying the Pledge of Allegiance and Scout’s pledge. Following that the meeting became more animated, so much so that Council President Carl Watt extended an apology to the scouts.
Watt looked at the Boy Scouts as he said, “I apologize, of all meetings to come to and see what public meetings are.”
Roberta Wade got things kicked off during public comment, offering her rebuke of what she termed the city’s “misinformation and lies,” concerning the Electric Fund. She claimed that this past summer’s need to raise the electric fund by $2 million due to rises in business use was a “lie,” and this $2 million hike was really due to the rising cost of electricity.
Wade continued by questioning whether calculations of the power cost adjustment (PCA) were calculated properly. She was of the unequivocal opinion that they were not. And she followed by criticizing an, “exorbitant rate decrease to businesses,” while at the same time increasing the rates to private residents.
Wade concluded by making a formal public records request, concerning the PCA, in full view of council, and by stating, “And I will be back at the next council meeting to pick them up.”
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The next set of fireworks came toward the end of the meeting when Treasurer Paula Durbin gave the Treasurer’s Report. The presentation evolved into accusations hurled back and forth across the room at rather elevated volumes. She defended her absence at a vast majority of meetings, by stating that the Ohio Revised Code only requires her attendance, “when specifically requested.”
Durbin has been specifically requested several times over, and always on an ongoing basis, by City Council.
Durbin began by criticizing the recent purchase of the new fire truck, insinuating that it was done somewhat underhandedly and outside of regulations. She also took issue with Law Director Thomas Palmer, citing a conversation that Palmer allegedly had with a member of the State Auditor’s Office, a person by the name of Adam Rittenbaugh.
It was at this point that Palmer decided enough was enough, and interjected, “If you want to do this, (do it) in a respectful and professional manner.”
Then Durbin began to receive criticism from other sources for the adversarial nature of her presentation. She was roundly criticized for not attending regular council meetings, and especially for failing to attend committee meetings, where the discussions there could answer many of her questions.
Palmer offered the final defense of his office by stating, “No public records request sent directly to my office has been not responded to.”
Council President Carl Watt was slightly less reserved when he stated, “Some people will do anything to get their name in the paper.”
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There was another rather lengthy discussion of the proposed position of public information officer. Susan Bean was the vocal leader of the opposition, questioning this potential new position on philosophical and financial grounds.
Bean expressed some of the same concerns that had been discussed at the last meeting, that there was the danger of this becoming a “state-run media” position, and that the money on offer was too much.
“I think this is something that is not needed in a town this size,” Bean stated, by elaborating, “This is an irresponsible use of city funds.”
Council members favorable of the position, led vocally by Sara Capretta, pointed out the positives this position could provide, including the accurate information that could be provided to the community.
“At some point, the citizens need to get their information from a reliable source,” Capretta said.
Mayor Tom O’Leary chimed in that the administration was not dead set on making it a full-time position. Just that the pay had been appropriated commensurately so that all options were available. He also offered a slight rebuke to the “town this size” comment, stating that many localities employ someone in this capacity. Although, perhaps, under the different title of administrative assistant.
Wade took the opportunity to offer her criticism of the proposed position. She called it, “absolutely ridiculous,” and asked, “How many positions do we need?”
Wade accused the administration of scope creep in the past, stating that O’Leary promised a part-time safety service director when he began, and now that is a full-time position.
Council President Carl Watt countered by offering, “This has been discussed at many committee meetings and you haven’t been to any of them.”
Mike Richart added that this position is not being created from any new money. Any and all funds going toward this position were already appropriated but not spent.
At the end of the day, the position, and funding for it, passed on a second reading.
The meeting came to a close with President Carl Watt visibly angry but doing his best to keep a civil lid on things.
Following his apology to the Scouts present, he continued by stating, “I resent the accusations made here tonight.”
Referring to Durbin, he added, “She doesn’t come anyhow except when to cause problems.”