GALION – Three individuals, including Galion’s treasurer, spoke at Galion City Council to express concerns for operations within city government. Council members responded suggesting there were other venues for addressing concerns. In other business, council discussed a contract with Med-Flight, the health department budget, and an OCGS grant.
In her remarks, Galion Treasurer Paula Durbin stated, “I will not compromise for anyone.” She went on to complain that she does not have full access to the city’s accounting system which hinders her from doing her job. Because of the situation she couldn’t reconcile payroll checks on time.
“But I guess no one cares,” she said. Other issues Durbin had with city officials included the mayor using “snide comments” and bullying techniques. Durbin said she feels she has been threatened, bullied and intimidated. “I am not resigning,” she said as she handed out information to the council members about bullying in the workplace.
Roberta Wade, an attorney, suggested that city auditor Brian Treisch misread and misreported numbers including an increase in income tax. “The auditor made a comment that income tax collections were up 15 percent and that there was increase power consumption requiring an increase in appropriations, I think, was $2 million, because factories are having a better year.”
Wade said she did some research and found that income tax revenue is only up 3.9 percent. She feels there should be a decrease in power consumption due to the contract with Energy Smart. She feels the recent electric rate study by Sawvel and Associates is suspect and the city should use another consultant.
“You cannot run a city on false information. The ultimate power rests with the people,” stated Wade.
Councilman Michael Richart asked Wade why this information was not brought to the utility committee meetings.
Wade said she would be willing to discuss the issue with anyone and invited citizens interested to call her office and leave a message.
Don Faulds also spoke. He feels Howard Morrow should be thanked for all his work with the mayor’s office in planning the new Hesby Drive. In his remarks, Faulds gave no explanation of Morrow’s services.
Faulds feels the engineer contracted with by the city, Makeever and Associates, is charging too much for services. He cited the Shumaker Ditch project which has yet to have a shovel put to it, but has cost the city $70,000 in engineering fees.
“I think the council owes Mr. Morrow an apology as well as the mayor owes Mr. Morrow an apology and I think the community needs to thank Mr. Morrow for putting his neck out,” stated Faulds.
President of council Carl Watt thanked those citizens speaking for their thoughts and input. “But I’m wondering if some of these could be discussed in committee meetings. Sometimes it gets here and it’s not only the issues but attacks on council and other people. I think some of this could be avoided.”
“They could have come to meetings and worked with us,” said Councilwoman Shirley Clark, “instead they come in and make a big noise to get the citizens all upset.”
At the end of the meeting, Watt thanked council for “keeping their cool. They are entitled to their opinion,” he said, but was disappointed in the attacks.
New councilwoman Sarah Capretta was offended by the insinuations brought by the citizen comments. “My email is online,” she said after the meeting. “My phone number is online. I have never been contacted by any of them.”
Capretta, sworn in in June to replace outgoing member Eric Webber, feels those speaking before council are misleading the council. “They are saying ‘everybody is ignoring us, no one is taking us seriously.’ Personally speaking, I have not been contacted by any of the individuals regarding any of the issues that have been brought up.” Capretta wishes these individuals would attend committee meetings and be willing to work with council on the issues stated.
In other council business, a lease agreement was approved for Med-Flight. This agreement adds an additional space for Med-Flight to build a new hanger at the Galion Municipal Airport.
A transfer of $10,000 appropriated funds from the salaries line item to contractual services was added to the Galion Health Department budget to cover the cost of an environmental health specialist to help Stephanie Zmuda who has moved from that position to health commissioner. The contract runs until the end of the year.
After the meeting, Zmuda explained, “Rather than hiring an employee at this time, we are contracting with a sanitarian to perform food inspections.” The contractor could not be paid from the salaries line item.
Approval for the Galion Police Department to go out for the OCJS Grant was tabled for the night. Some council members were concerned over some of the grant language. The grant would provide body cameras to police officers. The concern was over the flow of personal information to state and federal data bases.
Editor’s note: Story updated at 11:17 a.m. on Oct. 15 to clarify that $10,000 was transferred between line items rather than an appropriation transpiring.
“But I’m wondering if some of these could be discussed in committee meetings. Sometimes it gets here and it’s not only the issues but attacks on council and other people. I think some of this could be avoided,” said Council President Carl Watt.
