MANSFIELD — Alomar Davenport has apparently heard the phrase “limited resources” too often from the city administration.
Nearing the end of a 30-minute Mansfield City Council streets committee meeting Tuesday evening — largely devoted to concerns about the city’s snow plowing efforts — the 4th Ward councilman spoke up.
Davenport’s comments followed comments from Mayor Tim Theaker and Public Works Director Dave Remy that the city is limited financially in its snow storm responses.
The administration has cited a lack of manpower and equipment in the past. Davenport’s response was in line with a City Council increasingly frustrated with a problem continually identified by their constituents.
One thing all council members and the city administration agreed on — the city has excellent workers doing the best they can under difficult situations.
Davenport and other council members said that’s not enough.
“Identifying a problem is, as you know, the first step in solving a problem. We’ve spoken specifically about how we do not have the resources, which I can see, we are limited in our resources,” Davenport said.
“But there’s no solace to the people of Mansfield in just hearing over and over that we do not have the resources. One of the things that I do believe this council needs to do is question why we are not looking at any type of alternative,” Davenport said.
The remarks by Davenport included suggestions the city consider sub-contracting some of the street clearing effort, though he admitted that potential solution could raise issues for the city’s unionized streets department workforce.
“I think the administration owes it to the people of Mansfield to explain why we can or cannot do that,” he said.
“Rather than just continuing to say, we don’t have the resources, we need to be addressing those alternatives and explaining why we can or cannot do them, as well, so people get the whole story,” he said.
Davenport’s comments came at the end of a session during which several council members questioned Theaker and Remy about snow plowing concerns — hours before a major winter storm is expected to hit the area.
One question, based on an email 5th Ward Councilman Aurelio Diaz received from a resident, was why the city lifted the snow emergency parking ban on certain city streets.
Remy said the ban, in place for more than 50 years, was never lifted. The signs were removed for some reason, he said.
“We haven’t really enforced the ban,” Remy said. “There is nothing to prevent council from considering parking bans on the streets.”
Kimberly Moton, who represents the 6th Ward, said inner city residents asked her why streets are not cleared in a more timely fashion, including side streets.
“There are a lot of others who rely on the streets to be relatively clear,” she said.
Theaker said the city has a finite income, largely based upon income tax collections.
“I would love to be able to throw all kinds of money at it, but the citizens of Mansfield are limited on the amount of money that can be collected on levies,” the mayor said.
“I would love to have all the money in the world to be able to throw at that because that would allow us and help us to be able to provide greater services,” Theaker said.
“(City workers) provide a excellent service as it is. But with limited resources, they do an excellent job. And that’s what I want to emphasize is that the limited resources that we have, based upon the income, the street department and the city workers do an excellent job.”
Council, who directed Remy to draft revised snow emergency parking ban legislation, also asked the public works director who would enforce the ban, aimed at keeping cars off city streets to allow snow plow operators more room to effectively work.
Remy said it would need to be a collaboration among the police department’s traffic bureau, street department and private towing companies.
“They would all have to work together and coordinate,” Remy said.
Also on Tuesday, City Council:
— honored retiring police Sgt. Matthew R. Loughman, who is ending an almost 27-year career with the city on Thursday, Feb. 3. Loughman, who started as a corrections officer when the city still operated a jail, said he was honored to have been able to serve.
— voted to authorize a $32,296.22 payment to Pioneer Technology for services provided to the Municipal Clerk of Courts office.
— voted to accept a grant of $58,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration to be used “to combat the spread of coronavirus at the Mansfield Lahm Airport.” No city match is required.
— voted to accept a $22,000 grant from the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services through its Project Safe Neighborhood Program. Funds will be used to install — and activate for one year — eight automated license plate readers. Future costs, about $20,000 annually, would have to come from the city’s safety-services fund without additional grant money.
— voted to approved upgrades in pay ranges for about 50 non-union jobs within city government.
