Archive for Community Issues – Page 5

Loss of our Voting Rights: A New Ordinance

by Rich · Comments (0)
01 Feb

Loss of our Voting Rights: A New Ordinance would eliminate two elected Mariemont Officials.

The Mayor has unilaterally and with no publicity introduced an Ordinance that would eliminate two elected officials; the Village Clerk and the Village Treasurer. These positions would be consolidated into a ‘fiscal officer’ that would be a Mayor’s appointee that served at the pleasure of the Mayor and could reside outside the Village of Mariemont. This would eliminate a very important check and balance in Village Government as well as an internal mechanism for audit and the loss of an advisor to Council and the Mayor. It would greatly enhance the Mayor’s authority.

The Mayor has tried to quietly push this Ordinance through under the radar of public scrutiny. Already, two readings have occurred at Council Meetings with an intent for final passage of the Ordinance with a third reading at the Council meeting on February the 10th.  The Mayor has made no mention of the Ordinance in his December and January Mayor’s Bulletins, has not held a Civic Association meeting to discuss the Ordinance, has not aired the Ordinance in the Community Press, has not assigned it to a Council Committee for consideration and, if you listen to the ICRC videos of Council Meetings, you will note that the Ordinance is only mentioned in passing.

This is the most important piece of legislation to come before Council in many years, and I encourage all concerned residents to e-mail or phone their representatives to at least delay passage until there has been thorough discussion of the measure within the Village of Mariemont.  We welcome comments on the Mariemont.com blog from all Mariemonters.

At the Council meeting on 2/10/2014, the Ordinance was passed unanimously by the Council after the third reading without discussion.

Village Contacts

Dennis Wolter, District 1, dwolter@mariemont.org

Joe Miller, District 2, jmiller@mariemont.org

Eric Marsland, District 3, emarsland@gmail.com

Maggie Palazzolo, District 4, magpal00@gmail.com

Mary Ann Schwartz, District 5,  maschwartz51@gmail.com

Jim Tinkham, District 6, jimtinkham@yahoo.com

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Proposed Changes to the Administrative Structure of Mariemont Council

by Rich · Comments (2)
21 Jan

Historically and at present, the Mariemont Council Clerk and Treasurer positions are elected officials. The Mayor has an Ordinance in front of Council that would permanently consolidate those two positions and create a ‘Fiscal Officer’ that would become a Mayor’s appointee rather than an elected official. According to a former Council Member, “The current system of direct election of the Clerk and Treasurer insures that these Public Servants are not serving at the pleasure of the Mayor and are residents of Mariemont”. He goes on to say that “The Ordinance would eliminate a fiscal check & balance system between Clerk and Treasurer.” Obviously, the new Ordinance would vest added control and influence with Mayor Dan Policastro. The Clerk and Treasurer each receive about $5,000 in compensation yearly so this is not a budget issue.

Recent headlines in the Community Press read: A former elected official is taking issue with Mariemont’s new plan to combine the clerk and treasurer roles.

Resident Stan Bahler, who served as village clerk for more than 20 years, said he had concerns about the lack of discussion about merging of the clerk and treasurer roles, both elected, into a new fiscal officer role.

The ordinance, as it’s written, actually eliminates both the clerk and treasurer positions in favor of a fiscal officer, who would be appointed by the mayor. The appointee would have to be approved by a majority of council and does not have to live in the village.

Bahler pointed out this was first brought up last fall when a former council member asked why no one was running for the treasurer position. At that time, Mayor Dan Policastro said the idea of combining the clerk and treasurer roles would be discussed with the next council.

“Here it is the first council meeting, and there is an ordinance already prepared, with everything decided, and there has been no discussion,” Bahler said. “There should have been a committee meeting so people could state their views. I just think it’s the wrong way to go about making such an important change.”

Tony Borgerding, who was last elected to the clerk role in 2011, has also been serving as treasurer since December 2012 when then-Treasurer Andy Kulesza took a six-month leave of absence because he was living outside of the village. Kulesza resigned last March, and Borgerding took over both positions.

The reason behind the merge, according to the ordinance presented at the Jan. 13 council meeting, is because it has been difficult to find people “to run for the elected positions,” but Bahler said that’s “pretty weak” reasoning. “If it’s hard to find someone for one, it’s going to be harder to find someone to do both roles,” he said.

Council didn’t discuss this further at the Jan. 13 meeting, but Policastro said there would be some discussion at the ordinance’s second reading, expected at the next council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27. Bahler said his main objection to the recommendation is the lack of discussion and the reasons given for the change. “We shouldn’t be bringing an ordinance for the first time with three new council people and I don’t know if the previous council was in on the discussion because it didn’t take place here, so it was off the books if it existed at all,” he said.

He also said it’s good to have a back up to fill in when needed and to have two people with a financial background to provide checks and balances. Other surrounding villages have different ways of handling these positions. In Terrace Park and Newtown, there is an appointed fiscal officer, and in Fairfax, there is an elected clerk-treasurer.

If you have views similar to those expressed, we encourage you to voice your opinion by commenting on this article.

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Electric Aggregation – Compelling Financial Benefits

by Rich · Comments (0)
03 Jan

Electric Aggregation – Why haven’t the residents of Mariemont reaped the financial benefits? 

Since 2001, when Ohio Electric Choice began, consumers have been able to purchase electricity from retail providers/suppliers other than their traditional utility companies. In addition, local governments have been able to form aggregated groups of residents to purchase electric power at discounted rates. A subsequent plethora of mailings and phone calls of offerings from alternative suppliers for lower electric rates became very confusing for the average homeowner. As a result, many owners began looking to their elected officials to take the lead and ensure they were receiving fair rates and service. Many jurisdictions throughout the state responded by choosing to offer an alternative option for residents to save money, forming aggregation programs.

To begin an aggregation program, a community must be certified by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. This is accomplished through a ballot initiative. If approved by the voters, local government negotiates a favorable rate with a qualified energy supplier of electricity and makes it available to residents. Those citizens who participate typically save between 10 and 15 percent on their electric bills.

In July 2012, Mariemont Councilman Cortney Scheeser made a recommendation to council to explore the possibility of electric aggregation after talking to an electric aggregation broker about the concept and process. The mayor assigned the topic to the Council Finance Committee in July. The committee held meetings October 8 and November 12 in 2012 but never submitted a report to council on its recommendations after meeting with the broker. The topic lingered on the council agenda for months and months. It was removed from the agenda late in 2013, after fifteen months or more, with no action by the mayor, finance committee or council.

As a separate transaction, the mayor and the finance committee chairman met with the broker and signed an agreement to lower electric rates for Village structures, ignoring the opportunity to lower rates for residents and businesses! A new 2-year contract was recently signed at a rate of 5.45 cents/kilowatt hour but no steps were taken toward a residential aggregation program.

Many Hamilton County communities have chosen to implement aggregation for the benefit of their residents and businesses. Here is a sampling of communities with electric aggregation (all at 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour) and their cost savings to residents and businesses in the first ten months of 2013:

Community        Savings               
Amberley Village $228,592
Cheviot $ 246,739
Columbia Twp. $154,176
Glendale $157,750
Green Twp. $1,397,462
Indian Hill $ 457,410
Lockland $141,653
Springdale $387,648

These are real savings going to residents and businesses in their respective communities. As an illustration, Columbia Township has saved participating residents $134 per household and $1,793 per business just in the first ten months of 2013.

How much money could Village leaders have saved the residents of Mariemont if they had acted promptly on Councilman Scheeser’s recommendation? How much longer will it be before Village leadership takes steps to implement aggregation and by conservative estimate, save the Village’s residents and businesses over $300,000 per year? Who is asleep at the switch?

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Ohio DUI Law — Appropriate for the Party Season

by Rich · Comments (0)
14 Dec

Fairfax Police-From CIncinnati.comOHIO DUI/OVI: In Ohio, the terms “OVI” and “DUI” mean essentially the same thing and are used interchangeably to denote the offense of Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs of Abuse. The penalties for a DUI offense (even the first one) are very unpleasant and persons charged with a DUI are well advised to seek legal counsel immediately to insure a fair hearing.

PENALTIES: A person charged with a first-time OVI / DUI faces three days of mandatory incarceration or a three day residential driver intervention program. Further penalties include a drivers’ license suspension of six months to three years, fines of $375 to $1,075, six points levied against the driver’s BMV record, court costs, other fees, and the possibility of restricted license plates and ignition interlock devices.

Ohio law further mandates that individuals with OVI / DUI convictions have criminal records that may never be expunged or sealed. An OVI / DUI conviction removes the individual from the definition of “first-time offender” under Ohio law, and neither the OVI / DUI conviction nor any other criminal conviction may be expunged.This information is important for us party goers. Information supplied by Richard Wendel, Attorney of Law

In the year 2012, the Mayor’s Court in Mariemont imposed $120,620 in fines, in large part due to DUI’s.

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The Wily Coyote

by Rich · Comments (0)
14 Dec

The Wily Coyote

Coyote PackDespite a long history of being hunted, trapped, poisoned and hated, coyotes are more abundant than ever throughout the United States. They are a species of canine and typically look like small dogs with wolf-like characteristics. They grow to about 30 inches in length and 25 inches in height and frequently run in small packs. They communicate with calls that are high-pitched and variously described as howls, yips, yelps, and barks. They are basically nocturnal carnivores that feed on small mammals such as squirrels, rabbits and ground hogs. They also will feed on birds, but rarely are scavengers that that eat carrion. (this makes then difficult to trap)

According to Police Chief Hines, sightings of coyotes are not uncommon in Mariemont with one resident has observed a small pack close to the high school. Outside of one instance where a coyote attacked a dog, there have been no known instances in Mariemont where a coyote has harmed any pets or children.

Last fall, two Mariemont Policemen who are experienced hunters killed two coyotes in the South 80, and now that the crops have been harvested in the South 80, they plan to resume their efforts to control the population of coyotes. Generally, the population of coyotes is very difficult to eradicate. Hunting them with high powered rifles takes considerable patience under cover of darkness and camouflage using a variety of coyote calls to attract them.

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What’s the Future for Mariemont Finances?

by Rich · Comments (5)
17 Nov

What’s the Future for Mariemont Finances?

“Mayor Policastro said he has never seen such a strong budget as this one over the last 20 years. It is amazing how well we have done in the adversary (sic) climate that we have been up against. Most small municipalities except for Blue Ash and Evendale are having huge problems and we are not.”

Mariemont Budget Hearing Minutes – July 8, 2013

The financial picture for small communities in Ohio has been greatly impacted by state cut-backs, elimination of the estate tax and elimination of personal property tax. Mariemont is no exception and the picture is not as rosy as portrayed by Village leaders.

Over the last ten years, Mariemont spent more money than it received in the General Fund (which pays for Village services) in years 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Village Clerk was projecting 2013 to be a deficit year also but the mayor announced a future estate tax receipt of $318,000. If not for estate tax infusions of $1,219,200 in 2005 and $378,668 in 2010, these years and 2013 would have been deficit years as well. The following chart reflects actual figures published by the Village in its annual reports:

Year Receipts Disbursements Net Change to
General Fund		 General Fund Reserve
2003 2,855,086 2,954,912 (99,826) 1,632,500
2004 2,672,499 3,160,566 (488,067) 1,144,433
2005 3,673,446 2,973,182 700,594 1,845,028
2006 3,199,006 3,174,256 24,750 1,869,780
2007 3,249,331 3,453,861 (204,530) 1,665,249
2008 2,995,250 3,392,499 (397,249) 1,268,001
2009 3,053,116 3,311,239 (258,123) 1,009,877
2010 3,117,917 3,101,268 16,649 1,026,525
2011 3,091,361 3,013,484 77,877 1,104,000
2012 3,267,644 3,055,981 211,663 1,316,104

Fortunately, General Fund reserves, two years of unusually high estate tax receipts and the temporary infusion of construction worker wages from the Greiwe condominium developments compensated for the deficit spending. However, with the continued revenue cut-backs by the State and the elimination of the estate tax this year, there will be no “white knight” to march in and financially save the Village from deficit spending. Reserves will continue to decline. If the spending is left unaddressed or there are no new revenue streams coming on-board, the Village could face “fiscal emergency” status by the State Auditor in several years.

Over the past ten years, the Village collected $3,370,347 in estate taxes. If there had been no estate tax, the Village would be $2,054,243 in debt at the end of 2012 rather than having $1,316,104 in reserve. This provides a magnitude of the problem and the level of revenue needed to offset the deficit spending coming. So what is going to happen in Mariemont over the next ten years with no estate tax? The income from a Joint Economic Development Zone (JEDZ) partnership with Columbia Township would have been a great start toward a solution. Shared services might also be a way to help reduce costs.

Communities have known for five years the cut-backs were coming and had ample time to plan for adjustments. Although it is late in the game, Village leaders need to start working on how to address the anticipated shortfall. They can no longer ignore the “train barreling down the tracks.”

Mike Lemon

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Prevention of Injury from Falls

by Rich · Comments (0)
17 Nov

The Ohio Department of Health in collaboration with the CDC is supporting a program called STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) that focuses on falls. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths for Ohioans age 65 and older. There are over 1000 fatal falls per year in this elderly population in Ohio alone.

What can you do to prevent falls?

1.     Exercise to improve balance and strength

2.     Have healthcare providers review all medicines

3.     Have regular vision checks and update your eyeglasses accordingly

4.     Make the home safer

These are very incomplete and generic recommendations (more info available at www.cdc.gov/injury/STEADI) but awareness of the ways to avoid falls may prevent the death or disability of a loved one or yourself.

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The Wasson Way Project

by Rich · Comments (1)
06 Oct

There is no better time to proceed with the Wasson Way Project than now.  It will produce a 6.5 mile Bike and Pedestrian Path from Xavier University to the Little Miami Bike Trail in Newtown!

Jay Andress has spearheaded the effort to make the win-win Wasson Way project a reality and has outline the benefits for Mariemont below:

  • It connects all the families and children safely to the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail, which is currently so close but yet separated by a very dangerous and busy road.
  • The Wasson Way and a connector will provide complete off-road access for Terrace Park students to Mariemont High School
  • Through two access points (near the community swimming pool and by Kroger’s), Mariemont residents will be able to ride into Hyde Park…only two miles away on the bike trail…crossing trestles above Wooster Pike, Red Bank Road and in Ault Park.
  • The trail will be a bike commuter route for not only Mariemont residents but for all those folks in Newtown, Anderson, Fairfax, Terrace Park and all other areas along the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Thousands of students at Xavier will be able to easily ride to school.
Flyer Facebook Postcard  Jay Andress and his group have had good meetings with the Hamilton County Park’s Director Jack Sutton and his planner Tim Zelek about building an off-road connector from Kroger’s up the Wooster Pike Hill to the Mariemont Library. That work in continuing with discussions with Kroger’s and others.
   They want to get input from the residents of Mariemont about access points, trail design, and especially amenities in the areas of Mariemont Gardens (South 80) and near Kroger’s. For that purpose they are hosting, along with students and professors from UC Niehoff Urban Design Center and ten professional architects a Community Design Workshop at Clark Montessori School at 8:30am on October 12th. Jay Andress will also be having a community party on Friday, October 18th at Hyde Park Floral and Garden (corner of Michigan and Wasson Roads) to reveal the results of the workshop and celebrate the next big step…moving forward with planning and construction.
Below is a map of the Wasson road trail
WassonWayMapGeneralPurpose
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New Approaches to the Treatment of Breast Cancer

by Rich · Comments (0)
06 Oct

The appropriate treatment for breast cancer has changed dramatically during the past few decades. At one time, the standard practice was radical mastectomy with an extensive regional lymph node dissection. Current surgical approaches generally involve ultrasound guided biopsy of a suspicious breast lesion that, if positive for malignancy, is followed by surgical removal, irradiation treatment and staging via the excision and microscopic examination of a ‘sentinel’ axillary lymph node draining the tumor. Most patients with invasive cancer have a treatment plan individualized to their particular tumor with regard to stage, tumor pathology and genetic studies. There are many new exciting neoadjuvant treatments for breast cancer.

Early diagnosis through regular self-examination of the breasts for changes in texture, contours or actual lumps and screening mammography are the keys to early diagnosis and treatment that produce better outcomes.

The guidelines for when to start screening mammography are controversial. In general, women ages 40-49 should get screening mammograms every one to two years, if they have an average risk for developing breast cancer. For women 50 years and older, mammograms are recommended every one to two years.

Women at higher than average risk should start mammography before age 40 and this includes:

  1. History of breast cancer
  2. More than one family member with breast cancer
  3. Genetic changes and markers that carry a higher risk of getting breast cancer
  4. Plus many more minor risk factors which are beyond the scope of this editorial.

With newer surgical and neoadjuvant treatments plus earlier diagnosis, the percentages of long term survival from breast cancer has greatly improved.

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The Mayor’s October ‘Bulletin’

by Rich · Comments (0)
29 Sep

The contributors to the Web site Mariemont.com are pleased that Mayor Policastro has reaffirmed (in his bulletin here) that Mariemont.com is not the ‘official’ website for the Village of Mariemont. Indeed, Mariemont.com is an independent website and has never held itself out as an official website for any portion of the Greater Mariemont experience.

Mariemont.com is a rich repository of information for the residents of Greater Mariemont with a complete listing of the Social Organizations within the Village, a Master Calendar of Village Events, an electronic version and archive of the Village TownCrier, and a fairly comprehensive business directory. In addition, it has a blog where fair, uncensored editorial content may be posted along with featured businesses, performances, events, awards, appointments, schools, sports, meetings, real-estate statistics, medical matters, editorial opinion and so on.

Mariemont.org is the official website of Village Government, but is not the ‘official’ website for the nonprofits, religious organizations, schools, businesses and most individuals residing in the Village.

For several years, council members and some of us have urged the Mayor to upgrade the Mariemont.org website and have even volunteered to help with this effort, but the Mayor has resisted. Now, using the taxpayer’s dime, he has hired an outside design firm to build the site. One wonders who is going to maintain the website with dynamic and current content.

P.S.

The editorial about the legalization of drugs alluded to in the Mayor’s Bulletin was the lead editorial that occupied an entire page on the Cincinnati Enquirer Opinion Page on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 and it can also be accessed on Mariemont.com by viewing the archived September blogs (dated September 1st). Both the Editorial Page Editor for the Enquirer, David Holthaus, and I were surprised that most of the ‘Letters to the Editor’ were very supportive of the ideas expressed in the article.

–Richard Wendel, Editor and an Administrator of Mariemont.com

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