Archive for Mariemont Council

Open Letter to Mariemont Council and Mayor Policastro

by Rich · Comments (0)
15 Mar

Dear Mariemont Council and Mayor Policastro,

By now you have most likely received numerous emails or phone calls opposing the variance granted to Spinnenweber Builders to remove the West St. sidewalk around the Executive Building and erect a 5 foot fence and rolling, timed gates.

We would like to state for the record that we are opposed to this, and are disappointed that this issue was not brought to public attention before being voted on. We know that at least some Council members were completely unaware that this issue was being considered – including the one whose district this is in! An issue that affects so many Village residents deserves open debate instead of being quietly sent to the Planning Committee for a vote. Pro-active communication is vital to maintaining a healthy, trusting partnership between a government and its residents. We realize Mr. Spinnenweber has the right to build a fence on his property if he chooses, but our experience is that he is aggravating residents by singling out “Moms” for parking in his lots, forgetting that these same parents are some of his tenants best customers! Positions like this give the appearance that he is not concerned about working with the Village to retain and improve walkability.  It also gives the appearance that he does not support our schools and childrens’ safety. And the Village giving into his demands – this and others – without public discussion doesn’t make for a trusting environment between residents and their Council/Mayor.

Our arguments against the removal of the sidewalks and putting up of a fence around the Executive Building are in the attached flier here

To add a little bit of personal insight and background to those on Council who are not familiar with this issue…

I (Suzy) vocally opposed this issue, along with other residents and developers and engineers of the new school buildings, during the July 2012 Council meeting where this issue was presented by Mr. Spinnenweber. It was tabled due to opposition and in order to see how the parking and pedestrian flow would be with the new school drop off/pick up lanes. I suggested to Mr. Wolter, and he presented to Council, the idea of chalking tires in the Executive Building lot to catch cars parked there all day. The police used to do this years ago, as Metro bus riders were parking there to go downtown for the day. To date, that suggestion has been ignored. During that Council meeting in July 2012, Mr. Spinnenweber blamed “Mariemont Moms” for taking up all the spaces where his tenants and their visitors needed to park.  That is, to my mind, absurd. Parents who park there for 10-15 minutes while dropping off/picking up their child at 8:15 a.m. or 3:15 p.m. are not the culprits to long-term parking issues. And there could not possibly be such a huge influx of visitors to the Executive Office or to the retail establishments during these select times, that every single space in the lot needs to be open.

As for removal of sidewalks, families with children, as well as other residents out for walks and bike rides, use the sidewalks on West St. daily. They are necessary for getting from point A to point B, and connect Madisonville to Wooster Pike. Removal cuts off this main artery, and also creates a safety hazard. Public right-of-ways are a precious commodity in a village like Mariemont.  We have recently added several new ones, to the Village’s credit.  To reverse course and remove sidewalks sets a bad precedent. Once lost, they would be very expensive to replace in the future.

If parking is the sole issue, would it not be in Mr. Spinnenweber’s best interest to develop the empty grass lot with the semi-trailer into a nice parking lot to aid in parking for his tenants, while working with the Village to fix the sidewalk on the east side of West St. and continue it through that grass lot to the corner Strand shops? Perhaps he and the Village could also work together on a landscaping solution, since removal of all the Gum trees have left it quite unsightly as well. We think it would make sense for the Village to work with Mr. Spinnenweber to chalk tires and ticket anyone parking there for more than a few hours. We think it would be beneficial for Mr. Spinnenweber to act reciprocally about parking, since the school has allowed their lot to be used after 4 p.m. for those frequenting the Strand venues as well as the restaurants and movie theater area (owned by Mr. Spinnenweber.)

We would like to see the Village, the school board and Mr. Spinnenweber come together, along with any residents who would like to voice their ideas, to brainstorm with some solutions to the parking issues. One idea we have is to develop part of the ME field into a parking lot for teachers. This grass field is huge, and was meant to be used for football and other sports WAY back when the building was a high school and jr. high school. Then, the field was used for jr. high football and soccer when they were housed at Dale Park. With the new jr. high in Fairfax having its own sports fields, and with the ME field only being used for a few rec soccer practices that could still be held on a slightly smaller field, this is a very viable option.

This is a small neighborhood with limited parking, and we all need to work together to do what is best for the residents and the Village. Forcefully separating areas and making them unfriendly to pedestrians is not what Mary Emery envisioned and goes against one of the primary reasons people move to Mariemont.

Council, we implore you to consider your constituents’ concerns regarding this variance.  In addition, we encourage the Council to work with Mr. Spinnenweber to address his concerns in a manner that satisfies all parties.  The Village is a wonderful partner for businesses/developers, but must act with consideration for the tradition and charm of Mariemont.

Thank you,

Suzy Weinland

 

Link to page with Council and Mayor contact information.

Mariemont.com Staff encourages all interested residents to attend the Village Town Meeting on March 23rd

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Categories : Community Issues, Mariemont Schools
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Cortney Scheeser: 4 years as a Mariemont Councilman

by Rich · Comments (2)
26 Jan

4 years comes to an end: I cared, I tried, I finishedCortney

As my 4 years come to an end, I want to thank so many of you who’ve supported, challenged, and (civilly) disagreed with me.  I have grown as a person and am better for this experience.

This blog.  In 2009, I committed to the idea of putting my thoughts, words, and deeds out there and am proud to say I’ve created a great time capsule of my experience.  373 entries later, I’m pleased with the result.

Some thoughts going fwd.  The Village is special.  We’re lucky to live here.  While there are so many wonderful facets to Mariemont, we need to be ever mindful of a few significant issues that can unravel this great place:
1)Lack of Planning.  we react too often and turn our noses up at ideas that aren’t self generated
2)Insufficient tree planting.  we are lulled into the tree canopy we currently have without appreciating that fact that our trees are overwhelmingly at the end of their useful lives and the next generation is woefully inadequate
3)Centralized power by the Mayor.  Decision making has been taken from the Council and usurped by the Mayor.  I wouldn’t support 1 person making decisions even if those decision were thoughtful, moderate, strategic.
4)Tear downs.  We’ve seen multiple homes razed, and this is inappropriate for an historic village.  If unchecked, it will ultimately threaten our Historic designation by the Department of the Interior.
5)Eastern Corridor.  While it’s encouraging to see the lull in State action, we must be vigilant to keep that highway out of the river valley, regardless of which municipalities it specifically runs through
6)Efficiency.  The Village can save many thousands of dollars annually:  electronic documents incl tax, standardized phone systems including mobile, LED conversion of street lamps, hybrid automobiles, reduced overtime, outsourced payroll, tax office moved to admin building.  An administrator could help manage these and other ideas.
7)Apathy.  I appreciate residents choosing to “lay low” and focus their energies on their own lives.  However, there’s so much that can be done w the time, energy & experience of our residents.  Said another way, things don’t change without people showing up.
8)Being good neighbors.  We are often disrespectful and insensitive to our surrounding communities.  We can do much together vs going it alone.

I wish Maggie P, the new Dist 4 Council person, success in the new year.

Thanks again.  Signing off.

Cortney Scheeser
Mariemont Council

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Categories : Mariemont at Large
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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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Categories : Community Issues, Mariemont at Large
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Mariemont Council Meetings

by Claire · Comments (1)
16 Jan

The Mariemont Council is considering reducing council meetings to once a month.

Original Email discussing the next Committee of the Whole Meeting

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Categories : Mariemont at Large
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More Apartments in Mariemont?

by Rich · Comments (0)
26 May

In the past four years, the Greiwe Development Group has invested over $60 million dollars in Mariemont in building the three condo complexes, Jordan Park, Emery Park and Nolen Park.  These developments with their authentic Tudor style have been invaluable assets in making Mariemont a true destination. The wealthy buyers are a boon to the local businesses, increase property values and the tax base while embellishing Mariemont’s reputation as the best suburb in all of Ohio.

Even with this stellar track record, several members of the Mariemont Council have opposed Richard Greiwe’s proposal to build 100 apartments along Murray and Plainfield in the Madison Place neighborhood, and provide an attractive new North gateway to Mariemont. The project is funded, would gentrify a large section of adjoining Columbia Township, add customers for Mariemont businesses, provide additional green space to Mary Emery Park, open up bike paths and place a roundabout that is a proven measure to expedite traffic and increase safety. What’s not to like about this proposal?

 

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Categories : Community Issues, Editorial
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