South Euclid resident Terri Dolan granted SEOversight permission to share the following chain of events. She also requested that SEO not edit out her name as was offered. She expressed her deep disappointment with the Mayor of South Euclid’s decision to “take the low road.”
Replication of emails has been utilized for viewer convenience and presentation purposes. There has been no editing, alteration or distortion from any portion of the original text.
From: Terri Dolan
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010
To: gwelo@seuclid.com
Subject: Very Concerned Resident
Ms Welo,
I have been a resident of South Euclid for 25 years. Grew up in University Heights . I have been following the course of the city for some years now and I have grave concerns for the future of South Euclid . To say I feel as though the city does its business with little regard for the cost, will, or the impact it has on our living standards is putting it too mildly. I have very little faith in the leadership of this city and in light of the recent events discussed at the last counsel meeting, I have lost my will to help. I, along with many others have pretty much decided to move. There is no more appeal here for family life in my income level. The way you and counsel have conducted business on our behalf should be criminal. You will never get a dime out of this registered voter as long as I am here, for anything. As far as I am concerned, all your time spent in the part-time positions you "serve" in The City of South Euclid should be SERVED. That used to mean without a paycheck. How is it serving if your getting paid, and voting raises for yourselves? If I am still here to vote next time around, you and counsel can count on my vote going for your opponent. Shame on you all.
The email below was received by Ms. Dolan from another concerned resident. Ms. Dolan forwarded the content of the email she received to Mayor Georgine Welo on June 25th:
From: Terri Dolan
Subject: park guards
To: gwelo@southeuclid.com
Date: Friday, June 25, 2010
Terri,
You are very welcome to forward this on to the mayor if you want to.
I probably will not go to any of the South Euclid parks after June 30th. I remember what Bexley Park was like before the park guards and I refuse to put my children into that environment again. The only thing that will bring me to any of the parks is SEBBL and SEGBL. Since she is cutting the parks guards, what is her plan to keep our parks safe and clean? Once again, budget cuts directed at the children. Why not cut the recycling pick-up to once a month instead of weekly? Or why not cut the street cleaner? I'm sure there are others ways she could reduce the budget.
Sincerely,
(name redacted)
From: gwelo gwelo@seuclid.com
Subject: RE: park guards
To: “Terri Dolan”
Date: Friday, June 25, 2010
Thank you for your email – first let me say that I have lived here in South Euclid my whole entire adult life. I married my husband Carter at age 20, raised three children here; our business South Euclid True Value is located on Mayfield Road . I have a long track-record of caring service to our community and I would never do anything to instinctually harm the children or anyone else in our community. The economic downturn makes it impossible for an urban bedroom community like South Euclid to balance a City Budget. Similar communities from across the Northeast Ohio region are experiencing the same conditions. I promise you, that I take the reality of the tough decisions to heart and try my very best to not demean you the residents.
The administration was asked by Council to find ways to reduce our budget and we responded with an initial list. This list of proposed cuts were the result of several meetings led by our directors to brainstorm ways to save revenue – so we could work towards reducing next year’s financial impact. Most of the “quality of life” cuts that directly affect resident this summer were reductions and not closings and they are reasonable taking into account our challenges. I recognize the need to keep pools, playground and ball fields open as much as possible – so we worked to keep them open – with reduced hours. There was never any intention to abandon the parks. We have been working on creative ways to have a presence at our parks without the park guards and the Chief has had discussions with the Schools regarding the crossing guards this school year. Since March, I have communicated with council with memos regarding proposed budge cuts. I have made these cuts with two thoughts of mind, 1) Health, Safety and Welfare; 2) maintain core city services. The latest round clearly states ‘as of July1 “on the document to allow for input. For example, I have heard clearly about the park guard’s issue, and have ordered that the Park Guards will continue their employment through the remainder of the summer. I have included the next set of cuts – some have already been instituted. At this time it is only my estimation I believe another $2-$3 million dollars will need to be cut to balance the budget which is mandated by law by the end of the year. As the mayor we do not know till month to month what our tax revenues will be until they are collected and reported. The state of Ohio is facing an $8 billion dollar shortfall which they are predicting could reach $10/$12 billion. We as a city realize that dollars will be cut from key programs for local municipalities – this impact along with the local impact is another reason that cuts must be made now to prepare for 2011 & 2012
The next set of proposed Budget and Public Service Reductions =$729,143
- Non Union Employee Furlough Days on top of the already implemented salary freeze and 3.85% give back by all employees (Court not included) $44,24Community Update – remaining two issues - $20,000
- Open Space Initiative $12,000
- All Part – Time Service Workers - $30,000
- Splash Park to close earlier- $600.00
- Additional Street Repairs from General Fund vs. the Road Levy fund - $200,000
- Capital Transfers - $100,000
- Part-Time Jailors - $6,800
- Emergency Medical Dispatchers - $50,000
- Law Department Reductions - $10,000
- Community Center Programs and Closure - $13,000
- Park Guards - $20,000 – reinstated
- Crossing Guards - $50,000
- Process Servers - $4,000
- Fire Truck Rehab Delayed - $110,000
- Elimination of Brown Bag Leaf Pick up - $15,000
- Elimination of grass, liter debri & clean-up abatements (foreclosed/abandon homes) (these are done by the part-time help that will be cut) - $15,000
- Elimination of Lateral Home Sewer Program - $25,00
- Swimming Pools – Adult Swim - $1,600
- Family Swim - $1,900
From: Terri Dolan
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010
To: gwelo
Subject: RE: park guards
Thank You for reinstating our park guards. They are a valuable part of holding us from sinking further. Have you ever looked at the problems from a back to front view, like making a list of what definitely has to be funded and then make massive (and I mean massive) cuts to balance the budget? We had to do that in our budget, why is it different for the city.....................its not. Unions will negotiate, I noticed they were not on the list. Lay-offs or re-negotiate, its done all the time. The car companies had it so rough because in my opinion the unions strangled their own employers to keep getting more and more for their members. It got out of balance.
I agree its tough, and I know you can't please everyone. Security is something that should be off the table for cuts, so thank you again. You are the only city official who responded, and I do respect that.
From: gwelo
Subject: RE: park guards
To: "'Terri Dolan'"
Date: Friday, June 25, 2010
Terri: Yes, we have made a list of all items that have to be funded by law, Health, Safety, Welfare and core services. Our bargaining units negotiated with the city – all wages were frozen and then a 3.85 percent cut was instituted. The same for department heads and non-bargaining employees. The unions also agreed to a committee to review our health insurance to allow for lower costs. The union membership has worked hand and hand with the city – I do not believe that there are enough give backs that could be given back to stop drastic layoffs. The city will have to continue to cut this year – more than likely somewhere between $2-$3 million. We have not replaced people over the years due to the downturn and last year 4 non-bargaining employees were terminated for a savings of $230,687.38 minus a position in 2009 that went from part-time to full time the salary with all benefits (PERS, Insurance, WorkersComp, etc) $34,210, for a total savings ($230,687.38-$34,210) of $196,477.38. Six furlough days are in effect for the remaining of the year one per month and city hall will be closed on those days for a savings of $46,164.920. All that is left is our remaining work force, core services such as garbage, road repair/sewer repair not funded by our levies, recreation, senior services, and community center. But, I do want to tell you that the administration continues to think out side of the box and have several things moving forward: Cedar Center will rise from the ground by fall – they are currently putting in the infrastructure, water, sewer, gas etc., store front renovations along Mayfield, continued growth at Notre Dame College, and our Green Neighborhood Initiative has been launched – we will continue to work 1000 percent – you have my word, Georgine Welo
June 28, 2010 - South Euclid City Council Meeting: A resident speaks the truth and reads Ms. Dolan's email to council.
- time: 5 min. 45 sec.
July 12, 2010 - South Euclid City Council Meeting - Mayor's Report: Mayor Georgine Welo vindictively lashed out with a boorish and retaliatory response to having been publicly criticized.
- time: 1 min. 09 sec.
Please click to view other video examples of crass behavior and the administering of verbal punishment for going against the machine.
3 comments:
Low blow by Welo to enter into Dolan's foreclosure into the record. Notice how Welo has absolutely no other statement and refutes nothing said by Dolan, she merely tries to slander Dolan.
Take note, everyone - Welo fights dirty, and that's the message she wanted to send with this statement.
This is truly a despicable act on the part of the mayor. Low blow, indeed.
Shame on you, Georgine Welo.
Welo is a disgrace, (un)professionally and personally. No opposition in the last election, a rubber stamp city council, still not enough for her.
She has proven here she is not as good as or smart as others. I don't mean other public officials. I mean other people in general.
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