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Do IT this week: Layering
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 12:36 p.m. EDT, Jun 18, 2009
Summit County Executive Russ Pry's suggestion to do away with the elected position of engineer doesn't go far enough, a county councilman says.
County voters also should abolish the elected posts of sheriff and fiscal officer, consolidating those offices under the county executive to save money, Councilman John Schmidt said.
The county faces a potential $12.8 million budget gap this year.
''This is no time to be timid,'' Schmidt said. ''We need to grab the bull by the horns. The county needs to be run more efficiently and we need to do it now.''
Schmidt, who chairs council's Public Safety Committee, plans to request that the county Charter Review Commission study whether voters should be asked this fall to dump all three elected posts and make them appointed positions instead.
Such changes require voter approval.
The commission is examining potential ballot issues and will make recommendations to County Council in August or September.
The Pry administration asked the commission last week to study a potential ballot issue doing away with the engineer's position beginning in 2016. His administration says there is a duplication of jobs between the Department of Environmental Services, which is under the county executive's control, and the engineer.
The county is creating a service director position and the engineer could be folded under that department, the administration said.
County voters have rejected doing away with an elected engineer twice before, but the Pry administration feels there is a greater public outcry today for government reform.
Jason Dodson, chief of staff for Pry, said the administration has not studied a possible consolidation of the fiscal and sheriff's offices.
Sheriff Drew Alexander called Schmidt's recommendation for the sheriff's office ''uninformed'' and ''irresponsible.''
''This is the highest law enforcement official in the county by law,'' he said. ''The person with that responsibility and authority should have to answer only to the voters.''
He noted that the sheriff has to deal with sensitive investigations — some of them political in nature. If a sheriff ''has to answer to someone who is going to decide on renewing a sheriff's contract, that's opening a lot of problems,'' he added.
If such a proposal makes the fall ballot, the state and national sheriff's associations ''would come into Summit County and fight this tooth and nail,'' Alexander said.
Fiscal Officer John Donofrio said he'd need to talk with Schmidt and examine the councilman's comprehensive plan before taking a stance on the issue.
But he added that consolidated government doesn't mean better government.
''During my 34 years in county government, I've learned that it's not always the form of government that provides efficiency and effectiveness but rather the elected officials in the leadership roles that will ultimately make the difference,'' Donofrio said.
''If you have elected officials that are efficient, effective, productive and creative, you'll have quality government services that better serve the community. I support change when those changes provide better services, save tax dollars and enhance operations.''
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Summit County Executive Russ Pry's suggestion to do away with the elected position of engineer doesn't go far enough, a county councilman says.
County voters also should abolish the elected posts of sheriff and fiscal officer, consolidating those offices under the county executive to save money, Councilman John Schmidt said.
The county faces a potential $12.8 million budget gap this year.
''This is no time to be timid,'' Schmidt said. ''We need to grab the bull by the horns. The county needs to be run more efficiently and we need to do it now.''
Schmidt, who chairs council's Public Safety Committee, plans to request that the county Charter Review Commission study whether voters should be asked this fall to dump all three elected posts and make them appointed positions instead.
Such changes require voter approval.
The commission is examining potential ballot issues and will make recommendations to County Council in August or September.
The Pry administration asked the commission last week to study a potential ballot issue doing away with the engineer's position beginning in 2016. His administration says there is a duplication of jobs between the Department of Environmental Services, which is under the county executive's control, and the engineer.
The county is creating a service director position and the engineer could be folded under that department, the administration said.
County voters have rejected doing away with an elected engineer twice before, but the Pry administration feels there is a greater public outcry today for government reform.
Jason Dodson, chief of staff for Pry, said the administration has not studied a possible consolidation of the fiscal and sheriff's offices.
Sheriff Drew Alexander called Schmidt's recommendation for the sheriff's office ''uninformed'' and ''irresponsible.''
''This is the highest law enforcement official in the county by law,'' he said. ''The person with that responsibility and authority should have to answer only to the voters.''
He noted that the sheriff has to deal with sensitive investigations — some of them political in nature. If a sheriff ''has to answer to someone who is going to decide on renewing a sheriff's contract, that's opening a lot of problems,'' he added.
If such a proposal makes the fall ballot, the state and national sheriff's associations ''would come into Summit County and fight this tooth and nail,'' Alexander said.
Fiscal Officer John Donofrio said he'd need to talk with Schmidt and examine the councilman's comprehensive plan before taking a stance on the issue.
But he added that consolidated government doesn't mean better government.
''During my 34 years in county government, I've learned that it's not always the form of government that provides efficiency and effectiveness but rather the elected officials in the leadership roles that will ultimately make the difference,'' Donofrio said.
''If you have elected officials that are efficient, effective, productive and creative, you'll have quality government services that better serve the community. I support change when those changes provide better services, save tax dollars and enhance operations.''
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Dade City, Fl
Posted 12:46 PM, 06/18/2009
Big If!!!
''If you have elected officials that are efficient, effective, productive and creative, you'll have quality government services that better serve the community. I support change when those changes provide better services, save tax dollars and enhance operations.''
Problem is we don't. I wouldn't trust anyone to appoint a Sherrif other than voters.
Saving tax dollars is a joke! The government don't save tax dollars for the people..they just take more and more...If they did save money the people wouldn't see a dime of it. They wouldn't even see the savings used for something important to the community.
The people don't want to lose their power to vote for ofiicicals and put it in the wrong hands.
John, maybe pure socialism would be less expensive as well. Would you also suggest that?
Akron, OH
Posted 01:06 PM, 06/18/2009
@ Mars - Exactly! Just another way for the top dogs to put their yes men into power positions. I'd rather see the positions kept as elected positions.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:22 PM, 06/18/2009
Keep them elected officials. The Animal Warden should be an elected position too. That creepy little bimbo blonde, Councilman Congrove's daughter, is still down there collecting her unearned income.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:33 PM, 06/18/2009
======================
In the ABJ story, John Donofrio is quoted as saying:
"If you have elected officials that are efficient, effective, productive and CREATIVE, you'll have quality government services that better serve the community."
======================
CREATIVE is exactly how I'd describe Donofrio's ability to make valuations appear out of thin air when it comes to properties in this county.
Mr. Donofrio... I'd appreciate a County Fiscal Officer who provides ACCURATE and FAIR services, such as your responsibility when it comes to property valuations.
Akron, OH
Posted 01:43 PM, 06/18/2009
================
The county faces a potential $12.8 million budget gap this year.
================
But yet we have money to pay for an outside consultant (instead of making the existing, taxpayed employees do some work) to help decide if Akron's and Summit County's Health Departments should merge.
http://www.ohio.com/news/48290032.html
Posted 01:52 PM, 06/18/2009
The people of Summit County voted overwhelmingly to make the Auditors position a postion held by a Certified Public Acountant. The Democrats got that overturned even though the people voted for it. Donofrio is a bread route salesman who somehow got this position. Is it any wonder the County is in fiscal trouble when unqualified people are handling the money? Maybe we would be served better to get rid of the County Executive and keep the other departments. In oless then a year Russ Pry depleted the Rainy day funds this County had to get himself re-elected to a position he ghot himself appointed. People in Northeast Ohio are some of the dumbest voters in this country. You continue to support the captain of the ship even while it is sinking. Had the people of Summit County been on the Titanic no one would have survived.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:03 PM, 06/18/2009
With a $12.8 million budget gap, it is time to remember that in one of his first acts as County Executive, Russ Pry executed a new lease agreement with the County Fair Board.
This October, 2007 agreement changed the rent rate the County collects from the Fair Board to a whopping $1.00 PER YEAR.
Oh, yeah... let's not forget that the new agreement also FORGAVE more than $900,000 in debt that was owed to Summit County.
And people wonder why the County has budget trouble!
Orrville, Oh
Posted 02:46 PM, 06/18/2009
Eliminating us, the government of the people, by the people, for the people responsibility to elect Engineer and Sheriff and consolidating those offices to be run by a County Executive.
This proposal founded on Socialist/Communist principles and values; is defiant of demands of Natural Law: what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
There is no reason to believe this proposal will enable EVERY citizen to pay for the more stock dividends (money) Chinese, Foreign and Domestic Investors and Stockholders (money marketers) market quarterly in the wholesale and retail price of EVERY product and service Human Beings use for life and government needs to build, maintain, and operate schools, infrastructure, and provide government services and national security; with money derived from wages or independent business profit!
Richfield, OH
Posted 03:08 PM, 06/18/2009
The key differentiator is that the Fiscal Officer and Engineer need to be qualified. Greg Bachman, an excellent Summit County engineer who continually managed his department UNDER BUDGET was defeated. Bill Conte is a CPA who had innovative ideas but was defeated in the last election for Summit County Fiscal Officer simply because he had an "R" after his name.
Nick Kostandaras, the Summit County Council President who admitted that "quite frankly I don't even know how to use a computer" and who frequently stated that there was no deficit won a close election because he had a "D".
The voters of Summit County need to recognize the qualifications of the candidates and not just the party affiliation.
Posted 03:11 PM, 06/18/2009
this seems to be totally absurd to say the least. all though i am no fan of drew alexander. and the fact that no one has been put up to run aginst him from the opposeing party. an even bigger joke not to give voters the oppertunity to choose who they want to be sheriff. the position should come down to the voters choice. and no one elses. as much as i would love to see drew thrown out of office on his keister. it should be because thats what the people want. and not this properganda that they are sugesting. the opposeing party should offer some one to run aginst him so the people have a choice. other than drew alexander to vote for or aginst. maybe the next election some one wont drop the ball this time.
Seminole, FL
Posted 03:38 PM, 06/18/2009
An appointed sheriff? Yeah, right...that will work out well, for the Council! I cannot even recall a single appointed sheriff on the county basis at all in all the areas that I lived in (8 states). Sheriffs have to be independent for a reason, some of those very same politicians may be breaking the law.....
Akron, OH
Posted 03:52 PM, 06/18/2009
============
some of those very same politicians may be breaking the law.....
============
Politicians might be law breakers? Surely not!
Akron, OH
Posted 03:56 PM, 06/18/2009
Take, take, take...
Take We the People right out of the equation.
They know what's best for you, of course.
Copley, OH
Posted 04:37 PM, 06/18/2009
Bill, I understand your love fest for Bachman, but it works the other way as well. Just because someone has a D after their name doesn't mean they aren't qualified for the positions they are elected to. Bachman was appointed engineer and was unopposed in reelection in 2004. He lost the first time he had someone run against him which was this previous November election. He also lost to the person who trained him to be the City of Kent Engineer. Do some research on Al Brubaker and you will find him to be highly qualified for the job of Summit County Engineer. Overqualified is probably a better way of saying it.
AKRON, OH
Posted 06:50 PM, 06/18/2009
ANY GOVERNMENT POSITIONS OUGHT TO BE ELECTED ONES. THE CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONTROL LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS. THIS REMAINS OUR RIGHT
Posted 06:53 PM, 06/18/2009
only 12.8 mil ?????-the city of akron will hit 1 billion in the hole if don stays in office-recall now
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh
Posted 08:24 PM, 06/18/2009
Councilman Schmit doesn't have a axe to grind with the sheriffs office does he????
It might make sense if we go back in time, it was just a few short years ago that the county sheriff was called upon to investigate the disappearance of petitions belonging to a Akron city council candidate. They never found the culprit however John Schmidt was considered by the county sheriff as reported by the Akron Beacon Journal to be" a person of interest".
On Sunday October 5th 2003 the Akron Beacon Journal also published a editorial calling fro Mr Schmidt's resignation
I am sure had the sheriff been a appointed position there would have never been a investigation.
its called checks and balances, politicians hate them!
......, Oh
Posted 08:38 PM, 06/18/2009
I would like to see Drew Alexander booted right out on his rear. He's 95% of the reason SCJ is in the mess that it's in.
Richfield, OH
Posted 10:34 PM, 06/18/2009
Greg Bachman Recognized by Greater Akron Chamber
Greg Bachman, P.E., P.S., Summit County Engineer, was recognized as the Summit County
Elected Official of the Year for 2007 by the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce.
Having introduced Northeast Ohio’s first modern roundabout and the area’s first regional storm
water detention basin and soil nailing – an environmentally friendly landslide stabilization technique. Summit County, Engineer Bachman has lead the way in championing innovative methods to improve the safety and quality of life of area residents. Further, Bachman has championed multi-modal access to our local MetroParks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Mr. Bachman’s focus on safety, innovation, new technologies
and environmental sensitivity has proven to enhance the community of Greater Akron in multiple areas of engineering, education, safety awareness, and economic development.
All this and Bachman's department operated UNDER BUDGET every year despite higher material and salary costs.
Scottsdale, AZ
Posted 01:16 AM, 06/19/2009
Yeah, right! Let some hack politician select a sheriff. Haven't the citizens of Summit County learned anything from watching Mayor Minusquellic hobble the municipal police department? Leave the policing to professionals and keep politics out of it.
akron, oh
Posted 11:14 AM, 06/19/2009
Bill,
Bachman isn't the County Engineer anymore. I voted for Brubaker b/c the last County Engineer had 3 road projects going on at the same time in the same area. 77 / white pond exit, white pond @first energy and market st. at pershing. He didn't understand how much that hurt business in that area.
Posted 11:15 AM, 06/19/2009
Clearly, voting citizens of Summit County and the city of Akron vote straight party tickets and give no consideration to the qualifications of the candidates.
I'm all for "streamlining" government, including the federal government but not by taking away our right to elect government managers (employees of the people) which would only increase the nepotism and cronyism that obviously exists in this county. Of course what's the difference, people seem to just keep re-electing the same people into office over and over again who then turn around and appoint their wives and brother-in-laws to jobs that they are not qualified for either.
Posted 11:16 AM, 06/19/2009
Oh and let's not forget their unemployed friends and friends of friends too.
Copley, OH
Posted 11:28 AM, 06/19/2009
Hey Bill, all that and he still lost! Amazing! Did you work for him and his campaign?
Tell me more about his storm water retention basin. Actually, look into it and get me some facts on how it is considered a regional storm water retention basin. Regional shouldn't even be mentioned with the water basin. It is more like a small puddle.
Still trying to figure out how he was doing all these great things and still got smoked in the first election where someone ran against him. He may not be as great as you think he was.
Posted 11:42 AM, 06/19/2009
@RUNUTS you posted: "That creepy little bimbo blonde,"
This is just typical of almost all your posts..You're a real class act.just drop the "c"
Akron, OH
Posted 05:48 PM, 06/19/2009
Let's include all the counsilmen and the mayor while were at it.
That should cover everything and everyone that needs to go.
PS ~ never put bribes in manila envelopes . . . it's been done too many times int he movies!
Akron, OH
Posted 06:01 PM, 06/19/2009
Pry took away vehicles that were donated by dealerships to many police departments in the area because some of the vehicles were foreign cars. I am all for American made purchases but Captn. Intelligence never took into consideration that most of those vehicles that were donated were manufactured in the USA by US workers (75% to 95% of the vehicle). Another political official who is not "Smarter Than A Fifth Grader".
The guy has a beef with law enforcement probably because he was never able to qualify as a security guard let alone a peace officer (no offense to the security guards out there). I still do not know how that tool got elected.
Really - are you that big of an idiot?
And he survey says:
YES! YES! YES!
