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By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 10:06 p.m. EDT, Oct 24, 2009
Less than a year after being elected Summit County engineer, B. Alan Brubaker finds himself in an odd position: defending the existence of the office itself.
Summit voters are being asked on Election Day to amend the county charter and do away with the elected position of engineer beginning in 2013.
The controversial issue, which voters rejected in 1996 and 2001, would shift the engineer's duties to the county executive, who then would be required to hire a professional engineer and surveyor.
Proponents say Issue 4 would streamline the county at a time when taxpayers are demanding less government spending. Opponents question the potential savings and say the county needs an independent engineer not beholden to anyone but the voters.
''My main concern is that if this office is gone, those citizens won't have an elected engineer to call anymore,'' said Brubaker, a Democrat, adding that there hasn't been a nonpartisan study of the issue. ''I feel that having that independent engineering voice in our county is a good asset for our citizens.''
The engineer, who makes $109,442 a year, oversees an $18 million annual budget and about 140 workers. The office maintains county roads and bridges.
The engineer also is an advocate on how to spend local infrastructure dollars, Brubaker said.
The County Engineers Association of Ohio opposes the issue, arguing it would ''introduce new bureaucratic costs subsidized by your tax dollars.''
Proponents, though, say the move could save taxpayers $1.5 million by merging the engineer's office and the Department of Environmental Services to eliminate redundant jobs.
County Executive Russ Pry, a Democrat who proposed the charter amendment, wants to create a public service department to oversee the responsibilities of environmental services and the engineer, among other departments. The county executive would need a professional engineer and surveyor on staff.
''To me, any time government saves money, it needs to happen,'' said Linda Phelps, co-chairwoman of Taxpayers for Yes on Issue 4 and the former county finance and budget director. ''I connect saving money and saving jobs. It's easier to do business and create jobs where taxes are lower.''
She said that Ohio is the only state with elected county engineers.
''I don't really know why there is an elected county engineer,'' Phelps said. ''We don't elect the [Ohio Department of Transportation] director. We don't elect the federal highway administrator. Why do we elect someone to administer a road system that is increasingly shrinking as communities incorporate?''
Under the county charter, she said, the engineer cannot even approve a contract without the approval of the County Council and the signature of the county executive.
'Consolidation of power'
But the move also would concentrate more power with the county executive, who already oversees the social services, economic development, environmental services, budget, law and human resources departments.
''I do not agree with this consolidation of power in the hands of one man, the county executive, or any person,'' said Akron attorney John Wolfe, whose father, Leslie Wolfe, was county engineer from 1952 to 1966. ''I think you have a better chance of good government when you have more officials as opposed to consolidating the power in one man.''
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and Barberton Mayor Bob Genet support Issue 4.
''I really don't think we're going to lose any accountability at all putting the engineer under the county executive,'' Genet said.
In fact, he said, the engineer could be more effective as an appointed position because officials ''could be on the same page about growth in the county and not be elected officials going off in different directions.''
Brubaker said the engineer's office can save money and pursue reforms without doing away with the elected position. He noted that the Department of Environmental Services could be merged into the engineer's office, for example.
This year, the engineer's office also announced it is contracting with Norton to provide daily engineering services and formalized a contract with New Franklin for snow plowing.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Less than a year after being elected Summit County engineer, B. Alan Brubaker finds himself in an odd position: defending the existence of the office itself.
Summit voters are being asked on Election Day to amend the county charter and do away with the elected position of engineer beginning in 2013.
The controversial issue, which voters rejected in 1996 and 2001, would shift the engineer's duties to the county executive, who then would be required to hire a professional engineer and surveyor.
Proponents say Issue 4 would streamline the county at a time when taxpayers are demanding less government spending. Opponents question the potential savings and say the county needs an independent engineer not beholden to anyone but the voters.
''My main concern is that if this office is gone, those citizens won't have an elected engineer to call anymore,'' said Brubaker, a Democrat, adding that there hasn't been a nonpartisan study of the issue. ''I feel that having that independent engineering voice in our county is a good asset for our citizens.''
The engineer, who makes $109,442 a year, oversees an $18 million annual budget and about 140 workers. The office maintains county roads and bridges.
The engineer also is an advocate on how to spend local infrastructure dollars, Brubaker said.
The County Engineers Association of Ohio opposes the issue, arguing it would ''introduce new bureaucratic costs subsidized by your tax dollars.''
Proponents, though, say the move could save taxpayers $1.5 million by merging the engineer's office and the Department of Environmental Services to eliminate redundant jobs.
County Executive Russ Pry, a Democrat who proposed the charter amendment, wants to create a public service department to oversee the responsibilities of environmental services and the engineer, among other departments. The county executive would need a professional engineer and surveyor on staff.
''To me, any time government saves money, it needs to happen,'' said Linda Phelps, co-chairwoman of Taxpayers for Yes on Issue 4 and the former county finance and budget director. ''I connect saving money and saving jobs. It's easier to do business and create jobs where taxes are lower.''
She said that Ohio is the only state with elected county engineers.
''I don't really know why there is an elected county engineer,'' Phelps said. ''We don't elect the [Ohio Department of Transportation] director. We don't elect the federal highway administrator. Why do we elect someone to administer a road system that is increasingly shrinking as communities incorporate?''
Under the county charter, she said, the engineer cannot even approve a contract without the approval of the County Council and the signature of the county executive.
'Consolidation of power'
But the move also would concentrate more power with the county executive, who already oversees the social services, economic development, environmental services, budget, law and human resources departments.
''I do not agree with this consolidation of power in the hands of one man, the county executive, or any person,'' said Akron attorney John Wolfe, whose father, Leslie Wolfe, was county engineer from 1952 to 1966. ''I think you have a better chance of good government when you have more officials as opposed to consolidating the power in one man.''
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and Barberton Mayor Bob Genet support Issue 4.
''I really don't think we're going to lose any accountability at all putting the engineer under the county executive,'' Genet said.
In fact, he said, the engineer could be more effective as an appointed position because officials ''could be on the same page about growth in the county and not be elected officials going off in different directions.''
Brubaker said the engineer's office can save money and pursue reforms without doing away with the elected position. He noted that the Department of Environmental Services could be merged into the engineer's office, for example.
This year, the engineer's office also announced it is contracting with Norton to provide daily engineering services and formalized a contract with New Franklin for snow plowing.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 02:11 AM, 10/25/2009
The funny thing about Mr B. is how concerned he is about keeping his job so he and few of his good oooold boys can keep double dipping. He has said he just wants eight years, thats almost million dollars.
Mr B. and is entire senior staff should leave, the office he loves so much dosen't love them.
If he wants support treat the staff like people. Ihey want there jobs and want to take care of ther familys and keep Mr. Kubbra away from any and all snow plow activities.
We all must remember that he did not earn this office. He just road the dem wave and is not a very good wave rider.
akron, oh
Posted 03:04 AM, 10/25/2009
Wisky, while taking out his own frustrations against a person holding the office of engineer, makes a great argument against issue 4. Look who can vote against Mr.B next election. Why wiskywisky can! You'd be hard up to get Mr. Pry's appointment to hear your claims, but I suppose by now you're used to voicing your opinion outside the ballot box to no avail.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:20 AM, 10/25/2009
I'm assuming everyone else in the county got the mailer yesterday from the "Vote Yes On 4" people.
Isn't it telling that NO WHERE IN THE MAILER does the literature bother to tell you what Issue 4 will change?
Not one single mention of the Engineer's Office. Not one single mention of the fact it eliminates an elected office.
Not one single mention of the fact it effects only Summit County.
Shame, shame on the backers of Issue 4 and the Cuyahoga Falls based 'Vote Yes' group sending out the mailer.
Richfield, OH
Posted 02:44 PM, 10/25/2009
Vote NO on Issue 4. Without the accountability to the voters every 4 years, the engineer's position will become more political and less effective. The county needs to reduce spending but the engineer's department has been well run historically. There are numerous other more effective ways to reduce Summit County spending.
akron, oh
Posted 08:56 AM, 10/26/2009
I find it hard to believe that the amount of new paperwork and the process of outsourcing firms will be less cumbersome than having in house. Also, as Bill R. stated, it becomes more of a "back-scratching" exercise than choosing the most qualified professionals.
Kelley, IA
Posted 06:31 PM, 10/26/2009
As a former county worker who has worked for previous administrations and still has many friends currently employed at the engineer's office I can assure the public is being snowballed as to Mr. Brubaker's motive behind keeping the position elected. I can assure you if it was to be an appointed position Russ Pry would not return brubaker to this position. While Mr. Pry is making cuts in spending and trying to save tax dollars, brubaker is giving his maintenance superintendent with absolutely no experience in running a maintenance operation an increase of $17,000 over the previous superintendent who had 28 years experience in highway maintenance. There was a 1.1 million dollar surplus when he took office and now they are going to lay people off. (maybe too many 20% increases for his good old boys and not enough concern for the laborers and truck drivers keeping you safe in the winter storms) For those of you who truly vote for the best candidate and don't vote for whoever gives you a piece of barbecue chicken at the polls, please take note of the level and quality of service you receive during the upcoming winter months and remember that when you go to the polls. My prayers are with you.
akron, oh
Posted 11:25 PM, 10/27/2009
once again retiredcountyworker has solidified my decision to vote no on Issue 4. I don't think AB should even be a factor on this issue, except for people who work for the engineers office and their right to inform the public before a vote.
