Is the mayor and other managers taking a cut? How about the service director that can't count?

When are people going to realize that the only difference between the Don of Akron and the Don of the Falls is their political offiliation? Doesn't anybody wonder how the city was in the best financial shape ever on February 25, 2009 yet as soon as it is too late for anybody to run against Robart in the election we are in a financial crisis? Please read the state of the city address for yourself. http://cfo.cityofcf.com/website/content/mayor/2008SOTC.pdf
Sounds an awful lot like Plusquellic before and after the recall. Yesterday many people received election propaganda in the mail from Robart's camp stating that one of his main priorities is excellent city services and state of the art safety forces. In truth they have slashed the budgets of the safety forces to a near critical level and even removed detectives from the PD and formed a new traffic division. Somehow that along with instituting mandatory ticket quotas is the best way to serve the tax payers. Especially at a time when we should be displaying more discretion than ever he wants the citizens to pay even more!

Tell me why the unions or anybody for that matter should believe anything he is saying? Would you vote to give money back to the city if they wouldn't assure you it will save jobs? The citizens of this community should be outraged at the poor management of their tax dollars not praising Robart for his "foresight" and "quality leadership". Obvioulsy this is just my opinion but I hope at least a few people will start to dig a little further for the truth.

Jump on the bandwagon to break the unions

Those employee cuts should take place in the Parks and Recreation Dept. They definitely have 53 excess employees!

If you had any knowledge about the unionized members in the city services, you'd jump on the bandwagon too.

Don Walters of Ward 6 for Mayor of Cuyahoga Falls. Write it in!

Don't worry, the money saved from the lay-offs can be used for the upcoming holidays!!!!!

I grew up in Cuyahoga Falls back when Quirk was mayor. Robart has run that city into the ground. You can believe that he won't take any cuts. I see him out at dinners and events on his personal time and he's driving the city car. I can't believe that he keeps getting re elected.In the past 20 years Cuyahoga Falls has turned into rental property and riff raff...it really is a shame because it use to be a nice place to live. They need to clean house and they need to start with Robart. Christmas is coming...next time you drive down Broad Blvd and the city workers are putting up christmas lights, take note there is 1 guy actually working and 6 others standing there watching (typical city employee) and they're all making $30 an hour. PATHETIC. It's time for Robart to cook his books before the audit come in.

Wake up Cuy Falls you are being lied to by your mayor. This alleged budget shortfall is for 2011, not 2010. The city will finish in the black in 2009 AND 2010, the mayor said so himself.

As for this Joe Brodzinski, he told the unions that he was "too busy" to discuss how he came up with his budgets for the next two years. Why are you not calling for this guys job. He is the reason that the city is where it is and isn't he the one that should have caught the electric dept billing mistake?

5 weekes ago everyone was commenting on how great Robart was that he was willing to work with unions to save jobs. "Take the cuts and save your jobs." Now he's saying take the cuts and still lose your job. Give me a break.

I would have to think that most unions would absolutey take the payfreeze and furlough days even with the assuarance of saving jobs for one year. What has changed Robart???

Why do I get the feeling the 2 Mayor Don's (who allegedly hate each other) are drinking at some bar right now patting each other on the back.

Totally agree with Flyboy.
I have been a Falls resident all of my life and think it is a great place to live. But, I have seen things go downhill during the last two terms of our current mayor
Mr. Robart,think about doing with less EMS and police. We are well known in this city for our excellent safety forces. Most of the firemen and cops I know are dedicated men and women who do a demanding job because they love thier profession.
Our EMS response time now is about 4 minutes.
What will it be after you cut workers? Hope you don't need them then

I recall many people on Ohio.com bragging how good a job Robart was doing and that our mayor needed to pay attention. Seems like they use the same play books.

I too grew up in Cuyahoga Falls and got out when Robart began turning it into shambles. The first blunder was closing Front St and driving out all of the thriving businesses from there; closing third street to continue to add to the Nat (Perhaps they should look at building up rather than stretching out); the latest is all of the money squandered in the State Road fiasco especially at a poor econimic time - now the employees are going to be paying for it! Maybe he will scribe each of their names in a brick of the new "Beachwood shopping area" for their generous donation.

I just got an idea from Jordan. DON'T even put up any Christmas lights this year. How much money would that save?

What happened?
A couple of weeks ago Mayor Robart was quoted as saying "At least we're better off than Akron."
Doesn't look like it!
Be careful watch you say Donny,it can come back and bite you.

Cuyahoga Falls is like Akron they are really having trouble understanding that the whole country is still in a deep recession, regardless of what the politicians and economist say.
Get used to the cuts, there will be plenty more of them, the world is headed for a financial meltdown and that is the reality of the situation.

YA ID LOVE TO SEE THE MAYOR TAKE A PAY CUT

Just drove by Broad Blvd and the ice skating rink is up.

WTF?????

How many tens of thousands of $$$$$$$ is that costing the city?

At least in Akron they are cutting the holiday stuff to save money.

For a minute there, I thought I was reading about Akron and it's mayor.

Joe Brodzinski was fired from his last job after he got caught with a woman he shouldnt of been with,,maybe thats why he is too busy to talk to anyone now??? Hmm

I can tell by these posts that most of the blogs come from city union workers including that Flytrap guy. Working in the legal world in negotiations with many cities I can tell you the process is created under State Law with a huge slant towards the unions due to their strong lobby efforts. Government union workers expect a raise each year because they "negotiated" it and it is an entitlement. They have to blame someone and it seems to me they want to compare the city's mayor to Akron's. Some one must have lied to them. The economy does not affect them. Let me help you blame the right area. This country is going down the toliet. It started under Bush and Obama has now tripled the deficit. The regional economy, state economy, and national economy stink. People have been laid off and lost pay. There is less money to now pay government workers let alone more money. Government workers are now affected and they can't believe it. Sacrifice with the private sector and join us. Start reading the business section and wake up to what is going on in the world. The answer is not to cut services to us who already feel the pain so that the poor government worker with great benefits does not have to give up anything. We pay for services and if the money is not there then maybe the workers should give up something before more services are affected. Keep the skating rink for residents to enjoy and layoff the first spoiled city worker you see, especially if he stands around watching others work. And it is typical for a safety worker to pull the "safety issue" card. If safety is your issue vote yes and it looks like you will have a job.

Amazed at the Comments:

From a non-union, non-city worker: Raises are entitlements? Since when?

The issue with Robart was that he claimed earlier this year that everything was sunny. Now suddenly we're in fiscal trouble. If he can't see past the next election cycle how the economy will affect the city, he needs to find another job.

Maybe because I grew up in a household where layoffs were an annual occurrence, but take the cut and be grateful. I'm facing cuts where I work too. Robart is the first and 1 of 2 Republicans who I've ever voted for and I can't complain about the city as a resident. I can complain about the white trash neighbors and the section 8 "diversity", but the utilities are cheap, the streets are clean, the cops aren't jerks (but they will tail you out of a bar parking lot), the fire department is quick, the Nat is nice,... I'm not wild about the library and I hear the schools are mediocre, but aside from that and the overabundance of hillbillies and ghetto trash, I can't complain.

Amazed at the Comments
Cuyahoga Falls, Oh

Having traded remarks with you in the recent past, I was provoked by some of your comments to educate myself. You are very right, many people are affected by this economy. Private sector, public sector, wealthy, poor , middle class, we are all taking a hit. None of us like it, but it's happening. I'm not sure about the negotiating process being slanted towards the unions though, it's a give and take process that results in an agreement reached through good faith bargaining. The biggest gripe is that it doesn't seem the administration was truthful at the bargaining table. But, that was then, this is now. Most of the people that I have spoken with are resigned to the concessions. Many realize, this is a necessary evil. No one likes it when something is taken away however, and for you to condemn ALL unions and all city employees for speaking their mind, much the same way you are, is unfair and short sighted. Please understand, we get it. Our friends and extended families are in the private sector and we do see what is happening all over. My prayers are that this turns around sooner than later. I also pray for tolerance. God bless you, sir.

Do not let it slip away like Akron did.

@nmaxxs. A lot in this country has changed since earlier in the year. Unemployment was in the 6 -7 range and said that it would not hit 8. Well now it is close to 10. If "teddyd" is correct and the city is planning for 2011 not 2009 or 2010, then it is probably a smart move because I don't see a turnaround until at least then. I believe the last several articles about this said the mayor of this city was trying to work with all employees to save jobs. Working with must mean asking for those reductions to save jobs. Only the federal government can promise $250 checks to seniors on SS and then go and print the money. Cities must work with the money it receives from the private sector.

@ Yellow Papa. Thanks for the comments and I apologize if I branded all government workers. My point was that I also pray and hope that all government workers realize that everyone (private and public) is hurting because of the economy and I hope we all get through it and keep our jobs. If the private sector is hurting it will hurt the public sector. Keep up the good work in this city and God Bless.

Other than Hudson, what suburb is not having an influx of these problems now? I can still feel safe walking my dogs in the middle of the night and there is a lot in the Falls that makes it hard to leave. It would be nice if there was a cleanup though and I think Rockin has gotten out of control.

Amazed:

I think your missing the point.

Robart five weeks ago promised absolutely no layoffs if the unions agreed to the concessions. Now he's saying he will not guarantee no layoffs even if concessions are agreed to. Sounds to me like the city workers are screwed either way.

And I think if you asked the residents of the falls if they would rather have an ice rink for 4 months out of the year or effective police and fire I think they would choose police and fire.

Lets put this together in short. Robart states in the State of the City address that we are in great shape. We purchase a rundown shopping center. We build a park on front street and lay a 1 block road to see the park. The city signs union contracts just months ago. We realize we are running unopposed, and now the city is in shambles. Brodzinski has a slight oversite of 3.7 million in the electric department and expects that the citizens are at fault and they should pay. Sounds like the same view he is using with the city employees. We overspend and the employees should make it up.
Nobody discounts the fact that the economy is bad. The dispute lies (lies, yes I said it) in just that. The employees in the city have been lied to and now being muscled into deep concessions. If the city came and asked for they're help by waiving the pay raise and even maybe those unpaid days off, there probably wouldn't be much dispute. But, when your asked to give back multiple elements of a contract that has taken years to put together, with no assurance that people are not going to be laid off, it is difficult to swallow. The city is admitting that they are sound for 2010. Why are they cutting so deep so soon. Why not ask for some concessions and assure that jobs will be protected for a period of time, then reevaluate in 12 months.
Why? because you just don't care what people really think since you, Don, have nothing to loose.

@teddyd Why are you such a doom day guy. Is it because the current federal administration promised only 8% unemployment with the stimulus package and now its 10 percent. I generally lean towards the D side and I can see that no one can predict when it will bottom out. Both sides in Wash. DC are out of control. So to ask a little ol' city to give a guarantee, I think the city needs the feds to give a guarantee you can count on.

@ Realityck. "muscled into deep concessions." The city is asking to forego 2010 raises and six day off. That amounts to about 2 percent. My brother took a ten percent cut, then a 5 percent cut and is working more hours due to layoffs. He has not received a raise in two years. My other brother, in a union agreed to a ten percent cut to save other union members from losing their jobs. So to think no raise and a two percent cut is so deep proves the point that you must be spoiled. The city should not cut services so you can remain spoiled. Keep the services for the residents that are already hurting from this economy. And if its so bad for you you can go get a job somewhere else where you are appreciated. I am sure there is someone in the city who is unemployed who would fill your slot and appreciate it.

Robart continues to prove why Government should NEVER get involved in the private sector.

Health club business: When a health club like Bally's has financial trouble, they close locations. As the Taj Mahal Natatoriaum loses millions each year, Robart has the taxpayers pick up the losses.

Real Estate: Robart buys a dilapidated, almost abandoned, grossly overpriced, property (State Road Shopping Center, $11 million dollars billed to the taxpayors so far) and cannot find a buyer for it. In addition, the price did not include the many fast food joints that currently dot the property. What developer in their right mind would put a nice development in that location when they cannot even get rid of the Burger King?

And lastly Utilities: The department head makes a multi-million dollar billing error and they simply go back and overcharge the people for three years of mistakes. Has anyone EVER heard of a business doing the same thing. And no one gets fired, in fact the department head will probably cash in a fat bonus check when he/she retires!

And don't forget people, spread the blame beyond Robart because every city council person democrat and republican voted for ALL of the above garbage!!!

All of this so called "negotiating" is all very common when it comes to renewing their contracts.Its all bargaining and settling things out,you take this and I'll give you that.It happens every 3 years ,at least for the fire dept.They threaten,they retaliate and so on an so forth.
Funny thing tho,I havent read how much the city is making since the city started charging the residents for their trips to the hospital,the first year alone it was over a million dollars.Wheres all that money?????

Another case of Obama failing.

Unions suck the life out if mortal men and women and are the root of all evil.....wage-slavery is the doom of the soul......Don Robart is a savior!!!!

Spirit of Reagan flames:

"Another case of Obama failing."

What an utterly stupid comment.

Did you know......

For every 1 union member in the city there are 3 non union members. Can you imagine working a job where you get 6 weeks paid vacation at 25 years, 1.25 sick days each month and absolutely no contribution for your health care benefits. Now add in the fact that if you did not take a sick day in a twelve month period you were paid an extra 40 hours. But do not forget the fact that your sick days accrue forever. Oh yes and then there is personal paid time. So you have to give up 4 hours a month without pay. So what? Freeze everyone's pay? When was the last time the non bargaining unit had a raise? How much was it? Does not seem to be any discussion on this. Union members have a scale, steps and raises which are available by looking at their contract which is negotiated and agreed upon by the city and the union. Service and loyalty should be rewarded. 4 weeks vacation max is appropriate, never should anyone get paid for not using sick days, or vacation, contribution to health care benefits is appropriate, the rest of the world is contributing. Union employees must be full time forty hours a week to have health care benefits. Why is this not the same for the non bargaining unit. Council members are paid 15% of the Mayors salary and receive full health care benefits. They also accrue 1.5 years of service for retirement for each year served. Pretty nice for a part time job. How many hours do you think they work per week? Look who the Mayor is supporting in this election. His puppets. Puppets who vote in benefits for themselves and the administration. The Mayor can pick and choose who works in the non bargaining unit and their pay. Fair labor practice? Hardly. Look how many of his employees are connected through his relationships. Does the service director really need two assistants? Must be nice. Look through the administrative payroll, probably could make all of the cuts needed right there.

Never should fire or police be cut. Your hard earned tax dollars pay for all city employees non bargaining and bargaining units. These folks work for you. Payroll & benefits need to be disclosed to the public. Perks need cut. No more sugar coating just the facts.

Tomorrow, write in ANYBODY other than robart. I suggest Carol Klinger or even your choice of one of the 3 stooges, anything would be better!!!!