PC tonight: ZONING IN, ZONING OUT!

Hi, People! Thanks again for your confidence in me on election day. Tonight we're going to be mostly focused on hearing Tim Tobey's report on the Parks Master Plan that he's been discussing--we may even just get a slight update to the old, unapproved plan that would at least be good information to have available to us. Second, we'll (very likely) be recommending approval of the annexation of the right-of-way on Dayton-YS St. that will allow entrance to the CBE (the Antioch-Midwest complex and any additional buildings).

Finally, we'll be discussing the request by the contractor for our new zoning ordinance, LSL, to:

1) identify up to 8 individual people (concerned with zoning?) to be interviewed--I need to get a better sense of what this means.
2) identify "user groups and selected person to particpate in each group" they suggest groups like "downtown business owners, neighborhood association reps, major employers and land developers."

We're also going to try to schedule a start up meeting with LSL and the technical review committee for the zoning code update as well as a village tour.

Let me know if you would like to be more engaged in this zoning project--I should be able to facilitate your involvement.

Thanks.

Dear People: Thanks to all of you for your warm words and support throughout my quiet campaign. I am proud to say that, other than the nominal, required registration fee ($30?), I spent $0. So this was a very efficient little campaign, and that's probably the most beautiful thing about it. Frank was supposed to be my treasurer, but we gave him NOTHING to do!

So, I especially want to especially thank Ona Harshaw who served as an unofficial campaign manager, and for recruiting Jen Reich to help with finding all the old signs and to both of them for getting them strategically placed around town. AND Ona had to fix a bunch of them, too, as they were old and falling apart. So, Ona: I know I owe you AT LEAST one six pack. Actually, I think the whole town owes Ona at least a six pack each. When you see her, buy her one! She also worked all day as a poll worker, and her human relations skills are second to none. Basically, I LOVE Ona, heart and soul. She's a rock in a hard place.

Thanks also to all those who wrote letters to the editor supporting me.

And, finally, I want to thank Jen and Barry for hosting a smashing little campaign party last night for me and Rick.

So, of course, a poem about thanks. And worms:

Worms by Carl Dennis

Aren't you glad at least that the earthworms

Under the grass are ignorant, as they eat the earth,

Of the good they confer on us, that their silence

Isn't a silent reproof for our bad manners,

Our never casting earthward a crumb of thanks

For their keeping the soil from packing so tight

That no root, however determined, could pierce it?

Imagine if they suspected how much we owe them,

How the weight of our debt would crush us

Even if they enjoyed keeping the grass alive,

The garden flowers and vegetables, the clover,

And wanted nothing that we could give them,

Not even the merest nod of acknowledgment.

A debt to angels would be easy in comparison,

Bright, weightless creatures of cloud, who serve

An even brighter and lighter master.

Lucky for us they don't know what they're doing,

These puny anonymous creatures of dark and damp

Who eat simply to live, with no more sense of mission

Than nature feels in providing for our survival.

Better save our gratitude for a friend

Who gives us more than we can give in return

And never hints she's waiting for reciprocity.

"If I had nickel, I'd give it to you,"

The lover says, who, having nothing available

In the solid, indicative world, scrapes up

A coin or two in the world of the subjunctive.

"A nickel with a hole drilled in the top

So you can fasten it to your bracelet, a charm

To protect you against your enemies."

For his sake, she'd wear it, not for her own,

So he might believe she's safe as she saunters

Home across the field at night, the moon above her,

Below her the loam, compressed by the soles of her loafers,

And the tunneling earthworms, tireless, silent,

As they persist, oblivious, in their service.

Source: Poetry (May 2003).

Lori

VC tomorrow night! Note the highlights...

Dear People: Tomorrow night the main issues will be: Mark's position as a finalist for the manager job in Sidney, new solid waste rates, a tap-in request from Home, Inc., our endorsement of the MVRPC's regional strategic plan, the library building audit, the issue of the state's interest in collecting taxes, what to do about our water supply, and LJB making a request for a considerably greater funds for work associated with the WWTP. The packet can be viewed here.

COMMUNICATIONS:
In Paper Packet and On Line:
RITA re: State Control of Municipal Income Tax Collection Update (see item under "New Business")
Tom Clevenger re: Rescheduling of Energy Charrette for the BARR PROPERTY SENIOR HOUSING: on WED. NOV. 9th at 5:30 in the Bryan Ctr. Rooms A&B there will be a meeting with the developer lead, the project architect and the project consultant to the green enterprise community standards. If you are interested in the design of this building, particularly as it relates to energy efficiency, please attend this meeting.
Vickie Hennessey re: Fluoride Rinse Program
Mayor’s Monthly Report
Emily Seibel, YSHI re: Fee Waiver Request: (see resolution 2011-54 below)
Len Kramer re: Support for YSHI Fee Waiver
Fred Bartenstein re: YSHI Fee Waiver

E-Packet Only:
GCCOA re: Newsletter and Invitation
Greene County Environmental Services re: Free Nitrate Screening for Well-users: If you have a well, you might want this!
MVRCP re: PDAC Meeting
GCCOA re: Free Paper Shredding (in Beavercreek, NOV 15--RSVP required; also this is a "how to organize your papers" event, targeted at seniors. Look in the packet for more details--it's near the very end of the packet.)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: We just received news that Mark is a finalist for a City Manager position in Sidney. He will be reading a statement about his decision to apply for this job (and this job only) due to long term connections to the city.

PUBLIC HEARINGS/LEGISLATION
Ordinance 2011-27 Amending Chapter 1060 Solid Waste Rates: Since we signed the new contract with Rumpke, the following rates will now apply:

Tier 1 (Not more than 35 Gallons): $10.40 Per Unit/Month
Tier 2 (Not more than 65 Gallons): $11.40 Per Unit/Month
Tier 3 (Not more than 120 Gallons): $12.40 Per Unit/Month

[Commercial Services – Four Cubic-Yard Container: $55.00 Per Container/Month]

I will vote yes.

Resolution 2011-54 Home Inc. Tap-In Request: The amount requested is minimal--less than $20,000--which is less than the first year of taxes that will be brought in (about $25,000 per year), and the successful project will bring in $4.25 million dollars of tax credit equity. While they are continuing to look for other local support, they recently have become convinced that this support is vital for a successful proposal. It would have been better had this been a part of the original packet, and I am a little disappointed that it wasn't, but I will vote yes because I would have voted for this had it been a part of the original proposal, and I believe it is reasonable.

Resolution 2011-55 Supporting MVRCP’s Going Places Initiative: I will vote yes. The plan was strongly influenced by Yellow Springs and our Visioning process; the goal is to encourage smart growth and reduce suburban sprawl.

III. CITIZEN CONCERNS

IV. SPECIAL REPORTS
Library Evaluation Presentation: Ted Donnell was awarded a contract to do a building and energy audit. He's recommending a variety of upgrades that are either "high" "medium" and "low" priority. The most expensive high priority item is replacing the 1963 windows with energy-efficient ones (estimated at $150K.)

V. OLD BUSINESS
Water Supply Feasibility Study: Mark writes that likely will not have the information about likely rates from Xenia/Spfld by this meeting, in which case, we will discuss at 11/21 meeting.

VI. NEW BUSINESS
State Collection of Income Tax Discussion: RITA, our current tax collector, is concerned about the State's interest in taking over the function of all municipal tax collection. I could not understand this, and asked that we discuss the issue. We have a long email on the topic that was written by the manager of Albany Ohio: the good reasons to oppose this move include a loss of local control and an extensive list of historical problems with state collections. I will likely vote that we bring a resolution to Council opposig this State move.

Discussion of Resolution 2011-50 Authorizing Payment to LJB for Additional Services Rendered: This is a request of, I believe an additional $45,500 from the original contract, for work completed during the first 10 months of this year. While we recently authorized paying for a manual that was not included in the initial bid, that's only $5,840 (so far as I can tell, but I find the memo unclear on this point. If I am reading the bill correctly, the estimated additional costs are $33,373.54 so far, plus $5,840, which added together are substantially less than $45,500. So I don't completely understand this billing statement and I am surprised to be getting such a big additional bill at such a late date when the additional fees had apparently been adding up since January or even late 2010. So I will look forward to clarification at the meeting.

VC tonight! Water (very important!), campaign update, trees, budget

To the left is a photo of the Yellow Spring by an artist named Tom Hock. When the leaves disappear and things become mostly grey, the orange of the spring and the last green moss can seem this intense.

Dear people--VC Meeting tonight and there's quite a bit going on. Our water treatment plant is especially on my mind, so I want to call your attention to that and ask for your response, see below.

Quick Campaign Update: I know many of you have asked for yard signs, but I think I'm plumb out. Still, check your garage? We've found a few that people pulled off their own property after the last campaign and tucked 'em away. So make sure you don't still have one--and if you find one and you already have a sign, let me or Ona Harshaw or Jen Reich know, and we'll find a place for it.

The best thing you can do for me right now is to write a letter for me to the YS News! Please consider getting one in TODAY if you have even 15 minutes, a half hour. Can be short! (Short is good!--Just think of the most important reason you support me, and say it in a sentence.)

Key issue tonight: The most important thing that I see on the agenda, and which I'd really love some feedback and thought on over the next few months, is the water feasibility study that we had LJB engineering do for us (John Eastman). It's included in its entirety in this week's packet (the first page of the study is on page 34) and I'd appreciate if a few of you took the time to read it and shared your thoughts--particularly if you have any engineering background.

The suprising finding: I've only read it quickly, but it looks like our cheapest option may be to update our current water treatment plant, cheaper than the status quo or getting water from Xenia / Springfield / Greene County or building a new plant.

COMMUNICATIONS:
YSAC re: Funding
YSAC re: BGSU Economic Impact Study
YSAC re: BGSU Arts Economic Study
Mayor’s Monthly Report
Jon Husted re: Information on Ballot Issues
Colin Altman re: 2010 Annual Report This is a really lovely report--take a look at it if you get a chance--it's at the very end of the electronic packet. The fire department is doing a great job of serving us--nice pictures and graphs that tell a very positive story.
Anne Whitaker re: Barr Project Support

E-Packet Only:
GCCOA re: Newsletter and Invitation
RITA re: State Control of Municipal Income Tax Collection Update: I actually read most of the documents about this (they begin on page 104), and I have a few questions. Kasich is apparently seeking to centralize muncipal tax collection at the state, which strikes me as bizarrely opposed to his normal mode of getting rid of decentralizing (i.e., offloading) state services onto municipalities; some say this is an attack on home rule for municipalities,...so I don't get it. If anyone does...I'm all ears.
Greene Co. Library re: November Programming
GCCHD re: Grant Obtained
MVRCP re: Going Places

PUBLIC HEARINGS/LEGISLATION
Second Reading and Public Hearing of Ordinance 2011-26 Supplemental Appropriation Securing Funds Necessary for the Third Quarter: Normal housecleaning, for the most part, some due to recent decisions that have altered the budget.
Reading of Resolution 2011-52 Contracting with LSL/KKG for Zoning Code Rewrite: I will vote yes--this group is very professional and down to earth and I believe we will have good results. Their presentation was very concrete--they had already found many nitty gritty places where our zoning code contains out of date rules and contradictions; I believe they'll get us a code we can live with for many years to come.
Reading of Resolution 2011-53 Contracting with Arbor Care for Annual Tree Trimming: I will vote yes--Arbor Care's bid is a little higher than last year, because we are having them trim more. However, I will take the moment ask staff about the pretty egregious trimming that occurred on Spillan Road (perhaps some other places also). I believe that was done, however NOT by Arbor Care, with whom we had a long talk about the kind of trimming we were hoping for, but by the AMP contractors, whom we did not have a careful discussion with. The topped and mutilated trees on my street make me, well, ill.

SPECIAL REPORTS
Water Feasibility Report and Discussion: See my plea above for help and input!

OLD BUSINESS
Discussion of Budget Process for 2011 / Discussion of Goals Process for 2011: We are hoping to hit the ground running with the new council, so we are urging the current candidates to come for this discussion where we are hoping to set up a tentative calendar. Judith has written everyone a quick email about this, but if you see Shane, Gerald, or Dan, tell them to come on down tonight if they can!

NEW BUSINESS
New Council Orientation: We're hoping that Council can have lunch with the new candidates on the orientation date, which is yet to be established. Again, it would be great to have the candidates attend tonight's meeting.

POEM
This poem is the favorite fall poem of one of my favorite bloggers, Ta-Nehisi Coates. He's a black guy who writes for the Atlantic and he's just a brilliant, wide-ranging reader and thinker. Ok, it's true that he loves a lot of my favorites, Frederick Douglass and Edith Wharton (!!!) for starters, and he was just totally into Jane Austen (of all people) last year, AND he also introduced me to great histories--James McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom and Daniel Walker Howe's What Hath God Wrought and the absolutely devastating Slavery by a Another Name--which is still haunting me--by a Wall Street Journal reporter--seriously!--Douglas Blackmon about the "re-enslavement of black Americans from the Civil War to WWII." I mean, did you know that slavery was not criminalized until 1944! For Real! Ok. So, you should read Ta-Nehisi's blog, linked above, and below, and read anything that Coates recommends.

(Mostly, I just wanted to recommend Coates; I think I'm not quite as enamoured of this poem as he is--it does feel like more of a guy poem maybe to me?--but it may also grow on me. I do love poets who can rhyme and not sound amateurish.)

October by Frederick Seidel

It is time to lose your life,
Even if it isn't over.
It is time to say goodbye and try to die.
It is October.

The mellow cello
Allee of trees is almost lost in sweetness and mist
When you take off your watch at sunrise
To lose your life.

You catch the plane.
You land again.
You arrive in the place.
You speak the language.

You will live in a new house,
Even if it is old.
You will live with a new wife,
Even if she is too young.

Your slender new husband will love you.
He will walk the dog in the cold.
He will cook a meal on the stove.
He will bring you your medication in bed.

Dawn at the city flower market downtown.
The vendors have just opened.
The flowers are so fresh.
The restaurants are there to decorate their tables.

Your husband rollerblades past, whizzing,
Making a whirring sound, winged like an angel--
But stops and spins around and skates back
To buy some cut flowers in the early morning frost.

I am buying them for you.
I am buying them for your blond hair at dawn.
I am buying them for your beautiful breasts.
I am buying them for your beautiful heart.

VC: Last night: Reorganization and Barr Property

Last night we mostly discussed and voted on "old business"--specifically the Barr Property plans being developed by Home, Inc., and Buckeye Hope, as well as the re-organization of the village administration.  Whereas our last vote on both was 4-1, this time, both passed unanimously, the former due to clarification of the process, and the latter due also to clarification of the responsibilities/roles of the position.

See last week's posting for more info about my stance.

VC: Reorganization and Barr Property

Dear People:  Mark will be out of town, so we're keeping the agenda relatively light, but still there are big issues that a great many of you care about, and as usual, you can always read more about everything on the agenda by examining our packet, here. I've highlighted a few things below:

PETITIONS/COMMUNICATIONS

In Paper Packet and On Line:
Housing Coalition of Greene Co. re: Support of Affordable Senior Housing
Chief Grote re: Beggars’ Night: SATURDAY, OCT. 29.  Chief Grote also responds to various criticisms of the event, including the charge that too many people come from outside the village, saying that people come because it's family friendly and feels safe, and it's not unlike 4th of July or Street Fair: part of who we are is about being welcoming to visitors. 
All Previously Received Letters Referencing Barr Property Proposal
Anna Bellisari re: Barr Property Trees
Alan Macbeth re: Barr Property Trees
Steven Bognar re: Support for Senior Housing
Suzanne Patterson re: Support for Senior Housing

Vicki Hennessey re: Forum on DEFEATING ISSUE 2 (SB 5):  THURSDAY! (this week!) Sept 22, 7:30 pm, YS Senior Center (227 Xenia).  Rudy Fichtenbaum (AAUP/Wright State), Aurelia Blake (YSHS); Ellis Jacobs (local attorney--will also address the opposition to HB 194--be sure to sign a petition opposing this bill.)  Please attend! This is the first event sponsored by a new groups calling itself Progressive Yellow Springs.

YS Arts Council re: Seat on Economic Sustainability Commission: Requesting a seat for one of their Board of Trustee members.

E-Packet Only:
Greene Co. Library re: October Programming

PUBLIC HEARINGS/LEGISLATION
Reading of Resolution 2011-48 Authorizing $40,000 for Operations and Maintenance Manuals for WWTP:  This should have been included in the original budget, it's necessary; I support it.  The funds will come from the loan that we are taking out to cover the cost of building the new additions to the WWTP, required by the EPA.  I will vote yes.
Reading of Resolution 2011-49 Adding Streets to the 2011 Paving Program: This is correcting a discrepency between documents, due to human error, rather than adding streets we did not initially intend.  I will vote yes.

First Reading of Ordinance 2011-24 Approving Amendment to the Village Organizational Structure:  I realize that this has been controversial in the village, and last week I shared Judith's thoughts on this.  I believe strongly that this new structure is both the appropriate model for our work in the village, and that it will better serve business interests to have the point person on economic development (who, yes, will have other responsibilities) be a full time employee, rather than a part time employee who is only in the office 20 hours a week.  I do not see this as a loss to the economic development interests of the village but as a plus.  I will vote yes. 

First Reading and Public Hearing of Ordinance 2011-25 Amending the Zoning Code to Permit a PUD-R for Barr Property:  I will vote yes for this project, urging the developers to save as many old-growth trees as they can.  But this is the right kind of project for our economic prosperity.  If successful, this is a $6.25 million dollar grant that will come into our community from the outside.  It fits with our goals of infill and re-development, and it serves the most frequently selected need arising from our recent visioning process: affordable housing.  Many seniors in our community are eager to move into these apartments, which would allow a life that is integrated into the community, near important amenities like the pharmacy and the grocery store, and down town shops. Finally, let's be clear: this is not a shortened process, but a lengthened one.  The developers have agreed to go through the whole, required process after we give our (initial) blessing for a project of this scale to be considered as they seek grant money, with the understanding that if there are significant problems with making the site work, based on engineering, they will have to re-plan.  I hear the concerns,  but I believe it will be a win for the village if we can help to facilitate it.  I will vote yes.

CITIZEN CONCERNS

STANDING REPORTS

POEM

Day in Autumn

By Rainer Maria Rilke Translated By Mary Kinzie Read the translator's notes

After the summer's yield, Lord, it is time

to let your shadow lengthen on the sundials

and in the pastures let the rough winds fly.

As for the final fruits, coax them to roundness.

Direct on them two days of warmer light

to hale them golden toward their term, and harry

the last few drops of sweetness through the wine.

Whoever's homeless now, will build no shelter;

who lives alone will live indefinitely so,

waking up to read a little, draft long letters,   

and, along the city's avenues,

fitfully wander, when the wild leaves loosen.

Source: Poetry (April 2008).

VC: 9/6 (late posting) Treasurer's Report, Reorganization, Arboretum Name?

Apologies for the delayed posting.  The fastest way to get these is to sign up for my email list--just drop me a note.  I post these after I send the email, but sometimes time is very precious and it takes me awhile to get to the blog.
-----


Dear People:  And suddenly it's fall.  Our last meeting fell on the evening of my first day back to school, but the chill in the air since yesterday, following last week's blast of summer heat, and the encroachment of the dark on both ends of the days, says it's time for autumn rituals.  Maybe we'll finally deal with all those stacks of empty plant pots on the back porch, pick up the sticks that have fallen in the yard, roast vegetables, make stew.

But, the meeting tonight.  Here's the full packet if you're interested in any of the topics below. 

PETITIONS/COMMUNICATIONS

AMP re: Standard Solar Project Update:  The AMP solar project has been canceled (this is not the one that we are working with YSRE, Melink and SolarVision for here in town--see below).  There's the possibility of AMP-owned, "behind the meter" solar installations.
Ohio EPA: Approval of WPCLF Application (plans for Sewer Lift Station approved at Waste Water Treatment Plants)
AMP re: AMP Hydro Update: new budget available for viewing. 
Kathryn Van der Heiden re: Budget Concerns: Would like to hear more discussion of budget.
Suzanne Clauser re: Reorganization:  Opposes the plan.
Jeremy Chapman re: Solar Update: they are hopeful that a final agreement can be made with a major financer of the project soon, so that the final engineering contract between Melink and SolarVision can be signed and that a majority of the construction can still be completed by the end of the year.
Mayor’s Monthly ReportDave Conley re: Milling/Paving Schedule:  Happening this week.  Affected streets include: North College, Herman, Randall, Stafford, Greene, Xenia Ave..


PUBLIC HEARINGS/LEGISLATION
Second Reading and Public Hearing of Ordinance 2011-22 Authorizing Village Manager to
Sign Addendum to the Trailside Museum Inter-Agency Agreement.   See last week's note.  I support.
Second Reading and Public Hearing of Ordinance 2011-23 Supplemental Appropriation for Flatter Hereford Farms (Glass Farm property--needed for Solar project).  See last week's note.  I support.
Resolution 2011-44 Accepting the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies and Certifying Them to the County Auditor.  (Pro-forma, basically)
Resolution 2011-45 Authorizing the Village Manager to Enter into a Contract with Pavement Management for 2011: $18K for street sealcoating.  (Last year this was $50K--it is a way to make the new surfaces last longer).  I support.
Resolution 2011-46 Authorizing the Village Manager to Enter into an Agreement for Property Casualty Insurance for 2012. $52K. Rates are increased by $2K next year, partly due to increased property value out at our waste water plant.  For the last several years, our insurance has been through our membership in the Public Entities Pool of Ohio, which helps us to keep rates lower.  I support.
Resolution 2011-47 Resolution to (re)Appoint John C. Chambers of Coolidge Wall as Village Solicitor: Rate: $165/hour.  I am not sure what rate we paid last year--have submitted a query as to whether this is the same as last year.  In principle, I support this resolution.

SPECIAL REPORTS
Treasurer’s Report:  Our treasurer, Rachel MicKinley, has done a good job of getting our bank charges/interest earned back in order.  Earnings from interest and investments are extremely low.  The investments committee is looking at the possibility of retiring the bond debt on the Bryan Center, which is $650K and still costs us interest charges (although it's primarily principal payments at this time, so that makes it a closer call.)

OLD BUSINESS
Discussion of Reorganization of Village Operations:  We have received a handful of letters expressing concern about this plan.  I do hear the concerns expressed.  I still support this plan for reorganization.  Judith has written eloquently about this to a citizen expressing concerns, so I would like to share it with you:

"Thanks for your email regarding this important issue. I am writing to clarify my thinking, although I realize you may not be satisfied with my response. I have always supported policy and Village action based on what I believed was best for the village citizens, and at times they are difficult decisions. Also, I am very cognizant of the current economy. 

Obviously, this is a very difficult situation and it is not a case of just needing to cover the Village Manager for his vacation. We are a very small community with limited resources and as I'm sure you are aware, the State has cut our funding in a way which will make meeting the needs of our citizens that much more difficult.

And we have a village manager who needs support. That support is not there at the present and something needs to be done if we wish to be fair to our village manager and be able retain a village manager over time. If money were not an issue, we could just enlarge our staff. The new assistant manager position would be given the responsibilities for planning and economic sustainability while being someone that the village manager can also rely on for backup.

Lori, the VP of Council, and I have reviewed with Mark, our options. In spite of the unpleasant realities of this proposal, we believe Mark’s proposal is the best option.

I believe we have been compassionate leaders of this community. That compassion did not suddenly disappear with the event of this proposal. It is an awkward situation, and I am sorry that to address the needs of our community, we will negatively impact, at least in the short run, two of our staff members. However, I have been on the Village Council for six years, and I believe Mark’s proposal is the way to solve this problem while being fiscally responsible.

Mark has done a very good job. He is a workhorse. On top of the areas he oversees, which he has enumerated in his report, he coordinates and provides much of the staff support for planning commission. He has recently been asked to meet monthly with Community Resources to keep the Center for Business and Education project moving forward in a timely way. He is coordinating the work on a new zoning code. He is coordinating the work on the Barr Party proposal.

I've been reviewing in my mind the major projects he has lead during this calendar year.  Early in the year he presented and worked with the Village Council on our 2011 budget. We were then approached with a proposal for a solar farm, and he switched gears and put a huge amount of time into that proposal. He provided reams of information for the tax levy renewal. He made recommendations on sidewalk policy and any number of other smaller projects and decisions made and carried out by the Village. He is our HR department. He oversees our infrastructures, which include the water system, sewer system, electric system, and the streets and parks system. He is even the supervisor of our police chief making him the person Chief Grote turns to with problems and concerns. And he frequently is called upon to do much of the grunt work as well, to meet deadlines and needs of projects at hand.

He writes reports on every piece of legislation that comes in front of Council. He is our point person on all of the AMP legislation we have seen in the last many months. He oversees all the departments of the Village. He is the main person citizens want to talk with about the issues that they have.

This is way too much work for one person from day to day. It has been an ongoing problem well before Mark's arrival. It was also a recognized problem during the employment of Eric Swanson and the Interim Manager, John Weithofer.

Mark spends way more than 40 hours a week to barely keep his nose above water.  He also needs to be able to get away from time to time to refresh himself and spend time with family and friends, without all of the work he is responsible for, stopping until he gets back to mountains of unanswered emails, and snail mail and phone calls etc.

We are friends and neighbors of two persons who will be negatively affected by this change. Loyalty and friendship are powerful energies that run deep, and I know that many of us are unhappy about the negative impact on them. However, if there were another way to solve this problem, it would have been proposed.

I trust Mark, and he knows more intimately then anyone else can, the full picture of our staff’s responsibilities and what it takes to meet those responsibilities.  It can be a lonely and heavy responsibility and he has shouldered his responsibilities well. Therefore, I support his proposal.

Sincerely,
Judith

I hope you will also read Mark's memo in the packet.  I will add that with no one able to back the Manager up and take on some responsibilities as needed, the potential for extremely costly errors or lost details goes way up, as does the potential for all-out burn out.  When our last manager left, we were faced with a fine of $80,000 from the EPA because work simply wasn't moving forward to deal with our sewage plant violations, and raw sewage was flowing into the Glen.  It is hard to find and keep a healthy manager, because right now there is too much pressure on this one position.  This is not an easy decision, partly because it's way overdue.  

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion of Purchase of Pole Setter for Electrical Distribution :  Dave Conley will explain the benefits of a model that he recommends.  Funds available in Electrical fund to pay for it.
Review of 2011 Work Plan:  Judith has created an overview of what we've done, what's ongoing, and what's still to do--including work specific to the Clerk, Manager, and the committees and commissions of Council.
Discussion of Naming of Arboretum at Ellis Park: Plan to honor Lloyd Kennedy for his work on this committee since 1967 by naming the Arboretum at Ellis Park after him, using Tree Committee funds to create a new sign.

LABOR DAY POEM

In addition to a poem, I am going to link to a video of a commercial I remember from my youth--an old ILGWU (International Ladies' Garments Workers Union).  Remember when there were commercials for Unions on television?  I don't think I've seen one since the 1970s!  Take one minute to watch this--I bet you'll remember the song, "Look for the Union label, when you are buying a coat, dress, or blouse.  Remember somewhere our Union's sewing...")

And here's a companion poem by Robert Pinsky:

Shirt

By Robert Pinsky

The back, the yoke, the yardage. Lapped seams,

The nearly invisible stitches along the collar

Turned in a sweatshop by Koreans or Malaysians

Gossiping over tea and noodles on their break

Or talking money or politics while one fitted

This armpiece with its overseam to the band

Of cuff I button at my wrist. The presser, the cutter,

The wringer, the mangle. The needle, the union,

The treadle, the bobbin. The code. The infamous blaze

At the Triangle Factory in nineteen-eleven.

One hundred and forty-six died in the flames

On the ninth floor, no hydrants, no fire escapes—

The witness in a building across the street

Who watched how a young man helped a girl to step

Up to the windowsill, then held her out

Away from the masonry wall and let her drop.

And then another. As if he were helping them up

To enter a streetcar, and not eternity.

A third before he dropped her put her arms   

Around his neck and kissed him. Then he held

Her into space, and dropped her. Almost at once

He stepped to the sill himself, his jacket flared

And fluttered up from his shirt as he came down,

Air filling up the legs of his gray trousers—

Like Hart Crane’s Bedlamite, “shrill shirt ballooning.”

Wonderful how the pattern matches perfectly

Across the placket and over the twin bar-tacked

Corners of both pockets, like a strict rhyme

Or a major chord.   Prints, plaids, checks,

Houndstooth, Tattersall, Madras. The clan tartans

Invented by mill-owners inspired by the hoax of Ossian,

To control their savage Scottish workers, tamed

By a fabricated heraldry: MacGregor,

Bailey, MacMartin. The kilt, devised for workers

To wear among the dusty clattering looms.

Weavers, carders, spinners. The loader,

The docker, the navvy. The planter, the picker, the sorter

Sweating at her machine in a litter of cotton

As slaves in calico headrags sweated in fields:

George Herbert, your descendant is a Black

Lady in South Carolina, her name is Irma

And she inspected my shirt. Its color and fit

And feel and its clean smell have satisfied

Both her and me. We have culled its cost and quality

Down to the buttons of simulated bone,

The buttonholes, the sizing, the facing, the characters

Printed in black on neckband and tail. The shape,

The label, the labor, the color, the shade. The shirt.

Robert Pinsky, “Shirt” from The Want Bone. Copyright © 1990 by Robert Pinsky. Reprinted with the permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc.


Source: The Figured Wheel: New and Collected Poems 1966-1996 (HarperCollins, 1996)