SHARON Council tables plan to limit spending by quarter

Three members who supported it last month have changed their minds.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- A city council plan to limit the city administration to spending no more than 25 percent of the total annual budget in each quarter of the year has hit a snag.
The vote to introduce the ordinance, which would make it a crime to overspend the budget in any given quarter, was 5-0, but the proposal has lost its support.
Three council members voted to table it when it came up for final vote Thursday.
The tabling motion was made by Councilman Ray Fabian, prompting President Fred Hoffman, who drafted the ordinance, to respond, "I figured the mayor would get somebody, not you."
Fabian said the main goal was to get the administration's attention to keep a closer watch on municipal spending. That's been accomplished, he said, adding that the criminal penalties carried in the ordinance were just too "stiff."
The bill called for a fine of $10 to $50 for a first offense and a fine of $250 to $500 plus restitution for any city expenses incurred in investigating the violation for a second offense.
The ordinance was basically directed at Mayor David O. Ryan and Finance Director Michael Gasparich, but Hoffman said it applied to city council and any other city official responsible for spending as well.
Making a point
Council members George Gulla and Chris Outrakis supported the tabling motion, agreeing that the point had been made and that the penalties were too harsh.
Hoffman and Councilman Lou Rotunno opposed the tabling motion.
Gulla said that Gasparich has already sent a letter out to department heads, warning them against overspending budgets, and the administration has also been taking more of a "watchdog" approach.
Outrakis objected to the word conviction in the ordinance. That makes people think someone is stealing money, she said, adding that the proposal doesn't make the city look good.
Hoffman said the ordinance isn't directed at Ryan but is an attempt to control the mismanagement of money he's seen during his 13 years on council.
Ryan is in his second year as mayor.
Hoffman said the issue will come up again at the Aug. 21 council meeting.
Mayor pleased
Ryan later said he is pleased with council's decision.
"I believe that my performance after only one year in office should permit me to administer the annual budget without this restraint," he said, offering figures to back his position.
Sharon had a beginning deficit of $239,000 when he took office in January 2002, but that was reduced to $73,000 at the beginning of 2003. Further, he underspent the $7.9 million 2002 budget by $461,588 and was able to reduce the rollover of bills at the end of the year from $485,943 at the end of 2001 to $386,647 at the end of 2002.
"I am dedicated toward reducing the deficit and living within the total yearly budget, circumstances allowing," Ryan said.