CORTLAND Council members vote to fire service director

The city is moving forward on additional lighting for courts at Willow Park.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
CORTLAND -- With a minimum of discussion and without a dissenting vote, city council voted to fire Service Director Paul Makosky.
Makosky, who oversaw the city's water, sewer and storm sewer systems, as well as roads and parks, quietly turned in his keys to the mayor after Monday's council meeting, when the vote was taken.
During the meeting, he told council that he has led his department through $5 million worth of capital improvement projects, addressing long-neglected problems without asking for any tax or rate increases.
"I hope someday, people in this organization will come to realize all we have accomplished in the last five years," he said.
Council members have blamed poor oversight and design work by Makosky for improperly installed waterlines on Fowler Street, flooding problems on Laura Lane and Anthony Circle, and poorly configured driveways on High Street that need to be redone.
"This has been a long time coming," Councilman Michael Hillman said of the resolution removing Makosky. "We asked him to do it already."
Makosky had agreed in June to resign at the start of next year, but some council members wanted him to put his resignation in writing. Makosky refused, Mayor Melissa Long had said.
Last month, four council members submitted a resolution calling for Makosky's salary to be slashed by $15,000. That resolution was tabled.
Only Councilman John Caparanis did not vote in favor of removing Makosky; he abstained. Councilman Frank Stocz was not present at the meeting Monday.
Long said she submitted the resolution to fire Makosky rather than watch council whittle away at his $41,000 a year salary.
Under the city charter, council could reduce Makosky's salary with only four votes, but would need all six votes to fire him against the mayor's will.
"I'll miss Paul," Long said. "The city will miss Paul."
Council members derided Long's decision to cooperate with them on Makosky's removal.
"It's pure politics," Hillman said.
Long said she has not yet decided how she will pick a permanent replacement for Makosky.
Trying to improve lighting
In other business, council approved the first reading of an ordinance to buy additional electrical poles and wiring from Ohio Edison to improve lighting over tennis and basketball courts at Willow Park.
The cost with Ohio Edison would be $5,000, Makosky said. The price of the lights themselves is not included in that figure.
Council also approved contracting with Eagle Fence Co. for a $7,200 fence around the city's water storage tanks, and with Howland Alarm for a $4,985 alarm system at well houses and treatment buildings.
siff@vindy.com