SPECIAL ELECTION Incometax to be on ballot

Passage in August would continue the Warren tax for another three years.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Five months after rejecting renewal of the city's 0.5 percent income tax for the police and fire departments, voters will be asked to reconsider.
City council voted 9-1 Wednesday to place the income tax on the special Aug. 3 election ballot. Voters rejected the tax by 161 votes in March.
The tax, initially passed in 2001, expires at the end of this year. Passage in August would continue the tax for another three years.
The tax brings in about $5 million annually for the police and fire departments.
If the tax fails in August, city officials would get another go at passage in the November general election, but without passage by then, layoffs would be necessary in the police and fire departments and other city departments.
Dissenting vote
Councilman James A. "Doc" Pugh, D-6th, cast the sole dissenting vote, saying he was following the wishes of his constituents. Pugh thinks the city should ask the U.S. Justice Department to conduct an investigation to determine if police officers violated people's civil rights.
"The citizens voted me in to do the job I've been doing for the last 10 years," said Pugh, former head of the local NAACP. "I have to vote my heart and vote my mind."
Some officers have been accused by residents of conducting illegal strip-searches and acts of brutality.
Councilman Gary Fonce, D-at large, pointed out that those officers aren't the ones who will be laid off if the tax fails.
"By shortening the money, you're not going to correct the problems," he said.
Councilwoman Susan Hartman, D-7th, said the administration that took office in January is addressing the problems that exist throughout the city.
"There haven't been any complaints that this administration hasn't addressed," she said.
Stresses safety
Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said passage is important for all departments of the city as well as citizen safety.
"We can't have a strong city with a weak police and fire department," he said.
Councilman Alford L. Novak, D-2nd, wants members of the administration and the police and fire departments to address his residents during an upcoming ward meeting about what's being done to address drug houses and blight and inform them of the importance of the tax.
Councilman Felipe Romain Jr., D-at large, also supports the tax.
"All quality-of-life issues will be affected by the passage or failure of this issue," he said.