City administration, not council, cost Girard $1.1 million earmarked for dam

EDITOR:
Contrary to the editorial of July 2, there was no shock displayed by the Girard City Council to the announcement that the $1.1 million earmarked for the dam project was gone. City council has been aware of this possibility for months. What is shocking is the mayor's pontificating from his soap box in a condescending and grandstand manner stating that the news should be upsetting to every citizen of Girard.
The money is gone because it wasn't used. The Girard administration, headed by Mayor Melfi, has clearly stated its practice of doing as city council ordains. Previously council approved the expenditure of $1.4 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to prepare plans, studies and specifications to repair the dam. The administration has not taken any steps to implement this plan. Instead, the administration has squandered $625,000 intended for repair and rejected another $1 million available from the Corps of Engineers.
In a Nov. 21, 2001, article in The Vindicator, former Congressman Jim Traficant announced that a total of $4.5 million from state and federal funds was allocated for the dam project. The reason why this money was lost to Girard is due to a total lack of leadership and action on the part of the mayor. If his administration had shown appropriate concern for public safety when the monies were available six years ago, the problem would have been substantially solved by now, and the ability to pursue and receive additional funding to complete the project, for the benefit of the community, would have been enhanced. At least the issue of public safety raised by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources would have been addressed.
The plans originally created by the Army Corps of Engineers shows a step by step process beginning with a breach of four of the 31 bays in the dam to implement the plan. Had that been accomplished, Girard would not have been confronted with a consent order by the state.
Over the last several years there has been more interest and activity generated about this serious issue by members of council, local leaders and the business community than the administration. The city lost $1.1 million because it didn't act, and not because city council dragged its feet. The city has owned plans for the breach of the dam since Sept. 12, 2001. That's what should upset the citizens of our community.
JOSEPH P. SHELBY
Councilman at Large
Girard