Struthers council meetings now resemble a circus

Opinion: October 3, 2007 at 2:00a.m.

EDITOR:

I am writing about the circus that is being called a Struthers City Council meeting. I have been a public employee for 30 years and I have attended many meetings, never like the mess in Struthers last Wednesday, but I can’t say it surprises me. I want to go on record to say in 30 years I have worked with many public officials and Auditor Morell is more than competent. I have had disagreements with her, but what this city council is trying to do, to this elected official is deplorable and I am sick of the pettiness and I hope others will stand with me, to stop this foolishness.

This meeting is the culmination of years of accusations at this officeholder, none have stuck and when the state auditor refused to do this council’s dirty work, the council of “clique” has tried to discredit her and ignore me. I am in somewhat of the same boat. As manager of the Wastewater Department I have managed this utility to not raise rates in my 15 years.

In 2006, the plant was paid off and a sinking fund was allowed to grow to over $700,000. The past administration and council could have easily lowered the monthly debt service fee and given people back from this surplus. They chose not until they lost the election; now this fund is called excessive. I find this ironic as a taxpayer. My background allows me to know that the Wastewater Treatment Plant has debt until the year 2029 and, yes, the present fund will last a few years. It’s the unforeseen that has the present council and the mayor stuck. Running a utility is managing the unforeseen and the unexpected. If I managed the way this council and administration wants me to, we would go back to the days of Struthers of the past, before I came here: flooded, broke and stinky.

This council and now the fallen administration are trying to destroy this department by not leaving a small $2 portion of the debt service. Instead of listening to members of the wastewater staff and myself, this council has forced me to hire an attorney to investigate the transfer in question. Council not only stopped the debt service, it also has passed legislation to transfer $84,000 to a newly created Storm Water Fund. If this is allowed, this fund can be depleted over night.

When asked by Mayor-elect Stocker if the utility committee will hear of my concerns, utility Chairman Sandine flatly refused to hear me. I believe he admitted to violating the Sunshine Law by stating he polled council and the majority agreed not to see me.

It gets better. When Auditor Morell wants to give Council a report on this irresponsible transfer, Mr. Yemma breaks council protocol and ends the meeting so no one could comment on this fiasco.

I will be retiring soon, but I will never give into governing in this manner. I hope that this letter will wake up a few of these people, to begin serving the public again and not their own agendas.

RICH DeLUCA

Struthers

Every American should watch ‘The War’ and learn

EDITOR:

It is my sincere hope our viewing audience is turning in to Ken Burn’s marvelous account of World War II, “The War” on public television. The films of the Baton death march and D-Day will stay with you forever.

Unfortunately, it will probably be only the same generation who lived through this war who will be watching. It is surely something every American should see.

MRS. ROBERT SAUCE

Liberty Township