Dave Pollard, 3692 S.R. 82: Dave commented on how nice and smooth Center Road is now that it has been paved. He mentioned a catch basin that seems to be eroding around it and said he thought the trustees might want to know about it before it could get out of hand. Dave also mentioned a culvert on Winchell Road.
Vic asked which catch basin on Mantua Center road Dave was talking about. There was a bit more discussion about that.
Dave was the last person signed in for public comment.
However, at that point, Larry Lietzow said, "Hey, Mark. Mark." Larry was calling attention to Dan Cozzens (sp?), who now wanted to comment. Mark refused, Dan having passed earlier. Mark reiterated, I think, that there were not going to be any round robins.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Mantua Township Trustees 11-17-11, Public Comment Pt. 2
When Robert Moody concluded his remarks, Frank Horack raised his hand. Mark refused to do a round robin, but held to the one-chance, five-minutes-per-person rule for public comment.
Larry Parsons: My question is that you have to do various things at the school to keep things going. This guy [Robert Moody] has been complaining about this [noise] for three years. Why not take a day for this gentleman?
Vic commented that the road crew has not been working at the school. [Blogger's note: I have been at almost every meeting for more than three years, and I do not remember Mr. Parsons being in regular attendance during that time. He may have been there and simply not commented, but I don't remember seeing him.]
Larry Lietzow: I wasn't going to say anything, but it's been four years [that Mr. Moody has been complaining.]
Vic--why can't you just go back there and drive a couple of posts in the ground? (This was Larry addressing Vic.)
Blogger: The rest of Larry's public comment was typical: he asked Vic a question and as soon as Vic got about three words out, Larry interrupted and overrode him. From what I have seen, heard, and learned, there is more to some of the situations to deal with and problems to solve regarding people's issues than Larry has taken the time to learn about. As I understand it, the aerator area has a number of underground pipes, and just walking over and driving some posts into the ground, willy-nilly, could do some damage. The pipes' locations have been marked.
Here's my take on it: This was a chance for Larry to appear to be taking someone's part--but it gave him a way to bully Vic. Doubtless something could have been and possibly should have been done before now. I wonder, though, if doing that would have meant that something else would have been delayed--thus giving another chance to beat up on Vic and Mark. Monday morning quarterbacks are always heroes, while the guys on the field on game day are bumbling fools on Monday. Right.
Lynn Harvey, Larry Houck, and Steve Zielinski had no comments.
Carole Pollard, 5359 Allyn Road: My remarks tonight have been a long time coming and are the result of much observation and reflection.
People with a long history with the Township say that, although at times in the past meetings could get contentious, they were not ugly.
With the 2009 election, everything changed. Things got ugly and have stayed ugly.
An anonymous letter full of inaccuracies, venom, and lies was mailed to a large number of Township residents. The meeting in which the sitting trustees were to choose a successor to complete Steve Oros' unexpired term was as close to a mob as I want to get.
Since then, a number of other anonymous letters have been inflicted on various people in the Township. Those letters, too, are full of lies. One was, in addition, so threatening that its recipient gave a lawyer a list of names to follow up on in the even of harm or worse.
Bagfuls of dead, split-open fish--stinking and maggoty--were dumped at the school during the hottest part of the summer.
A sandwich board announcing the Open House disappeared--the only time in years of that kind of announcement when the sign disappeared.
A particularly stomach-turning letter went to members of the Open House Committee--but not to all of them. One letter went to someone completely disconnected from the committee, but a well-known talker who this time remained silent.
The Open House was a smoke screen. Only five of the seven members of the committee received that letter. Why only five? Each of those five had criticized or opposed Jason in some way. That fact narrows the possible senders to a very small number--more than one, but a small number nevertheless.
Jason, this ugliness came in when you were elected. Since then, Mark and Vic have been bullied to the point of being brutalized in meetings. The lies, the packed meetings, the harassment, the anonymous, hate-filled letters whose writers if known could be charged with libel--all of that came in when you were elected.
Are you doing that? Of course not. But it's being done. For two years, you have said nothing to bring even a small degree of civility to meetings. You have told Terri Vechery and me to lower our voices. You have not reminded anybody else to curb their remarks, their venom, or their tongues. You have not told anyone muttering or sneering in the back of the room to be quiet while someone else was speaking.
I was going to mention people's names but decided not to, so the remarks I was going to make [and started to make] are irrelevant.
Silence is the equivalent of approval.
The effect is chilling. People who used to come to meetings stay away because of the poisonous atmosphere.
Fine people who at one time anticipated serving the Township--their home, after all--want no part of public service now. It has been made too painful.
None of that is my opinion. It is observation or the result of conversation with the people involved.
People had hoped for better [two years ago.] They didn't get it.
Larry Parsons: My question is that you have to do various things at the school to keep things going. This guy [Robert Moody] has been complaining about this [noise] for three years. Why not take a day for this gentleman?
Vic commented that the road crew has not been working at the school. [Blogger's note: I have been at almost every meeting for more than three years, and I do not remember Mr. Parsons being in regular attendance during that time. He may have been there and simply not commented, but I don't remember seeing him.]
Larry Lietzow: I wasn't going to say anything, but it's been four years [that Mr. Moody has been complaining.]
Vic--why can't you just go back there and drive a couple of posts in the ground? (This was Larry addressing Vic.)
Blogger: The rest of Larry's public comment was typical: he asked Vic a question and as soon as Vic got about three words out, Larry interrupted and overrode him. From what I have seen, heard, and learned, there is more to some of the situations to deal with and problems to solve regarding people's issues than Larry has taken the time to learn about. As I understand it, the aerator area has a number of underground pipes, and just walking over and driving some posts into the ground, willy-nilly, could do some damage. The pipes' locations have been marked.
Here's my take on it: This was a chance for Larry to appear to be taking someone's part--but it gave him a way to bully Vic. Doubtless something could have been and possibly should have been done before now. I wonder, though, if doing that would have meant that something else would have been delayed--thus giving another chance to beat up on Vic and Mark. Monday morning quarterbacks are always heroes, while the guys on the field on game day are bumbling fools on Monday. Right.
Lynn Harvey, Larry Houck, and Steve Zielinski had no comments.
Carole Pollard, 5359 Allyn Road: My remarks tonight have been a long time coming and are the result of much observation and reflection.
People with a long history with the Township say that, although at times in the past meetings could get contentious, they were not ugly.
With the 2009 election, everything changed. Things got ugly and have stayed ugly.
An anonymous letter full of inaccuracies, venom, and lies was mailed to a large number of Township residents. The meeting in which the sitting trustees were to choose a successor to complete Steve Oros' unexpired term was as close to a mob as I want to get.
Since then, a number of other anonymous letters have been inflicted on various people in the Township. Those letters, too, are full of lies. One was, in addition, so threatening that its recipient gave a lawyer a list of names to follow up on in the even of harm or worse.
Bagfuls of dead, split-open fish--stinking and maggoty--were dumped at the school during the hottest part of the summer.
A sandwich board announcing the Open House disappeared--the only time in years of that kind of announcement when the sign disappeared.
A particularly stomach-turning letter went to members of the Open House Committee--but not to all of them. One letter went to someone completely disconnected from the committee, but a well-known talker who this time remained silent.
The Open House was a smoke screen. Only five of the seven members of the committee received that letter. Why only five? Each of those five had criticized or opposed Jason in some way. That fact narrows the possible senders to a very small number--more than one, but a small number nevertheless.
Jason, this ugliness came in when you were elected. Since then, Mark and Vic have been bullied to the point of being brutalized in meetings. The lies, the packed meetings, the harassment, the anonymous, hate-filled letters whose writers if known could be charged with libel--all of that came in when you were elected.
Are you doing that? Of course not. But it's being done. For two years, you have said nothing to bring even a small degree of civility to meetings. You have told Terri Vechery and me to lower our voices. You have not reminded anybody else to curb their remarks, their venom, or their tongues. You have not told anyone muttering or sneering in the back of the room to be quiet while someone else was speaking.
I was going to mention people's names but decided not to, so the remarks I was going to make [and started to make] are irrelevant.
Silence is the equivalent of approval.
The effect is chilling. People who used to come to meetings stay away because of the poisonous atmosphere.
Fine people who at one time anticipated serving the Township--their home, after all--want no part of public service now. It has been made too painful.
None of that is my opinion. It is observation or the result of conversation with the people involved.
People had hoped for better [two years ago.] They didn't get it.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Mantua Township Trustees 11-17-11, Public Comment, Pt. 1
Frank Horack, Winchell Road: Six to eight weeks ago I asked for an estimate of the paving project at the school and have not received it. So tonight I would like to request for the work that was done up there.
Frank's request covered the piping, the catch basin, excavation-- the things related to that project.
He went on: Is there a chance I could get that.
Vic: We had just paid the bill that night.
Frank: I was requesting the total estimate but since it has been so long since it has been done that all the bills would be in by now.
Vic: They are.
Frank: Are all the bills in and paid? I would like copies of all of them. I also want a list [or] tally of the township roads and numbers that we are responsible for. Is there someplace where I can get a lilst?
Vic and Mark: We have a road inventory.
Vic: We have a five-year plan that we go through every year.
Frank: I would like a list of that.
I also requested information on insurance information for contractors.
Marie asked about that.
Frank: I specifically asked for all contractors doing work in Mantua Township for all projects.
Marie: For which years? I don't get insurance certificates on everyone who does work.
Frank: The company I work for was putting in a bid on Mantua Center School. [Blogger: Frank did not indicate when this occurred.] We were specifically requested and required to show insurance for $1,000,000 on the vehicle. Is there any reason that was requested there and for no one else?
Vic: We need a certificate of liability for $1,000,.000. [Note: A sentence or two got chewed up in the back-and-forth.]
Frank: My question was, does this apply to all contractors or just that one project.
Vic: The contractors that we put out for bid in the spring--that is all specified in the ad.
Frank: Is that for all contractors that work in Mantua Township, or just that project?
Vic: That was specified for the school. We went through the prosecutor for that.
Frank: I know that. Do all contractors have to supply the same coverage?
Vic: [It is] usually on the bid for the year--the insurance coverage is specified and people have to comply with that. For trucking, the amount is lower.
Frank: Do the other ones require $1,000,000?
Vic: I think the other was $300,000 for insurance. That has been the standard bid for many years.
Frank: Do the contractors give you coverage at the beginning of the year?
Vic: [They provide] a certificate of insurance.
Frank: So that should be on file. I would like a copy of that.
[Blogger: I wish I knew what that was really about.]
Perspective and additional information on the above exchange: First of all, after the meeting when Frank requested the information about the cost of what had been done at the school, he missed perhaps three meetings. He apparently did not contact Marie for the information, which could have been sitting waiting for him. I don't know whether it was, but it could have been.
Second, as I understand it, Jason handled the ad for the work or project in question. As Vic indicated, the ad was run through the prosecutor's office and Chris Meduri advised the $1,000,000 figure. If you review the above exchange, you will see that Jason never identified his or Chris Meduri's roles in the ad.
I don't know how many people bid on the project Frank was questioning, and he did not indicate the date or the work to be done. There was one set of bids for electrical work at the school in which Frank's company came in much higher than any other and, of course, did not get the bid. So my question is this: was all of the above exchange even relevant?.
Robert Moody, Center Road: Mr. Moody asked for a copy of the road inventory. He also reiterated his distress about the aerator for the school's self-contained package plant.
The materials are on hand to build the surrounding sound barrier. Jason finally said that he would work with Vic and the road crew to ensure that the barrier would be up by the next meeting. Vic indicated that some new parts for the aerator were on hand; his approach for some time has been to work on getting the equipment running well enough to eliminate the need for the shed/sound barrier. As I understand it, the possibility of overheating the equipment during the summer is a concern.
[Blogger's Note: There are/were three funerals during Thanksgiving week, meaning that the road crew will be putting in quite a bit of time at the cemetery. That time is absolutely mandatory]
The issue of noise shifted to engine brake noise and the fact that a request for a "No Engine Brake" sign has been requested to cover the intersection of Center Road and Rt. 82. That signage requires a resolution and considerable paperwork with ODOT.
Even though both the aerator and road noise are both noise, they are handled differently, and a resolution to deal with the aerator noise is not, as I understand it, necessary. .
Frank's request covered the piping, the catch basin, excavation-- the things related to that project.
He went on: Is there a chance I could get that.
Vic: We had just paid the bill that night.
Frank: I was requesting the total estimate but since it has been so long since it has been done that all the bills would be in by now.
Vic: They are.
Frank: Are all the bills in and paid? I would like copies of all of them. I also want a list [or] tally of the township roads and numbers that we are responsible for. Is there someplace where I can get a lilst?
Vic and Mark: We have a road inventory.
Vic: We have a five-year plan that we go through every year.
Frank: I would like a list of that.
I also requested information on insurance information for contractors.
Marie asked about that.
Frank: I specifically asked for all contractors doing work in Mantua Township for all projects.
Marie: For which years? I don't get insurance certificates on everyone who does work.
Frank: The company I work for was putting in a bid on Mantua Center School. [Blogger: Frank did not indicate when this occurred.] We were specifically requested and required to show insurance for $1,000,000 on the vehicle. Is there any reason that was requested there and for no one else?
Vic: We need a certificate of liability for $1,000,.000. [Note: A sentence or two got chewed up in the back-and-forth.]
Frank: My question was, does this apply to all contractors or just that one project.
Vic: The contractors that we put out for bid in the spring--that is all specified in the ad.
Frank: Is that for all contractors that work in Mantua Township, or just that project?
Vic: That was specified for the school. We went through the prosecutor for that.
Frank: I know that. Do all contractors have to supply the same coverage?
Vic: [It is] usually on the bid for the year--the insurance coverage is specified and people have to comply with that. For trucking, the amount is lower.
Frank: Do the other ones require $1,000,000?
Vic: I think the other was $300,000 for insurance. That has been the standard bid for many years.
Frank: Do the contractors give you coverage at the beginning of the year?
Vic: [They provide] a certificate of insurance.
Frank: So that should be on file. I would like a copy of that.
[Blogger: I wish I knew what that was really about.]
Perspective and additional information on the above exchange: First of all, after the meeting when Frank requested the information about the cost of what had been done at the school, he missed perhaps three meetings. He apparently did not contact Marie for the information, which could have been sitting waiting for him. I don't know whether it was, but it could have been.
Second, as I understand it, Jason handled the ad for the work or project in question. As Vic indicated, the ad was run through the prosecutor's office and Chris Meduri advised the $1,000,000 figure. If you review the above exchange, you will see that Jason never identified his or Chris Meduri's roles in the ad.
I don't know how many people bid on the project Frank was questioning, and he did not indicate the date or the work to be done. There was one set of bids for electrical work at the school in which Frank's company came in much higher than any other and, of course, did not get the bid. So my question is this: was all of the above exchange even relevant?.
Robert Moody, Center Road: Mr. Moody asked for a copy of the road inventory. He also reiterated his distress about the aerator for the school's self-contained package plant.
The materials are on hand to build the surrounding sound barrier. Jason finally said that he would work with Vic and the road crew to ensure that the barrier would be up by the next meeting. Vic indicated that some new parts for the aerator were on hand; his approach for some time has been to work on getting the equipment running well enough to eliminate the need for the shed/sound barrier. As I understand it, the possibility of overheating the equipment during the summer is a concern.
[Blogger's Note: There are/were three funerals during Thanksgiving week, meaning that the road crew will be putting in quite a bit of time at the cemetery. That time is absolutely mandatory]
The issue of noise shifted to engine brake noise and the fact that a request for a "No Engine Brake" sign has been requested to cover the intersection of Center Road and Rt. 82. That signage requires a resolution and considerable paperwork with ODOT.
Even though both the aerator and road noise are both noise, they are handled differently, and a resolution to deal with the aerator noise is not, as I understand it, necessary. .
Monday, November 21, 2011
A Glitch
This is an argument for a cleaner desk than I have ever had in my life.
Apparently, while moving things around on the desk, I rested something on a crucial key or keys on the keyboard. All of the posts for November but the most recent one have migrated from the left hand column into the archive at the bottom of the right hand column.
My deathless prose, which everyone just waits with bated breath to read, is still there. You just have to go to the archive and click on the title.
The test now is to see what happens when this entry is posted. If I had a six-year-old niece or nephew, the kid could probably fix it with a couple of keystrokes.
Apparently, while moving things around on the desk, I rested something on a crucial key or keys on the keyboard. All of the posts for November but the most recent one have migrated from the left hand column into the archive at the bottom of the right hand column.
My deathless prose, which everyone just waits with bated breath to read, is still there. You just have to go to the archive and click on the title.
The test now is to see what happens when this entry is posted. If I had a six-year-old niece or nephew, the kid could probably fix it with a couple of keystrokes.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Mantua Township Trustees 11-20-11, Various Information
Lynn Harvey, Zoning Commission, reported that the re-write of the zoning book is done and ready for the first round of hearings. The first is scheduled for the Civic Center on 11-28 at 6:30 p.m. Copies can be gotten from Regional Planning in either print or CD form, for a fee.
Also, Lynn commented that two people are up for reappointment to the zoning commission. Roger Hurd and Dave Pollard have both been serving and have applied for reappointment. Lynn said she especially wanted to endorse both of them. Without Roger's skill on the computer and willingness to give many extra hours, the re-write would not be as far along as it is.
Lynn also said that she values Dave Pollard's input--he offers a different point of view which is a good thing to have.
Roads: Wayne Road has been patched, and on the Friday and (I believe) the Saturday following the election, the contractor laid 1" of asphalt on the roads in Aurora Meadows. Mark did not say what had gone on to encourage the contractor to do that work, which had been a source of disagreement, as reported from the last meeting.
Six catch basin covers have now been stolen. They cost the Township $125 and bring about $10 in scrap value. The sheriff's department has been notified.
There was also discussion about new parts for the boiler at the Mantua Center School, and money was set aside for parts.
[Blogger: Of course there was more business than this, but it can be gotten from the meeting minutes. These items struck me as interesting, or they were follow-ups. They also give a range of the things that affect a township and that Trustees have to deal with, from big projects costing tens of thousands of dollars to the stupidity of theft that will cost $750 that could have been spent wisely on something else--like tires for some of the equipment.]
Also, Lynn commented that two people are up for reappointment to the zoning commission. Roger Hurd and Dave Pollard have both been serving and have applied for reappointment. Lynn said she especially wanted to endorse both of them. Without Roger's skill on the computer and willingness to give many extra hours, the re-write would not be as far along as it is.
Lynn also said that she values Dave Pollard's input--he offers a different point of view which is a good thing to have.
Roads: Wayne Road has been patched, and on the Friday and (I believe) the Saturday following the election, the contractor laid 1" of asphalt on the roads in Aurora Meadows. Mark did not say what had gone on to encourage the contractor to do that work, which had been a source of disagreement, as reported from the last meeting.
Six catch basin covers have now been stolen. They cost the Township $125 and bring about $10 in scrap value. The sheriff's department has been notified.
There was also discussion about new parts for the boiler at the Mantua Center School, and money was set aside for parts.
[Blogger: Of course there was more business than this, but it can be gotten from the meeting minutes. These items struck me as interesting, or they were follow-ups. They also give a range of the things that affect a township and that Trustees have to deal with, from big projects costing tens of thousands of dollars to the stupidity of theft that will cost $750 that could have been spent wisely on something else--like tires for some of the equipment.]
Limerick 11-20-11--An Autumn Verse
Golden leaves drift gently down
Corn and beans are ripe and borwn
The air takes on a smoky haze
These are the year's idyllic days--
Autumn in Beautiful Ohio!
c Dave Pollard 2011
Corn and beans are ripe and borwn
The air takes on a smoky haze
These are the year's idyllic days--
Autumn in Beautiful Ohio!
c Dave Pollard 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
A Small Op-Ed
Idealists have this to say about government: "The government is us."
Pragmatists have this view: "We get the government we deserve."
Frankly, neither view comforts me at ALL.
I have worked hard my whole life to base my decisions on reason and fact, not always successfully, of course, but that was the guiding principle. I have avoided people whose life position is that they are being ill-used and are seeking someone to punish for that. I have strenuously avoided people who tried to convince me that I had a grievance or should have a grievance and that they had the answer to my problems--after whipping up a fine froth of indignation, of course.
I have on occasion trusted someone else's judgment about a situation or a person and have come to rue it bitterly. The cost was high both financially and in other ways.
As a voter when I was living elsewhere and concentrating so hard on my work that there was no time for local news or the paper, I realized that I was clueless in front of the ballot, and that being an intelligent, thinking, informed voter was a responsibility that I had not lived up to. I honestly don't remember whether I just put a mark next to a name, any name, or whether I abstained because of my lack of knowledge.
So the results of the election for Mantua Township trustee look like the triumph of everything I have tried NOT to make a part of my life. I do not deserve this kind of government, and neither do the other people in the township who know how to distinguish information from hype and also knew who was running the propaganda machine. There weren't enough of us, and we weren't organized like the Normandy landing.
My mantra is "Good prevails," but to prevail, good has to lace up its shoes and go into action. Hope is not a strategy. Hope alone means that we are like the Moravians at Schoenbrunn--toast.
Well, enough rending of garments. Virtual Torch is not going away.
Pragmatists have this view: "We get the government we deserve."
Frankly, neither view comforts me at ALL.
I have worked hard my whole life to base my decisions on reason and fact, not always successfully, of course, but that was the guiding principle. I have avoided people whose life position is that they are being ill-used and are seeking someone to punish for that. I have strenuously avoided people who tried to convince me that I had a grievance or should have a grievance and that they had the answer to my problems--after whipping up a fine froth of indignation, of course.
I have on occasion trusted someone else's judgment about a situation or a person and have come to rue it bitterly. The cost was high both financially and in other ways.
As a voter when I was living elsewhere and concentrating so hard on my work that there was no time for local news or the paper, I realized that I was clueless in front of the ballot, and that being an intelligent, thinking, informed voter was a responsibility that I had not lived up to. I honestly don't remember whether I just put a mark next to a name, any name, or whether I abstained because of my lack of knowledge.
So the results of the election for Mantua Township trustee look like the triumph of everything I have tried NOT to make a part of my life. I do not deserve this kind of government, and neither do the other people in the township who know how to distinguish information from hype and also knew who was running the propaganda machine. There weren't enough of us, and we weren't organized like the Normandy landing.
My mantra is "Good prevails," but to prevail, good has to lace up its shoes and go into action. Hope is not a strategy. Hope alone means that we are like the Moravians at Schoenbrunn--toast.
Well, enough rending of garments. Virtual Torch is not going away.
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