I sent in my ballot and voted NO on Issue 17--

"Shame" on Joe Cimperman for trying to sneak this past voters. 

I am also curious to know how this went out on Council letterhead?  

 Does it fall within the purview of Council franking privileges?? 

Dbra--I had my public process moment.  Any one care to take on the Ohio Ethics Commission process?

my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, my spouse, my cat, my neighbors, my extended family or anyone I happen to acknowledge on the street, bus, etc.

I would like to clarify some points made in your post.  The alternate members are not being suggested to only replace Council members but any member who is absent.  For your information members have been absent for open heart surgery, broken hips replaced, family funerals and out of town work commitments that in a perfect storm result in the need to have alternates. These absences are not frivolous or due to lack of commitment.  The amendment would allow Council to appoint one alternate and the Mayor would appoint two.

Regarding your statement about why this was produced on Council letterhead. City Council was the body who recommended this Charter amendment, therefore decided to send a letter to inform voters of Issue 17 on the November ballot. The letter does not specify that a voter should vote yes or no.  Everyone, including you has the right to vote on Issue 17. I encourage a yes vote and am happy to discuss this matter with you anytime.

216-215-6765

how many open heart surgeries does one have in a year?

do family members drop dead like fruit from a tree?

Give me a break - this in the face of what Mayor Jackson is announcing as a huge budget deficit...

will they get offices? staff? expenses?

why hasn't this issue been thoroughly discussed in the public?

give me a break - i'm well aware of the level of "transparency" in this city's government. Go ask Frank Giglio about transparency, Joe....

I was thinking of voting YES on this one.  Can someone tell me the pros and cons of voting for this?  I would think that putting an alternative in place would keep things moving and get things done instead of moving at a snails pace which seems to be one of the problems in Cleveland.  But, now that dbra has mentioned the additional costs and the possible negative aspects of passing this issue I am beginning to look at it in a different light...but still uncertain. 

  Councilman Cimperman--thank you for using this forum.  I respectfully disagree with your clarification.

The Cleveland City Planning Commission is a seven member panel of appointees who are compensated for their services. 

1.) How and how much are the panel members compensated?

2.) If one is indisposed due to illness or any unforeseeable event, please tell me why the Commission can not simply reschedule the once-a-month (or twice-a-month) meeting commitment?? 

http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/

See current members listing.  All are appointed and compensated.  Council representative is always (to my knowledge) the downtown council representative--in this case, Councilman Joe Cimperman.  If you can not attend--then, the body should simply RESCHEDULE, too.

3.) And, if one of the appointees is subject to a chronic illness, as Norm Krumholtz was this past year--then then why can't the  Mayor simply appoint another member?

Wouldn't it make sense to move the elephant, rather than buying and feeding another elephant??

 Here's an example and email received today:

Katherine Bulava
Communications Director
Cleveland City Council
216-664-4466
216-857-7362 (cell)

-----Original Message-----
From: Katherine Bulava
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:02 PM
To: Katherine Bulava
Subject: CHANGE OF MEETING NOTICE

October 25, 2009

Cleveland City Council
Katherine  Bulava, Communications Director
216-857-7362

CHANGE OF MEETING NOTICE:

The Finance Committee has been moved from 2 pm to 12:30 pm on Monday, October 26, 2009.

my opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer, my spouse, my cat, my neighbors, my extended family or anyone I happen to acknowledge on the street, bus, etc.

Maybe if we knew how the alternative members would be conpensated it would help us decide.  Maybe they should be thought of as temporary workers who would just step in and get paid for the hours they actually work, but how would that be determined since the work of making decisions on any issue probably is ongoing and very time consuming if done right.  Getting intelligent and well informed people to work on issues is probably something that is sorely needed in Cleveland.  Is it worth the price to have people as alternatives when the regular member is indisposed?  It might be worth it.  This is what we need to know...how much will the alternatives be paid?  Will it be worth the price? 

I'm sorry but this request really gets my goat... particularly in today's times. Its plain irresponsible.

Currently, the Planning Commission members are compensated for their time and hard work. The Charter Amendment does not include language regarding compensation for alternates. This decision is a Policy decision made by the Administration.   

 :::

Well argued, dbra.  Just dropped my mail-in ballot in the corner box.  NO on 17.

There must be a problem with absenteeism and them not being able to vote if a member is missing.

If that’s the case then alternates keep the seats full and the business at hand moving along.

If three different member miss three consecutive meeting, that could delay action for that duration of time or 45 days.

Then if an alternate is available they may hold those seats for three meeting.

There is a reason for boards to have alternates.

• 173.65  City Planning Commission  Each member of the City Planning Commission, except the member of Council serving thereon, shall receive compensation of seven thousand eight hundred twenty dollars ($7,820) per annum, payable monthly. (Ord. No. 2040-99. Passed 10-30-00, eff. 11-7-00) (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/clevelandcodes/cco_part1_173.html)

• In regards to Issue 17, the Charter Amendment does not allow for compensation of these appointees. If compensation is considered for these members there will have to be an amendment to the Codified Ordinances. An amendment would have to go through the legislation process with PUBLIC hearings.   If you disagree with compensation for these members, attending these Committee hearings is where you should make your voice heard.

• The calendar for City Planning Commission meetings is determined at the beginning of the year.  The meeting notice you reference in an earlier post from Katherine Bulava was in reference to a City Council Committee, not a Commission meeting. As I mentioned before, the alternates are not to replace the City Council member of the Planning Commission but ANY absent member.

• The representative from Council who sits on the Planning Commission is the City Planning Committee Chairperson NOT the Downtown Councilperson

• You are correct; the Mayor could appoint new members at his discretion. All of these appointments go through the Mayor’s Appointment Committee hearing that is open to the public.  If you are interested in the process for Mayor's Appointment Committee, I would be happy to send notice when the next meeting is scheduled. If you want your voice to be heard, I encourage you to attend.