PRESORTED STANDARDUS POSTAGE PAID

SANDUSKY OHPERMIT NO 10

*****************ECRWSS****

Postal Customer

Our Hometown NewsP.O. Box 42187Brook Park, Ohio 44142

Serving the City of Brook Park and its more than 19.000 ResidentsJanuary, 2015 Vol. No. 32, Issue 1

PERSONAL FROM THE EDITORby Tom Greenlee

This issue offers a perfect example why freedom of the press must be a protected constitutional freedom of the people. With all of the serious matters facing the city, including a life protecting special election, it is vitally important for the average citizen to have a means of expressing his opinion without fear of government reprisal.

This paper has continued to perform as a “watchdog for the people”, critically examining the policies being imposed by the politicians. Unlike the large daily and weekly Plain Dealer that published an article in their Sunday issue claiming our city had a $3 million deficit last year, when our Finance Director had just testified under oath, at a hearing five days earlier, that our city in fact had a 79-80 thousand surplus last year.

Everything in our paper is only about Brook Park, for Brook Park. The vast majority of the articles, letters and information is being reported by average citizens who are your neighbors, not by a paid reporter covering a multitude of cities who only uncritically prints whatever the politicians in government tell him to say, even if it is not true.

Yes, as you read this issue, it is concentrating on the upcoming special election on February 3rd. as well as the coming debate over the Mayor’s soon to be released budget for 2015. There is nothing of any greater importance for our residents than how much taxes they pay and what services they are getting for their money.

For the first time we have created an annual report card for the Mayor on page 2, we hope you will examine it carefully

Wellman - p7

SPECIAL ELECTION ISSUEVOTERS ASKED TO DECIDE ON REOPENING FIRE

STATION #2The goal of this newspaper is to provide the information to the residents necessary for them to be able make intelligent decisions on

important city issues. This requires that both sides on an issue, those for and those against, have an opportunity to present their position to you without any editing or changes by us. On normal issues individual citizens do not have the means or funds necessary to tell their story to the whole city.

On February 3rd. there will be a special election involving Fire Station #2 that the voters will have to consider. Issue #2 will ask the voters to decide whether Fire Station #2 should be reopened and staffed by a squad of 2 firefighters st all times We are pleased that resident Greg Wellman has chosen to come forward and present his reasons in this special election issue for asking the voters to vote YES on issue #2 on February 3rd. We are also very pleased that former fire Chief Mark Ramach (ret) and all of the fire professionals who have joined with and support the Chief’s position of yes on Issue #2.

Greg Wellmamn

Brookpark Resident

Greg Wellman Urges Vote YES

Mark Ramach, Fire Chief (Ret.)Urges Vote YES

To The Residents of Brook Park,

By now you have been inundated with political literature from both sides of the argument concerning the vote on Feb. 3rd (Issue #2) to determine if Fire Station #2 on Ruple Rd is to once again be staffed with two firefighters. I am writing this letter to speak of the effort to reopen this station and not about the financial condition of the city.

In May of 2014, Mayor Coyne closed Fire Station #2 (FS#2). He told the residents at a public meeting on May 7th that the closing was not about money, it had nothing to do with the finances of the city. He even stated at that time that no matter the state of the finances, good or bad, he was closing the station, something he openly stated that he had wanted to do for political reasons even during his first 20 years as Mayor when he had plenty of money.

Then on Jan 2nd of this year a political flyer from the Mayor was distributed to the residents west of SR 237 (the Berea Freeway). In this political flyer, the Mayor flip flopped and changed his message to try and make the claim he had previously publically denied, that now, it was in fact the finances of the city that was the reason he closed FS#2. He stated in this flyer that it was in fact the firefighter’s union that was behind this effort to reopen the station (a false claim) and that it is all about overtime. The Mayor made this claim even though he knew that in his contract negotiations last year with this union, the city and the union agreed to a cap of $75,000 in overtime. Therefore even IF the union were involved, they wouldn’t be supporting the reopening to gain overtime, since they had already agreed prior to the closing to a fixed amount of overtime in their brand new contract. The Mayor states in this letter “DO NOT BE MISLED” but in fact he is the one doing just that.

One other point about this flyer. Please let me inform you of the people that were seen taking time out of their day to assist the Mayor.

Tom Coyne – Mayor (elected)Greg Cingle – Dir. of Finance (elected)Marty Healey – Asst. Dir. of Finance (appointed by the Finance Director)Louie Cayet – Service Director (appointed by the Mayor)Ted Hurst – Building Commissioner (appointed by the Mayor)David Byrnes – Safety Director (Appointed by the Mayor)Mike Dolan – Economic Commissioner (Appointed by the Mayor))David Morris – Civil Service Commissioner (Appointed by the Mayor)Rick Salvatore – Councilman at large (elected)Carl Burgio – Councilman at large (elected)

Their participation in passing this flyer out should raise some questions as to why all these city employees are against the safety of the residents for whom they work. The most interesting question is why the Civil Service Commissioner is campaigning against the reopening of the fire station when he could potentially be involved

To the People of Brook Park,

If there’s one thing that I learned during my 33 years of service to the city, first as a Firefighter/Paramedic and later as your Fire Chief, it’s that response time matters. Anybody that tells you differently is either ignorant of the facts or flat out lying. Response time is at the heart of Issue 2 and is why I write to you today.

The American Heart Association’s position is that brain death and permanent death start to occur within 4 to 6 minutes after cardiac arrest. However, cardiac arrest can be reversible if treated within a few minutes with an AED or other electric shock device to restore a normal heartbeat. There are numerous studies which indicate that a victim’s chances of survival decrease by 7% to 10% every minute that passes following cardiac arrest without defibrillation and other life support methods. It is common knowledge in the medical community that few attempts at resuscitation are successful 10 minutes following cardiac arrest.

I myself was just personally reminded of all of this within the first few months of my retirement when I heard a cry for help from a woman whose husband went into cardiac arrest. With the help of several other by-standers, who just happened to be a doctor and dentist, along with an AED that the Dentist just happened to have nearby, we were able to respond immediately and begin emergency care. We were in a rural area at the time and the ambulance took a bit to get there. Luckily, the three of us happened to be in the right place at the right time and were able to save this man’s life. The cardiologist at the local hospital even made a point to let us know that without our early intervention, this man surely would have died.

Politicians often try to compare the set-up of the Brook Park Fire Department with our surrounding communities, especially Middleburg Heights and Berea. Both these cities have only one fire station, however, that fire station is centrally located within these two geographically square cities. As you know, Brook Park is a long rectangle, thus differing geographically from Middleburg and Berea. Further, everyone knows that the airport divides the City of Brook Park. What most do not realize, is that the airport is 4 and ½ square miles- roughly the size of the city of Berea. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that without a fire station located on the west end, this division adds significantly to response times.

The above examples clearly emphasize that trained people, proper equipment and a fast response time make a difference. In my opinion, this service should be a proper function of government. With the current decline in manpower and layoffs, doesn’t pulling an ambulance all the way from the main part of the city leave that area depleted and add to response times?

Is Brook Park broke? Are cuts needed? There seems to be some differences of opinion about that. But if cuts really are needed wouldn’t a good leader sit down with his staff and maybe take some money saving ideas from the professional studies and reports for which the city has already paid? Winning an election does not make a politician an expert at everything.

This upcoming February, you have a choice - a choice that we as hard working citizens don’t normally get to make. The choice is

Ramach - p2

Page 2 Our Hometown News January 2015

Annual Report Card General Fund Spending Last Three Years of Mayor Elliott - First two Years of Mayor Coyne

As this report card clearly points out, even though Mayor Coyne was elected to continue the hard work begun by Mayor Elliott to balance the city’s finances, he has instead used his election to pursue his own personal agenda that does not have as a goal balancing the budget and rebuilding the city’s depleted cash reserves.

The last three years of Mayor Elliott’s term demonstrate that the policies he had put in place had solved the problem of a deficit in the annual spending required to provide all of the safety and services to the residents without eliminating any service or asking the voters for any new taxes. Not only had Elliott balanced the budget but

he was also beginning to show a surplus every year to add to the cash reserves. In addition to balancing the operating budget Elliott had also continued his program to rebuild the infrastructure of city roads and sewers and the long awaited Snow Road overpass. All of which can be seen in his report card.

The low point for the city finances was 2008 when the city suffered a loss of income taxes of $3.6 million dollars in just that one year alone. However, by the following year Elliott had reduced spending by about $2 million dollars a year and he continued to reduce spending by about $500,000 every year until he left

office at the end of 2013 As you can see in our report card and graphs.

As a result it obviously came as quite a shock and surprise, for many familiar with the city’s finances, when newly elected Mayor Coyne presented his first budget for 2014 with his plan to increase spending by $1.25 million dollars over the previous year and his plan to operate the city, which had seen surpluses for three years in a row, with a $1.6 million dollar deficit in 2014. Thus, with one stroke of his budget pen, the deficit created by his huge spending increase effectively wiped out all of the sacrifices and hard work that had gotten the city back to a balanced

operating budget with the beginning of showing actual annual increased cash reserves.

It should be noted that Coyne’s plans, continuing into 2015, are to eliminate both, the City’s Emergency Medical employees and the city’s automated rubbish pick-up and replace them by outsourcing these vital services to For Profit Corporations and their non-union employees

In sum, Coyne’s first year rated a failing grade in all areas, when compared to the three most recent years of Elliott’s previous administration. And what’s even more ominous for the residents, this year of 2015 is projected to be even worse.

this: Follow the advice of a smooth talking, fact spinning politician or the advice of the Fire and EMS experts, backed by studies, data, and standards of practice. The choice is simple. Bring safety and equality back to EVERY family in Brook Park by voting YES on Issue 2.

Sincerely, Mark Ramach, Fire Chief, retired

In Support, Chris DiPerna, former Safety Director

Neal Donnelly, Fire Chief, retired

Domenic Campana, Assistant Fire Chief, retired

Linbell Lewis, Fire Prevention Lieutenant, retired

P.S. All of us either live in Brook Park or have family that live in Brook Park

Ramachfrom page 1

Adult Drop-In Center is Not Just For Senior Citizens, But All Adults

Adult Drop-InGames & Activities

Thursday Mornings 9:30-12:30Everyone Welcome

What: Adult Drop-InWhen: Every Thursday MorningWhere: Redeemer Lutheran Church 6151 Smith RoadTime: 9:30am-12:30pm

Contact Jan Powers (216) 676-4372 or Doug Flannery (440) 934-7074 if you have any questions.

January 2015 Our Hometown News Page 3

A Lesson In Tom Coyne Economics

How To Spend More And Provide Less

By Tom Greenlee

By now all of you are probably tired of hearing the Mayor’s broken record telling you how the city is in dire financial straits and you can not continue to expect to receive the same services and safety protection you have always had under the administration of Mayor Mark Elliott. So, what was Coyne’s solution? – Give me almost $8 million dollars more every year by passing property and income tax increases. What was the citizens’s response to that Coyne demand? – A resounding 75% said NO more money.

The unspoken message in the citizen’s defeat of the tax increases was: “Mayor Elliott was able to continue all of the city services without asking for higher taxes. Even though he was the one who suffered through the great recession of 2008 and the closing of the Ford Foundry. He had to learn how to “Do more with less, and he did” – we expect you to do the same!”

In the accompanying graph you are able to clearly see that Mayor Coyne had no intention to continue to provide the same level of safety and services with the money available to him, as Elliott had. His budget published in the beginning of the year projected that he was intending to spend $1.3 million more than Mayor Elliott had spent just the previous year and by spending all of that additional money, that he didn’t have, he also intended to operate at a deficit of $1.6 million dollars, when Elliott had just operated the city the previous year with a surplus of over $300,000.

Doesn’t Brook Park deserve better than this when time matters most?Mayor Tom Coyne wants LifeCare Ambulance to replace our Brook Park Fire Department as the city’s provider of emergency medical services, but can we trust LifeCare with our safety? • A LifeCare crew was disciplined after it took

15 minutes to respond to a stabbing victim’s call in Lorain, more than twice as long as the average response time. The victim died as a result of his injuries.

• Even after an ambulance was stolen during an emergency call, LifeCare failed to outfit all of its ambulances with inexpensive theft-deterrent devices, only to see another ambulance stolen the next year.

Tell Mayor Coyne and City Council Our Safety Needs to Come First.

“Lorain paramedics reached stabbing

victim 9 minutes later than average; Man

dies from injuries” – Newsnet5 8/16/13

“LifeCare crew took 15 minutes to respond to call” – The Chronicle Telegram 8/15/13

“LifeCare Ambulance paramedics disciplined for response to fatal stabbing” –The Chronicle Telegram 8/22/13

“Ambulance responding to a call is

stolen in Lorain” – The Morning Journal

9/9/13

“Man steals LifeCare ambulance from Elyria hospital” - The Morning Journal 12/31/14

EDITORIALS & LETTERS FROM THE COMMUNITY

Page 4 Our Hometown News January 2015

Help Support Elliott & Colonna VisionsIn 2013 Mayor Mark Elliott had

the wisdom, knowledge and vision to maintain the Ruple Rd. Fire Station. In June 2013, Mayor Elliott proposed to the then-elected city council that the fire station be totally renovated in order for the hook and ladder truck to be properly housed there, as well as providing updates to the fire station for the safety of the fire fighters/paramedics assigned to Ruple Rd. The 2013 city council agreed with Mayor Elliott by passing Ordinance #9840-2013.

There is no doubt in my mind that if Mayor Elliott was still in office, his vision would have gone forward. Unfortunately, Mayor Elliott chose not to run for re-election.

Additionally in 2013, then-Councilman Danny Colonna wholeheartedly agreed with Mayor Elliott’s vision for the Ruple Rd. Fire Station. Danny Colonna also had the wisdom and knowledge to realize how crucially important the Ruple Rd. Fire Station was not only to the West End residents, but also to every resident of Brook Park as well as to NASA and the other West End businesses located on the Aerospace Parkway.

There is no doubt in my mind that if Danny Colonna had been elected mayor in November 2013 he would never

have closed the Ruple Rd. Fire Station. Consequently, under a 2014 Colonna administration, the West End residents and businesses would not be living with the dire consequences of Tom Coyne’s decision to close the fire station and take Brook Park’s hook and ladder truck out of service.

The only thing that changed between June 2013 and January 2014 was that Tom Coyne was elected mayor of Brook Park. In May 2014 he refused to recognize and honor the visions of both Mayor Elliott and then-Councilman Danny Colonna to renovate the Ruple Rd. Fire Station. Both Mayor Elliott and Danny Colonna are two of Brook Park’s leading citizens, and they both had the wisdom and knowledge to understand the vital importance of the Ruple Rd. Fire Station to the entire City of Brook Park.

Please help honor and fulfill the joint visions of Mayor Elliott and Danny Colonna for the Ruple Rd. Fire Station. On Tuesday, February 3, 2015, VOTE YES ON ISSUE 2.

Sincerely,

Susan M. Anderson, TreasurerCommittee to Secure Our Safety (S.O.S.)5700 Grayland DrBrook Park OH 44142

To The Editor,

Tom Coyne wants to rewrite history. He wants to pin the petition group on my husband Jim Astorino. Guess what? He’s WRONG. Susan Anderson, the person running the campaign, is one of my dearest friends and she has walked Ward 2 with me in all of my campaigns. It was my turn to help her out.

Tom Coyne’s problem is he thinks it is easier to create the fire fighters as the villains than it is to explain his bad City planning. I’m hoping most of you who know us see right past that. The idea of politicians being our BOSS is no longer accepted in our democracy society. Susan is leading a campaign, along with other residents, because of her fear. Her fear for her safety and the people in the west end. Her fear is real…She is within her rights as both a citizen and a TAX PAYER. She realizes minutes matter!

Mayor Coyne said at the May 7th City Council meeting that closing the Ruple Road Fire Station was a vision about building a new fire station and not about money…Please don’t let him now

change his story. Why? Because this Fall the Mayor and City Council negotiated and passed the fire fighters contract. That contract contained a 7 men staffing clause. Issue 2 says there will be 5 men at the Holland Station and 2 men at the Ruple Station. That equals 7 men, just like the contract says. If the Mayor and his Administration didn’t like the fire fighters contract, they should not have passed it as is.

Our Finance Director said the cost of operating the Ruple Rd fire station was $10,000 a year, utilities and all. So do they want us to keep the Ruple Station empty and let people die because of $10,000? That’s sad!

Oh I forgot to mention that while Susan was walking Ward 2 with me, she was fighting the battle of her life “cancer” so if Susan can do that for me. I surely can take a few sticks and stones Tom Coyne is throwing at the Astorinos.

PLEASE VOTE YES ON ISSUE 2.

Patti Astorino

Vote Yes On Issue 2

Dear Residents and Customers: I was elected to make a “difference” and I

have been doing just that, even though I have run into “road blocks” and “detours” along the way, I still have:

*Kept the public informed on the Ruple Road Fire station issues and tried to get it reopened.

* Pushed for more open discussion on the Council floor so the public can hear our decision making process.

*Voted NO on suspension to get three readings of legislation directly affecting residents so the public has more time to get the facts and speak on the matter if they so desire and the rules require three readings!

Note: Contrary to the false warnings of the Mayor and Finance Director the City did NOT shut down January 1st and everyone got paid because there was plenty of time to have the additional readings and get the legislation passed!

I will continue to make a difference in this city by stating and working with the facts like:

*We did not have a $3 million dollar deficit in 2014 *The response times from the Holland Fire Station to the

homes northwest of the Ruple Rd. Fire Station are much longer than the five minute rule,as much as 12:52

*Our Charter states that the Mayor: “shall see that ALL laws and ordinances are enforced therein” sec.3.03

I hope the Mayor presents his 2015 appropriation budget soon,so Council has time to consider his proposal properly and we are not forced into a last minute vote.Your Councilman, TomTroyer

Paid for by Friends of Tom Troyer, Tom Troyer Treasurer 18352 Kalvin Dr 44142

From Ward 1 Councilman

4VOTEFEBRUARY 3RD

Why Not One At FS#2?By Tom Greenlee

Since Mayor Coyne clearly states in a political mailer to the city: “We have never considered less than three EMS units in the city, and at the time he mailed this political letter the Fire Department was staffed with 3 EMS units, why would the Fire Chief not have one squad stationed at Ruple Rd. to be first responder on any emergency, EMS or Fire, within a 5 minute radius, east, west, north or south? Not only would the west end be protected

but all of Wards 1 and 2 also all the way up to Delores Blvd. are within that 5 minute response radius. With only one of his three squads at the Ruple station. That would mean that there would always be at all times 2 squads protecting the rest of the city out of the Holland Rd. station. This is how Brook Park has guaranteed protection to all of its residents and businesses since we became a city in 1961. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

AARP TAX-Aide Site - Brook Park Contact: Jan Widiger, Site Leader

440-886-4992

News ReleaseFor Immediate Release

TAX-AIDE SITE MOVES TO NEW LOCATION

The AARP Tax-Aide site, which has been housed in the Brook Park Recreation Center for nearly twenty years, has been moved this year to the Brook Park United Methodist Church located at 6220 Smith Road. The Tax-Aide staff, made up entirely of volunteers, is IRS-certified to provide free income tax assistance to low and moderate income people of all ages, but with special attention to those 60 or over and the disabled.

The service will be available on any Wednesday from February 4 through April 8 from 12 to 5 p.m. Appointments are needed and can be made by calling the church office at (216) 676-4738 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Taxpayers must bring last year’s federal and state returns, Social Security cards or other official documentation for themselves and any dependents, all W-2 and 1099 forms showing income received and any forms showing expenses which may be deductible. Once the returns are prepared and quality reviewed, they will be e-filed at no charge to the taxpayer.

Tax-Aide assistance has been available to taxpayers in many parts of the country for over forty years now and is especially widely used in Ohio and other midwestern states.

* * * * *

Myth #4 – Brook Park Fire Department staffs three ambulances while Life Care will only staff two in the City.

FACT – This is not true. We have never considered less than three EMS units in our city.

January 2015 Our Hometown News Page 5

EDITORIALS & LETTERS FROM THE COMMUNITY

Are Mayor and Council In It For Money

Call your Mayor and Council to vote for the snowplowing. Let’s see how they vote? Ar

The City Is Not Broke A rumor has been circulating for

quite some time that our city is “Broke”. That is “NOT TRUE”. However, if we do not curb this administration’s runaway spending spree, we could soon be there.

Do you know some of the ways YOUR tax dollars are being spent?

$244,777.00 for a new street sweeper, Dec. 2014.

The Mayor decided to hire a Sidewalk Inspector, a Mediator, (Exactly what are they and why do we need them?)

Your tax dollars pay over $22,000.00 annually to rent a small garagelike structure for our deplorable animal shelter. Plus we pay inflated utilities to a private enterprise to maintain that structure.

Annual clothing allowance of $500.00 to $700.00 for most of our employees which DOES NOT have to be spent for clothing.

Several employees are provided cars to take home, ON YOUR TAX DOLLAR. Plus many employees get paid lunch breaks.

Also, the Mayor wants to clean up Ford Motor Company’s brown field, with your tax dollars?

The Mayor wants to privatize Garbage pick-up, EMS etc. This means you are still paying the same amount of taxes and in addition you will be receiving a bill in the mail to pay for these independent

services. AND…Just what does he do with the money he supposedly saves the city (not you), maybe he has another political crony who needs a job.

Be patient, wait for the CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) when the numbers have to be in the right place and in the right order and you will see the true financial state of our city….NOT BROKE!

After reading this letter, my question to you is this: “How would you have spent YOUR TAX DOLLARS?” Would you have purchased an overly inflated Cabinet? ,a Street Sweeper that cost more than several of our laid off workers? or would you have spent your money to keep ALL our citizens safer?

One last thought, do you know that our firefighter/para-medics make about 3,000 runs a year and bring into our city coffers about $650,000.00 and at absolutely NO COST TO YOU. The money is collected from your insurance companies.

We will lose this benefit if the Mayor brings in a “for profit” private enterprise. We are not being told what this company will charge us.

We have an excellent firefighter/para-medic group. When you have the best, why would you want to trade it in for an unknown.

Jan Powers

Coyne’s Misbehavior

Structural SurplusMy Fellow Residents:

I am writing to deliver a simple, clear and concise message. In 2013, our city under the previous administration had General Fund Total Expenditures of about $20.5 million (according to the 2013 CAFR). In 2014, General Fund Total Revenue was about $20.8 million (according to the Revenue Report for December 2014). If the current administration had limited spending in

2014 to the same level as in 2013, the city would have had a $246,377.00 structural surplus in 2014. Please take note that this surplus would have been achieved without any tax hikes in August. My point is this, any structural deficit for 2014 would have been caused by the over-spending of the current administration, NOT by a lack of revenue.

Doug Flannery

To the Editor

We have heard Mayor Coyne say multiple times that he left Brook Park with financial surpluses in the City’s reserve funds. He also has claimed on numerous occasions that Mayor Elliott is to blame for depleting these funds. You Sir, are not telling the complete facts.

Is it or is it not true that current members of City Council were in office under Mayor Elliott? Mayor Elliott could not have spent those funds without their approval. Could it be that you do not mention this because these people are not only your friends, but also your political allies? Mayor Coyne, place the blame on everybody involved instead of just

Mayor Elliott.

Also the way that Mayor Coyne and his friends on City Council assassinate Councilwoman Jan Powers and others just because they do not vote the way they want them to is not only appalling, but it is unacceptable behavior.

Mr. Mayor, you also disrespect the people that attend the council meetings by standing behind your chair and walking to the back of the room to talk with your friends. This behavior shows us that you are not interested in what is going on in the meeting.

Sincerely,Robert Johnson

Modern Fire Dynamics

Dear Residents of Brook Park:

Berea Firefighters IAFF Local 1836 would like to voice our support for Issue 2. We are urging the people of Brook Park to vote yes on Issue 2 and send the message to your elected officials that the safety of you and your neighbors comes above all other city services.

The Berea Firefighters are deeply concerned that the cuts being made in Brook Park will be detrimental to your safety and the safety of all surrounding communities.

The region’s fire departments are seeing annually increasing call volumes that are resulting in increased strain on daily staffing levels and greater reliance on mutual aid from surrounding departments. The steadily increasing demands for services are lowering the

reliability of mutual aid agreements and causing occurrences when services must be declined due to simultaneous incidents.

Today’s fires are fueled by plastic based materials and burn at higher temperatures that drastically reduces the time period firefighters have to save a victim before deadly temperatures or structural failure occur. The effects of reduced staffing and increased response times are magnified in today’s fire dynamics.

Additionally, today’s firefighters are crossed-trained as paramedics. Response times are crucial to many EMS emergencies and reduced staffing would surely impact you, a loved one, or neighbor in a time of need.

Once again, please vote “YES” on Issue 2.

A YEAR IN REVIEW by Jan Powers

As I look back on my first year in office, I had high hopes for a Mayor who would listen, plan and protect our neighborhoods and promote our quality of life. I believed then and still believe that our city is a great place to live.

Early on, reality began to set in. The Mayor appointed a Management Team that is estimated to cost the city close to TWO MILLION DOLLARS. The Mayor said we needed

to purchase the parking lots on Snow Road as it would be detrimental to Brook Park if Cleveland owned them. He decided to place two tax issues on the ballot to obtain money for his grandiose plans. He said the passage of either of those taxes would secure his position for a $40 million dollar bond to build all city buildings new and purchase the Snow Rd properties. The levies failed and then the Mayor publically stated that he would make the seniors pay. He proceeded to slash services, eliminating transportation, grass cutting and snow plowing for seniors. He then laid off first responders and service workers and cut recreation programs. Strangely with these cuts, there were no adjustments to senior citizens programming staff or to Recreation or Public Safety Director salaries.

The Mayor said he would make the citizens of Brook Park so miserable they would beg Council to place the tax measures back on the ballot.

The Mayor and his management team started to manufacture ways to fracture the city of Brook Park even more. The best way to divide and conquer is to target safety and take away vital services so the Mayor could grab headlines in this self induced panic. He unnecessarily laid off 17 direct service workers while he created jobs and hired his political allies. He created a distrust of our public safety forces, and again, no cuts to his Management Team. The Mayor said he would rather lay off direct service staff than cut his Management salaries. Is his Team worth the loss of our city workers?

In Mayor Coyne’s first year back in office, he has stopped progress and the ability to have an open, honest conversation. The Mayor and his highly paid management team have yet to bring forward a city plan or a vision based on facts. In the past year, he has created a divide in our city, pitting us against each other and making false accusations against some of our citizens. This behavior is unfair and counterproductive.

Please join with me in voting YES on Issue 2. In August 2014 I voted to accept contracts with our employees. The firefighters contract we passed contained a minimum manning of 7. I think it is good to have a minimum. That provides us with a guarantee of SAFETY. Issue 2 says 5 firefighters will be at the Holland Station and 2 firefighters at the Ruple Station. This past year I received numerous calls from residents complaining that other cities had to respond and that it took too long. Issue 2 will give us better coverage. Everyone in our city, including our biggest tax payer, NASA, needs to be safe. Do not be misled by the mayor. This issue is all about SAFETY.

The Mayor has said he will defy the election results. Let him and his Management Team hear your voice.

On Feb 3rd vote YES on Issue Two.Jan PowersPaid for the by the committee to elect Jan Powers, Jan Powers Treasurer 16110 Harrison Dr, Brookpark, Ohio 44142, 216-671-4372

Volunteers Needed

On Thursday, February 5th at 7:00PM in Brook Park Branch Library, the Abram Creek Stream Team will sponsor “Time, Talent, Resources-How to Volunteer”. Supported by the Rocky River Watershed Council, we are asking local residents to step forward and learn about the numerous types volunteer positions available. Events are already planned needing volunteers. Your desire to help is all we require as we will provide any training or skills needed. Your desire and enthusiasm is all we ask to help us improve a long neglected waterway wandering through Middleburg Heights, Berea, Brook Park and Cleveland. For further details, please contact Mel Hauser at 216-392-1106 or mahauser@wowway.com. This public event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required but certainly appreciated.

Page 6 Our Hometown News January 2015

Richard A. Goulder, Attorney at Law

Administration of guardianships and estates Preparation of wills, healthcare powers of attorney and financial powers of attorney Divorce and dissolution of marriage Bankruptcy

Located in Brook Park 15887 Snow Road, Suite 301 (216) 676-6800

Free initial consultation Highest Martindale-Hubbell rating for more than 30 years for honesty and integrity

Russell Horner is a life-long Brook Park resident and currently works at a large public company Park-Ohio Industries, Inc. as their Director of Planning/Forecasting and Global Treasury Management. Russell is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and also holds many other certifications such as: Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified in Financial Forensics and is a licensed Private Investigator in the State of Ohio.

Russell is married to Debbie and has three children, Chris, Becca and Alex.

Horner’s CornerBy: Russell Horner, CPA

I would like to thank everyone for their comments, whether written or over the phone. You can send

your questions or comments to 21858 Forestview Circle, Brook Park, Ohio 44142 or call me at 440-243-0571. My beautiful wife Debbie will take a message if I am not available or you can leave it on my answering machine. I hope everyone had a very joyous holiday season and a great start to the New Year.

Protecting our Children from Internet Predators

Recently I was fortunate enough to assist the parents in finding their 13 year old daughter, who I will refer to as Sally, who had run away. Sally voluntarily ran away with a 27 year old male, who I will refer to as Matt, which she met through the internet. In years gone by, predators would identify potential victims by hanging around places where children were gathered, such as playgrounds or routes on the way to/from school. Today, these predators can select from thousands of potential victims through social media sites without even leaving their home. Pictures and “selfies” fill the social media sites, which give the predators an avenue to select a specific type of victim (age, race, gender, look, etc.).

Parents and grandparents must make a conscious effort to help protect their loved ones from these “invisible” internet threats.

Internet predators use what is referred to as the “Grooming Process” to eventually arrange a face-to-face meeting with their victim. The predators usually establish communication through a chatting or messaging application. In the case of Sally, communications began on Facebook and moved to a more private messaging application called KIK. Sally had more than 25 different user names on four social media applications (Facebook, Skype, KIK and Instagram). In addition, Sally also created five Yahoo email

accounts and four G-mail accounts to register all her social media user names.

Once a predator has gained initial communication with their victim, they start to gain the trust of the victim and communications will usually start becoming more personal in nature. This trust in a new online friend will eventually have the victim separating themselves from their true friends and/or family. Over the course of seven months, Sally had begun to distance herself from friends and family members. There were very little details discussed with Sally’s friends regarding her new online contact Matt. The only information that a few of her friends did know about Matt was that he was over 18 years old.

The predator usually exploits any relationship problems that the victim may have shared, such as problems with parents, teachers, friends, etc. Sally was having problems coping with the divorce of her parents and the perceived problems that this was causing in her life. Matt exploited this and began to fill Sally’s thoughts with a better life with him, instead of her current situation.

The building of trust continues to grow between the predator and victim, until a face-to-face meeting is arranged. Sally began to have face-to-face meetings with Matt at an area shopping mall. Eventually, a plan to run away was developed and carried out.

Sally ran away with Matt in the middle of the night. It had been 8-10 hours before Sally’s mom became aware that she was gone. Sally’s mom called the police to report her child missing. She then began to comb through every inch of her daughters room, searching for clues on where she may have went and whom she may be with. She contacted an organization called CFSI which specifically helps with finding missing children. Volunteer private investigators donate their time and expertise in gathering information and clues which is shared with law enforcement. I was assigned to her case. The search of Sally’s

room uncovered many hand written notes and countless number of user names and passwords. Although the predator’s full name was never used, a specific user (Matt), was appearing on many of the social media sites. Sally’s mother and I began to go through each of the social medial sites that Sally had set up. While logged into one of Sally’s KIK messenger accounts I had narrowed my suspected users to a contact person named “Matt”. Although there was not a picture of Matt on his profile, a photo of his neck and mid- section displayed a very distinctive scarf that he was wearing. While the Mom and others were monitoring Sally’s Facebook contact “Matt”, a change to his profile picture gave us the clue that was needed to help us find Sally. A picture or (selfie) of Matt and Sally was taken and posted to Matt’s profile on his Facebook page. The photo was taken in a car and was in the time frame that Sally was missing. The photo of Matt and Sally had Matt wearing a scarf exactly like the one in the profile picture on his KIK account. This gave the authorities probable cause to issue subpoenas to Facebook and KIK for information on the user named “Matt”. Eventually evidence concluded that Sally was in fact with Matt and a Federal warrant was issued for his arrest. Fortunately, Sally was recovered unharmed in Tennessee and Matt was arrested. The use of social media had been the avenue for this predator to obtain his victim, but it was also the means by which he was apprehended and Sally was returned safely to her home.

Internet predators are a real threat and are present all around us!!

What can parents and grandparents do? They can begin by monitoring the children’s computer use and phone use.

1). Ask the child to have them show you the social media sites that they are using. These will include programs such as Facebook, Skype, Instagram, KIK, Whisper, Yik Yak, Tinder, ASK, Vine and many others. ** Review what they have listed as their “Profile” and whether

critical information (age, residence, phone numbers, etc.) is listed.

2). Have the child show you their “contacts” for that site. Have them go through the contact list and tell you who the contact is (School friend, teammates, etc.) ** If they don’t really know the contacts name, it should immediately be blocked and/or deleted.

3). Parents should monitor the phone numbers of the texting activity of their children. Have the child go through the numbers and tell you who these people are. ** If they don’t really know the person they are texting, immediately block and delete the number.

4). Parents should discuss the dangers of online social media sites and the threat of them becoming a victim is REAL.

5). Monitor the amount of time your child spends on the internet or texting on their phone.

** Excessive time online or texting, especially at night, may indicate a problem is developing.

6). Report any content or activity that you suspect as illegal or criminal to local law enforcement and/or cybercrime hotlines. ** Most social media sites will have a way for you to report behavior of users within their site.

The internet is an invaluable necessity in our world today and can provide unlimited benefits. However, it also enables the predators to be more stealth-like in the methods they use to lure their victims from safety. Please spend time going through some of these suggestions with your children or grandchildren……It just may save their life.

The world is a much different place than it was in years gone by. Please protect your children and grandchildren.

P.O. Box42187 • Brook Park, Ohio 44142216-676-0202

email: thehometownnews@yahoo.com • Editor: Tom Greenlee

Produced monthly by Our Hometown News (HTN). Circulation is 8500 papers per issue. In case of error, we will reprint that portion of an article or advertisement that was in error. HTN is not responsible for any errors, or omissions of preprinted ads, articles, letters and submissions. Notification of error should be made within 3 days of published date. HTN assumes no responsibility for errors contained in any pre-printed brochures delivered with this paper as an insertion therein. HTN reserves the right to reject any advertisement or news item for publication. Letters to the Editor reflect the opinions of those signing them and not necessarily that of HTN or its advertisers. All letters submitted are subject to editing, and none will be returned. The opinions and representations contained in advertisements are those of the advertiser. They have not been verified by HTN, nor should they be construed to represent the position or viewpoint of this newspaper or its publisher.

BUSINESS HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8am - 5pm

Email: thehometownnews@yahoo.com

January 2015 Our Hometown News Page 7

One of the primary functions of a city is public safety, including fire protection and emergency medical services. In the City of Brook Park, both of those services are provided by the 28 firefighters of the Brook Park Fire Department, who are cross- trained to fight fires and respond quickly to medical emergencies and deliver life-saving medications and interventions. But Brook Park Firefighters do more than just emergency response. They regularly inspect all commercial buildings for fire and safety hazards and assist in training programs for local professional and civic groups. Firefighters are also part of a rescue team that focuses on special rescues, like

WMD preparation, high-angle and confined-space rescue, and response to water emergencies.

In the past 2 years, the Brook Park Fire Department has responded to 5,630 emergencies. House fires, auto fires, heart attacks, strokes, injuries from car accidents, and other major medical issues all are handled by the firefighter/paramedics of the Brook Park Fire Department.

The service of the firefighters doesn’t stop with emergency response. In the past 2 years the Brook Park Firefighters and their union donated over $26,000 to local charities, and performed over 300 hours of community service. Organizations like the

Boy Scouts, senior groups, our elementary schools, and youth sports leagues have all worked with the firefighters to make our neighborhoods stronger and more vibrant.

Some politicians have recently challenged the integrity of our firefighters. That is unfortunate and uncalled for. These firefighters are more than just public employees. Considering all that they do for our community, they truly are public servants in the best sense of the title.

Day and night, on duty and off, the Brook Park Firefighters are there when you need them.

There when you need them.

in a legal process regarding the firefighters that would require him to provide an opinion or decision, a decision that could affect someone’s employment with the city.

Shortly after this political flyer was delivered, another mailer came out to the whole city from the “Committee for our City” with Greg Cingle (Dir. Of Finance) listed as the Treasurer of this committee (the same committee that also was responsible for the misleading mailer last year concerning the tax levies that the voters of Brook Park soundly rejected by a 3 to 1 margin). In this mailer, it states that Issue #2 would “…guarantee large overtime costs…” because of the staffing levels. This statement is misleading, at best. Prior to the closing, there were already 7 firefighters on duty between the two locations as a part of the union contract. Issue #2 would maintain the 7 firefighters on each shift. But remember, the mayor stated on May 7th that the closing had nothing to do with the finances of the city. As stated previously, the city and union had already agreed to a cap of $75,000 in overtime. Any additional overtime will only be because the Coyne administration ordered it and will have nothing to do with the number of Fire Stations being operated.

Cingle’s statement that the closing of Station #2 and the subsequent consolidation were done because “that’s where 90% of the citizens live and children go to school and play” is unworthy of any one to say let alone an elected official charged to represent all of the people. To imply that 10% of the citizens of the

city aren’t worth the same level of fire and medical safety as the other 90%, as my late father would say, “What am I? Chopped liver?”

Another statement from Cingle is very misleading. He states that the city “response times” have improved. Every thinking person knows that is nonsense. Everyone knows it is impossible to respond as quickly from 6 miles away as it is from 3 miles away. Remember, the farthest reaches of the east end of the city is just over 3 miles away from the Holland Rd station whereas the farthest point on the west end of the city from the Holland Rd station is 6 miles. With the reopening of FS#2 the farthest west end response will again be just 2-3 miles.

Average response times to the residents on the west end by our Fire and Emergency Medical squads have doubled over what they were since the closing of FS#2 on May 11 last year. I don’t have to make this up. Any resident is able to get this information by just asking for it from city hall.

On January 13th, the residents received another mailer from Mayor Coyne and Greg Cingle concerning finances of the city and some of the steps they are exploring. Fair enough, but then this mailer turned political by including disparaging remarks against the firefighter’s union and a local news publication that has questioned the Mayor’s decisions since taking office. (This same publication gave Mayor Coyne the opportunity to get his message out to the residents) Although this doesn’t sound like much of an issue, the problem is taxpayer money cannot be used to publish or pay for any political mailings.

And I firmly believe the residents must be allowed to critically examine what their local government is telling them. The Mayor would want you to believe that this local publication is distorting the news and you can’t trust it. This implies that we are supposed to blindly accept whatever is being said by Mayor Coyne. I was taught differently in school and I, for one, will always critically question what comes out of city hall, the Ohio Statehouse and the federal government.

Another issue the Mayor takes on is when he mentions that 28 of our firefighters do not live in the city. True, but the city abolished residency requirements only after the Supreme Court struck them down. Where does it say that an employee can’t be dedicated to his profession if he doesn’t live in the same town for which he or she works? If he is so concerned about where a firefighter lives, then the Mayor should come forward and explain why many of his own appointed Directors and Commissioners don’t live in our city.

Residents of this wonderful city, please think this issue #2 over carefully. Read everything over carefully and ask questions. Let me leave you with the following facts.

1) It is a fact that EMT response times have doubled on the west end of the city.

2) It is a fact that Mayor Coyne publically stated in the beginning that the closing of FS#2 had nothing to do with the finances of the city.

3) It is a fact that the Committee to Secure Our Safety (S.O.S.) is composed of residents only, no firefighters or city employees are members.

4) It is a fact that the reopening of this station will not affect your taxes.

5) It is a fact that in 2013, Mayor Elliott brought forward and received unanimous votes from council to spend $150,000 to renovate Fire Station #2 so that it would house the city’s ladder truck. Mayor Elliott and even former Councilman Danny Colonna saw the value and the need for this station. The aforementioned councilmen, Carl Burgio and Rick Salvatore, were part of that unanimous vote to renovate Fire Station #2. Why have they now flip flopped and want to close the station they voted to renovate less than a year ago? When Mayor Coyne got into office, he stopped the renovation from occurring and no one on council raised their voice about it.

6) It is a fact that Mayor Coyne is spending a lot of money fighting an issue that he stated he would not honor even after it passes by the voters. There is a problem with the end of that statement. By his oath of office and by the Charter of this city, the Mayor is to uphold the laws/ordinances of this city. When this issue passes, it becomes an ordinance. When he refuses to honor the will of the voters, he is both defying the voice of the voters and violating his oath of office and the Charter of this city.

7) It is a fact that when you vote yes on Issue #2, you will be restoring the same level of fire and emergency medical safety for the whole city that has always been provided since Brook Park became a city in 1961.

VOTE YES ON ISSUE #2.Greg WellmanBrook Park

Wellmanfrom page 1

Do Not be Misled

When the Mayor closed the station he said, "…that we can provide all services in our city 90% of the time in 5 minutes or less…". Responses of less than 5 minutes to the west end have happened 3 % of the time. City wide responses have been less than 5 minutes only 52 % of the time. His station closing and reductions are not working for our safety. The Mayor told everyone, " This has nothing to do with money at all, it has nothing to do with it." Now that the election is drawing near the Mayor is telling everyone it is about cash, money challenges and overtime. Do not be misled by the Mayor's campaign antics. ISSUE 2 is all about SAFETY. The Mayor told everyone by consolidating resources into the Holland Road Fire Station the service will be improved. However, we lost the use of our Ladder Truck and when he laid off 5 firefighters,

he didn't consolidate, he reduced our service.

In 2013 Mayor Mark Elliott and many of the members still on City

Council planned to upgrade and renovate the Ruple Fire Station.

Study after study showed the importance of the Ruple Fire Station

and Mayor Elliott was planning for our safety and our future.

We were told that “...everyone in this city should expect a reasonable amount of time response.” In the past few months here are some of the response times we are experiencing: (minutes:seconds)

18:38 13:50 13:02 12:52 12:22 11:57 11:40 11:37 11:28 11:08 10:51 10:49 10:43 9:36 9:29 9:27

Issue 2 sets a staffing level of 5 firefighters at the

Holland Station and 2 firefighters at the Ruple Station.

The current contract has language for a 7 man minimum manning.

Minimum manning is good.

It gives us a GUARANTEE of SAFETY

The Fire Chief reported that when the Ruple Station was open and the firefighters were at the station the average response time to emergency calls within the area was four minutes and thirty-eight seconds (4:38). Since the station closed the average response time has increased by four more minutes.

MINUTES MATTER TO ALL RESIDENTS RE-OPEN THE RUPLE FIRE STATION

VOTE YES ON ISSUE 2 FOR SAFETY’S SAKE

Paid for by Committee to Secure Our Safety (S.O.S.), Susan M. Anderson, Treasurer, 5700 Grayland Dr., Brook Park, OH, 44142