NPR Piece on Sunshine Week

In celebration of Sunshine Week, or at least awareness of it, NPR's Ann Fisher covered a piece on the importance of public records and their dispensation.

Listen to this!

It can be found at http://www.wosu.org/allsides/ under Wednesday 3/16 11:00 AM - Open Government

Or, listen here:



This comes just in time after the March Villager was published, well, delivered. But that's another issue.
In the March Villager, the annual report was published including a few remarks in regard to public records requests. (This may be seen here)

The following was stated by Suzanne Coulter, Clerk-Treasurer of Minerva Park:

Although the Village is obligated to honor public records requests and continues to do so, during the last two years, the number of public records requests have become an undue burden on the Village. The Clerk-Treasurer's office alone has spent more than 25 hours answering public records requests – in addition to the many hours spent by the Mayor's Assistant and the Mayor. This costs taxpayer money but more importantly has prevented us from devoting time to other responsibilities or projects. The many hours devoted to public records requests could have been spent seeking grant money to build a new community building.

First, I'd like to "table" the issue of whether or not we need a new community building. Where did that come from? Anyway...

This piece is from Lynn Eisnetrout, Mayor of Minerva Park:

We have been somewhat hampered by an unusual number of public records requests that have consumed a significant amount time of the Clerk-Treasurer, my Assistant, and me. 

Now, when this was brought up in the March Council Meeting, Mayor Eisentrout's answer to a comment about the tone of complaint was "I'm not complaining, I'm stating the facts"

I don't see the purpose of "stating the facts" other than to complain. What good will it do the Clerk-Treasurer or the Mayor to mention this, other than to complain. It's not going to make the public records requests stop, if anything it shines a light on the fact that someone is keeping tabs on what goes on behind closed doors in the community building.

The volume of these records requests comes from the less than up front attitude about what goes on in Minerva Park. As long as people, such as myself, feel as though the government needs to be babysat, records need to be requested.

Upcoming Coffee with Council

Monday, March 28th 2011

7pm - Community Building

The date for Coffee with Council has been moved to March 28th rather than the 21st. 

If anyone is interested in giving feedback, asking questions, or sharing ideas with council and can't make it, feel free to leave a message in a comment here, or an e-mail address to contact. 

Much of council would likely prefer you make a meeting with them or the mayor, out of earshot of other community members, but this has led to unaccountable activity in our community. 

Since citizens are limited to 3 minutes per issue at Council Meetings, this is our chance to help stop the inaccuracy and return accountability to our community building.

If you have concerns, questions, or new ideas, please let them be heard! You may chose to remain anonymous.

March Council Meeting Agenda

Since as far as I can tell the meeting agendas cannot be found on the Minerva Park website, I'd like to upload a hard copy for you.

Wouldn't it be nice if Minerva Park could publish this online ahead of time, as other villages and municipalities do? That way citizens (and council members) would have a clearer idea of what to expect at their meetings and what to look into.

Especially considering comment cards are required for citizens to speak, and since they're only given three minutes to speak, being prepared would help with moving the meetings on in a timely fashion. Personally though, as far as I can tell time is not the concern with limiting citizens comments, opinions are. Unless it's concurring with the preconceived census of council, opinions aren't desired.

I digress...

This is what was scheduled to be discussed at last night's council meeting:

Clicking on the image brings up a larger view.

Next month's council meeting is Monday April 11, 7pm. The work session is Saturday April 9th, 8am.

Legislation generally is posted on the Minerva Park website, found here. You may want to check it before leaving your house for the council meeting, though, items sometimes appear a bit late. Still, it seems to be a citizen's best source for info on what might appear on the upcoming meeting's agenda.

Be sure to check out the "Collective Calendar" tab at the top of the page for a close-to-complete list of dates for our community.

Rich History

The Columbus Metropolitan Library has a collection of old photographs of our village, when it was Minerva Amusement Park.

These can be found here.

"Minerva park featuring the jail, water tower, wishing well and entrance.
Art Work of Columbus OH709.771 A784, p. 38.
1897"

"The stone building included a water tower, telegraph office, and a one-room jail.
1900"

"Serves in 2001 as the administration building of the Minerva Park Golf Course.The housing subdivision of Minerva Park began construction 8/30/1927by Charles Foster Johnson.
Familiar Glimpses of Good Old Columbus Town OH917.7157 F198, # 9.

1945"

"Minerva Park Casino opened June 27, 1897 and seated 2,500 people for minstrel, opera, and vaudeville shows.
"Casino" was built in four weeks at a cost of $50,000. It was demolished in 1925 and part of the lumber was used to build the Farmers Exchange Market on Israel Street in Westerville.

Art Work of Columbus OH709.771 A784 p.37;Robert G. Stuart(552-1431

1897"

"Minerva Park Casino, a vaudeville and related events theater, opened June 27, 1897 with a seating capacity of 2,500.
Columbus Ohio OH977.13 C72 C7266, p. 16.
1900"

"Minerva Park opened July 13, 1895 on 150 acres north of Maplewood and east of Cleveland Avenue. The amusement park closed July 27, 1902 and the Minerva Park subdivision began construction August 30, 1927.
Columbus Ohio 1900 OH977.13 C72, C7266 p. 14.
1900"

Along with these photos there are some of Olentangy Park, the competition that ended the days of Minerva Amusement Park.

There are also two photos of interest to Minerva Park enthusiasts in the Westerville Public Library's collection. This can be accessed here.

"The trolley car carried passengers and freight to and from Westerville. A popular destination was Minerva Park, which for seven years operated as an amusement park."

"A new form of transportation reached Westerville. Local businessman Gary Meeker, disgruntled with railroad service, was instrumental in bringing the trolley to town."

If or as I continue to find more, I will share them here. If you happen to find any, please share as well!

March 2011 Villager

The March Villager is now available online at:
http://minervapark.org/villager/2011-03.pdf

Upcoming Election Positions Part 1

The General Election of 2011 brings with it the election of four persons in our village government.
The positions to be filled are held by:
Mayor: Lynn Eisentrout
Clerk-Treasurer: Suzanne R. Coulter
Council member: Kent Stanley
Council member: Todd Walter

This data can be found at The Franklin County Board of Elections.


Important dates for the 2011 General Election:
Election Day: Tuesday November 8th.
Voter Registration Deadline: Monday October 10th.
Absentee Voting Opens: Sunday October 4th.
Write-in Filing Deadline: Monday 4p.m. August 29th.


Per our Village in particular:

VILLAGE OF MINERVA PARK
Handouts: Local Candidate Packet
Petition: Form 3-M (single), Form 3-MA (slate)
Signature Requirement......................................................Min. 10 – Max. 30
Filing Deadline .................................. 4:00 p.m., August 10, 2011
Filing Fee ....................... $30.00 ($10.00 petition fee and $20.00 OEC fee)
Offices .................... mayor, clerk/treasurer, 2 council seats (Stanley, Walter)

Information on Voter Registration can also be found at The Franklin County Board of Elections, here.

Issues of Emergency

As previously discussed, much of the legislation passed by Minerva Park Council in 2010 was listed as "Declaring An Emergency". So far for the 2011 year, ALL of the legislation passed has been labeled "Declaring An Emergency".

This post's emphasis is not on the issues addressed themselves, but their "Declaration As Emergency". Many, if not most, of the legislation passed is necessary for our community to function as it does. However, there is a pattern of reliance on this ability to declare an emergency.

In response to this idea, a council member published a piece in The Villager (our community newsletter) which can also be found online.
http://www.minervapark.org/government101/index.htm

When you attend a council meeting or read the Mayor's Report, you will note that some legislation is passed "declaring an emergency." It sounds sudden and unexpected, but what does it really mean?
According to the Ohio Revised Code, to pass a piece of legislation as an emergency simply means that the legislation will take effect immediately after passage instead of 30 days later.
There are numerous reasons why a piece of legislation must take effect immediately, including to meet an important deadline, to sign a contract to keep services maintained, to start a project, or to take action on a hiring or benefits decision that needs to start as soon as possible. No matter what the reason, Council must consider it to be in the best interests of the health and welfare of the residents of the Village to have the legislation take effect immediately.
Despite it sounding sudden and unexpected, most pieces of legislation passed as an emergency are neither sudden nor unexpected. Much legislation is done on an annual basis such as contracts for services, the budget, and rules of council for the ensuing year. Street projects that are passed "declaring an emergency" often go through years of discussion and planning. These and other pieces of legislation are discussed in committee meetings and work sessions, and many times they are read at Council month after month before being passed.
When they are passed, if they need to go into effect immediately, they are passed declaring an emergency. So the next time you see "declaring an emergency," read it as "will take effect immediately."
Stay informed. All legislation - proposed or passed - continues to be posted at http://www.minerva park.org/legislation.

By Council President Pam Park-Curry
The Villager Newsletter - January 2011

Since we are clear on the "purpose" of "Declaring an Emergency" is to have it take effect immediately after passage, rather than the 30 day period otherwise required, let's move onto the use of this loophole Minerva Park repetitively uses.

It is true that most of the use of the "Declaring An Emergency" loophole is used for routine things, as presented above. Renewing contracts, updating bonds, and renewing user agreements are all common. 

However, these items are generally all expected. They are handled each year, every three years, or at least on a basis in which the Council can give the exact date that the contract was expected to expire. This is NOT a legitimate use of the "Emergency" rule, nor is it an excuse to use it when questioned.

A prepared government would anticipate its contract renewals at least three-and-a-half months in advance, allowing enough time for it to be read three times at typical council meetings and have 30 days to take effect.

A prepared government does not rely on emergency action.


Perhaps more concerning is the fact that not only are these issues passed as an emergency, their three readings were waived, giving the community no insight into them unless they diligently follow the actions of Council. 

It's as if Council does as it wants, regardless of its community members' wants.

Of these "Emergencies" of 2010:
11 out of 22 had all three readings waived
 
7 out of 22 were passed without any readings waived 

The remaining bodies had either one or two readings waived. 


To be fair, the whole story is never published on the Minerva Park website. The citizen cannot tell just from what is posted there all the dimensions of the emergency legislation. 

There are some items that were likely unforeseen. An example lies in resolution 2010-39: Authorizing the Mayor to accept a grant from ODNR. This is something that clearly, the Ohio Revised Code applies to. Although the Council should have been aware of the application in the first place, the legislation to accept the grant wouldn't have been necessary until likely less than the typical 3.5 months needed to give proper announcement. 

Otherwise, many of these "emergencies" have within them terms such as "from time to time" (employment) and "in a timely manner" (to respond to contracts or deadlines) which in themselves blur the time frame the legislation is discussing, also blurring the legitimacy of its being an "emergency" based on the documentation as voted on.

A great example of the Village misuse of the "emergency" rule can be found in resolution 2010-28 on a health insurance contract. Again, this is not an argument of the necessity of health insurance in general, but the manner in which the legislation was handled. The dates for the readings are as follows:

First Reading: September 13, 2010
Second Reading: October 11, 2010
Third Reading: December 13, 2010
Passed: December 13, 2010

If Council had read the issue in the November Council Meeting, there wouldn't have been an emergency:
"Council hereby declares this to be an emergency measure necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Minerva Park, such emergency arising from the need to have a health insurance policy in place by January 1, 2011. Wherefore, this resolution shall take effect and shall be in force upon its passage." 

This almost seems like a deliberate move by Council to "get away with" another emergency declaration. MOST of the cases of emergency declaration arise out of the actions of Council, be it lack of planning or a lack of interest in it, the reliance on emergency legislation is a pattern that appears again and again in Minerva Park politics.