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Local News

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Findlay city workers worrying about jobs
Streicher's
By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

Findlay department heads face a Friday deadline to submit 2009 budgets with 9 percent decreases. The cutbacks are causing anxiety for city workers whose jobs could be on the chopping block, and administrators say they are losing sleep over that prospect.

"Everybody's going up to the auditor asking about bumping rights and whether they'll be laid off," said Mayor Pete Sehnert. "People... I don't want to say they're panicking, but they're edgy about things."

Some have good reason to worry, particularly those who work in the largest departments, police and fire.

Police Chief William Spraw said his nearly-finalized budget proposal entails cutting "up to four officers," in addition to not filling two current openings, and getting rid of three clerical workers.

"We're also looking at eliminating all the (school) crossing guards," which would save about $30,000, said Spraw. "The (school) superintendent is aware."

Spraw characterized this year's budget process as "lousy."

"Nine percent is an appreciable amount when your budget is at least 80 percent people," said Spraw. The cuts will total more than $630,000, he said.

Fire Chief Tom Lonyo said by not replacing seven firefighters who will retire next year, and by eliminating response to most 911 calls for medical assistance, then no employees will be cut and Fire Station 3 will remain open.

He said his already-submitted budget reflects those steps.

Not replacing people who retire would mean two less firefighters per battalion and one less fire inspector.

Lonyo said when deputy Chief Tom Jorgenson retires, his position will be retained and condensed to handle inspection work too.

The city's union employees have been in the spotlight lately over wages, taking some criticism for possibly getting raises next year while non-union workers face pay freezes.

The city is close to signing a negotiated contract with International Association of Firefighters Local 381, which will give those members a 3 percent raise retroactive to the start of this year, and a 5 percent raise in 2009.

Firefighter union members, who have been working without a contract this year, did not receive 3 percent raises as other city employees did, and were forced to make concessions on longevity pay which they say will cost them more than $70,000 during the next two years.

So next year's 5 percent raise "looks worse than it really is," said Local 381 President Matt Cooper.

Not willing to simply take the city's word on the budget crisis, Cooper said the union has re-hired Barb Varanese, a former Geauga County treasurer now with a Columbus-based firm called Ohio Government Financial Management.

Cooper said Varanese was originally hired before contract negotiations started in late 2007 to audit the city's budget, and is doing the same this time.

"Municipalities use her to find misappropriation of tax dollars," Cooper said. "She comes highly recommended by a lot of people, including (union) locals. She does a really good job with looking at the overall picture. Our goal is to make sure what the city's telling us is the absolute truth. We wanted someone who can tell us, in laymen's terms, what's going on."

The union expects Varanese to release her findings sometime this week.

"The budget is very simple. They don't need to hire anybody. It's pretty black and white that revenues have fallen off," said Service Director Jim Barker.

If firefighter union members "would be willing to help out to some degree, that would be great, but the city will honor" the negotiated contract, said Barker, acknowledging concessions like two fewer compensation days and less longevity pay for firefighters this time around.

Meanwhile, Fort Findlay Fraternal Order of Police Local 20 is slated to begin contract negotiations with the city soon. Its contract expires at year-end. Barker said the police union "certainly understands they're in the middle now with the budget crunch. What I've heard at this point is, they're going to come to the table and be willing to talk."

The kind of deal the police union strikes with the city in terms of wages may have a bearing on the 13 sewer maintenance workers in International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18.

That union, formed this year, has been negotiating its first contract with the city since April, according to Safety Director Bruce Hardy.

"When we started negotiating, we did talk about raises every three years with them. But in our last negotiating session (Oct. 23) we had presented basically a no-raise situation for 2009." A "me too" clause could be added that stipulates sewer maintenance workers get the same kind of raise next year as police.

"We were probably fairly close" to reaching agreement on a contract "and then up jumped the devil," said Hardy, referring to the budget shortfall. "It really colors what the city's willing to do for the unions as well as regular employees."

Barker said although the budget has had a bearing on union talks, "the administration has not threatened anyone" with wage cuts or layoffs.

Ultimately, it will be up to Mayor Sehnert and Findlay City Council to finalize the 2009 budget.

"We're doing everything we can without raising taxes," said Sehnert.

Brown: 419-427-8496,

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10 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Concerned wrote:
Threatened Layoffs?????
“ Jim Barker is quoted as saying the City has not threatened any wage cuts or layoffs. Interesting. Ask the Fire Chief if he has had ANY conversations with the Union about layoffs. It has been stated by him and City officials that the Fire Department will not replace the 7 or 8 retirees next year. Sounds a lot like layoffs to me. On another note, if the budget is so "black and white", why was former Auditor Janet Wobser asked to come in and "help" the current Auditor. I think people in this community will be astounded when the City has a multi-million dollar carryover this year. And why is it that noone ever mentions the 34 million dollars the City has in investments? I for one am eagerly awaiting the Financial Analysis from Ms. Varanese. One last thing. Please stop blaming the Firefighters Union for the City's current woes. If you want to blame someone, blame Marathon for not paying any taxes this year or next. Oh, did you read the article about Marathon's profits this year. How can City employees not be suspect of wrong doings by the Auditor's Office? ”
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 9:12:50 AM
city worker wrote:
yea man
“ seems you have alot of time as well there. dl,, way cool hillbilly cut down ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 5:58:44 PM
DL wrote:
City Worker
“ I've watched the past few weeks and found City Worker has plenty of time to post comments repeatedly! Maybe our tax dollars should be spent having City Worker either attend an english class or actually doing his work! ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 4:57:09 PM
city worker wrote:
more crap
“ Well Mr. carpenter they dont when contracted. By the time we add in all beenys,
No overhead the cities ahead,, we are headed for a big down turn. Sorry but the city need to down size now.
Business are pulling out ,,,,not coming in.
And this will be the trend maybe some temp jobs on/off when needed at some factories, thats it
 ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:44:54 PM
MC wrote:
Wages
“ Many government workers make less working for the government than they could in the private sector. Complaining that City Workers make too much is like saying teachers are overpayed.

Private engineering consultants would cost SIGNIFICANTLY more money.

 ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 3:28:37 PM
George wrote:
Worries
“ Maybe if the city worker and his or her cronies would step up and be part of the solution, things would go better for the city officials who are trying to balance a budget without laying anyone off.
Jeff, do you really think the Auditor and administration are mis using funds or hiding money. Don't you know that by law certain funds can not be moved around. The city must by law be accountable for all funds and subject to state audit. I am sure it wen't through that process recently. The administration has worked with the auditor's office during this budget crunch but they are not accountable to him. the mayor will review the department budgets and suggest changes if needed. The city is not broke as far as I have been told, heck you still get your paycheck don't you. Instead of laying off the engineer who puts the projects together for other city workers, lay off the three other guys that sit in the orange truck! we all see them around town.
Just quit throwing stones and as said become a part of the solution, it will reap benifits in the long run. I have been there and it works. ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 2:41:42 PM
city worker wrote:
the rats at work
“ where are all the post ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 8:54:26 AM
Jeff wrote:
go to the source
“ Joy, in the future when you write stories about the City's budget process or financial "crisis," I suggest you get your quotes from the City Auditor, since the City administration and City council seem to be taking their marching orders from him. Mr. Barker says he does not see the need for the union to hire an indepedent auditor to review the City's finances. Oh really? Lets wait and see what she uncovers. I think we will find that the sky did not, or will, fall. A review of ALL City expenditures this past year, including capital projects, which the department heads were NOT allowed to touch, shows the City is NOT operating like it is in a financial crisis. Council was quick to pass a $26,000 shed, bringing it off the table and passing it as an emergency, when no union members were present at THAT council meeting. I could go on and on, but I hope that the public holds public officials accountable. The service they receive,peoples jobs, and YOUR tax money is at stake!! ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 7:17:48 AM
city worker wrote:
now its time to recall pete
“ Layoff the engineerssave big money we can sub this work out. We dont have professional surveyors anyway
Always a lot of real questions and the work thats done ,,,,,we need crossing guards more then we need engineers .
Hopefully no young life will be lost .
 ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 5:56:09 AM
J wrote:
Contract and Raises
“ As the economy heads into recession the City should be pushing for wage cuts not giving raises to people who already making more then the average taxpayer. Look around, jobs paying what City and County workers are making per hour are not coming to Findlay or to Ohio for that matter. New jobs are paying barely over minimum wage. I for one will not support any type of tax increase as long as government workers continue to get payed as if we were still in an economic boom time. Perhaps it is time to elect a city council that is as concern about the tax payers wallet as it is about the wallets of the city and county workers. ”
Tuesday, November 04, 2008 1:59:01 AM
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News Briefs Work scheduled on Findlay streets
Findlay's Main Street, northbound, will be reduced at times to one lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for waterline connection.

Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

Recount planned in trustee's race
OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

Road to be closed
Forest Lake Drive, between Marion Township 237 and Indian Lake Drive/Forest Lane, will be closed today for a pipe installation.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.