Urbin: Adding Mayor, Council Person to Muni Board is Terrible Idea

Editor’s note: Vince Urbin is a former Avon Lake mayor. The Charter Commission recently recommended putting to vote the idea of adding the mayor and one councilperson as ex-officio, non-voting members to the Board of Municipal Utilities, allowing them to offer suggestions and attend executive meetings. Below is Mr. Urbin’s comments on the issue.

Dear Members of the Avon Lake Charter Review Commission and Avon Lake City Council:

First and foremost, thank you all very much for volunteering your time to review the charter and for the time put into serving our city. It is very noble of any resident who donates time to their community; without a doubt! I think I have done a pretty good job of keeping my nose out of local politics since I left office in 2001. It hasn't been due to lack of interest or because I have agreed with everything that is happening either. 

However, I must speak out on this terrible idea (in my opinion) of adding the mayor and a council member to the ELECTED Board of Utilities. I understand and accept that this is just my opinion and mine alone but there is no way that doing this makes any sense at all. What's next; adding an elected Board of Municipal Utilities to City Council as a non-voting member? I mean since council discusses issues that affect Utilities, wouldn't that be equal? My goodness, if our forefathers thought that these positions should be on each other's board, they would have put them there. 

The voters of Avon Lake have rejected giving the Board sole authority of their business more than once. This charter ammendment looks to circumvent that. I challenge each member of council to read the article in a local paper on this subject and if the reporter has stated correctly; how can you possibly think that this proposal for the make up of our Utility Board has any benefit to the residents of the city.

To me, and maybe me alone, it reads like the charter review Commission thinks the board needs big brothers to watch over them and to offer input on projects and the daily activities of the Utilities Department. Let's not forget that it was probably a charter review commission that created this whole system anyway. Has the history for those reasons we have a separate Board Of Utilities been researched? Has it been determined that there is a better way to operate the Utilities Department? I thought that's why we have an ELECTED board and why their’s is an executive hired by that board? 

I also thought that the executive they hire is required responsible for and held accountable for matters that come before the board for them to act on accordingly. Is that no longer true. Also, if there is a problem with the work of that executive, isn't it up to us as residents or you as council people to bring it the Board's attention if they don't appear to be addressing the concern. Then if they don't handle the problem correctly or according to our liking, isn't it up to us to elect people to the board who represent what we want from them. Isn't it also true that if City Council has a problem with the board or it's executive or anything with the utility department for that matter, that they can handle that in a already existing sewer committee, human resources committee or a Council meeting that is scheduled on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Or, can't a council member attend a Board meeting and make them aware of concern(s). 

Why do we need to add the mayor and a council member to this board. Why do we want to add another committee or meeting to city council and the mayor's already very busy schedules. You know as well as I do that this issue isn't on the ballot by mistake.  Something has either happened or this is a terrible attempt to take over the Board of Municipal Utilities.  Let me say this; if city hall thinks the Board is being negligent in its work or that the Board is of no use to the city, why don't you just share with us what the problem is and put that amendment on the ballot to abolish it and put the responsibilities of that department under the mayor and city council? I personally wouldn't support that measure but this end around that is happening here , if implemented is only going to cause more drama, more red tape and more discontent from people.  Further, city employees don't need more politics than they already have to deal with. The Board of Utilities deserves more respect than what this idea suggests.  Again, I remind you, like it or not, these folks are elected just like you are.  I hope The Charter Review Commission will consider that.

I remember the disagreements I had or saw other mayor's or council members have with Board members over the years.  Disagreements with individual Board Members as well as the Director and Ass't Director would happen and we would discuss them, sometimes very loudly, and we would reach a conclusion TOGETHER that was the best for the issue and most importantly; the  taxpayers. Has the retired Director, present and retired Board Members and Council members been solicited for their opinions. I don't have the right to name names without permission but I think we all know many of these folks. Disagreements are all part of the political process. They are not new. They have and will create meaningful discussion that hopefully leads to a better outcome.  

In a nutshell, all I am saying is, either attempt to abolish the Board of Utilities or leave things alone. I don't believe for one minute that this idea was initiated from Charter Review.  Hopefully common sense will prevail on this issue.  To me, we have the very best organization for our water and sewer system but I know we have one of the five best Water & Sewer Departments in the State of Ohio.  By the very nature of each one of you that is a council member, a board member or a charter review commission member; you have awesome responsibilities. 

I respect you and thank you for your service to the greatest city God ever created but quit beating around the bush with us and fix the problem, whatever that is, and leave our democracy in place as created by our forefathers and approved by the grandparents and great grandparents of many of the people who call Avon Lake home.

With utmost respect and concern,

Vince Urbin, Avon Lake