Another Rubber Stamp Council?

On August 8, the Euclid City Council voted 4-3 to purchase the old Alexander's property in downtown Euclid for $900,000.   This land is needed for Federal mandated improvements to Euclid's sewer system.

Yet, on Monday, August 27, the Council will debate this matter further.  Confused?  Let me explain.

Councilpersons Jones, Scarniench and myself voted against purchasing the land.  While the land is important to the project and needs purchasing,  the Cervenik Administration botched the entire presentation to Council.

When the City purchases property, an appraisal of the property is required.  Normally, that appraisal and, other supporting documentation is presented to City Council for review BEFORE  Council votes on the purchase.

Here examples of how the process should, and, has worked in the recent past

December, 2009 E 248th Street Sewer Project:  A lakefront parcel next to the Normandy was needed for a storm water outfall pipe.  Owned by the K&D Group, the final purchase price was $400K.   Council received both the appraisal and supporting explanations from the Administration well in advance of the meeting, allowing time for ample questions.   This purchase most closely resembles
the Alexander's purchase

June, 2010, St. Roberts Parish Purchase:   Bought for 674K, the City is "landbanking" the property to capitalize on future marina development.  The vote in June was the culmination of two months of CONFIDENTIAL e-mail exchanges between the Administration and City Council.

November,  2010 Lakefront parcel purchase.   The two other lakefront parcels were purchased from the K&D Group for 470K.  This brings the City in control of property between the Normandy and
HarborCrest.  At the same time, K&D donated to the City of Euclid a strip of shore line property that is important for future lakefront development. 

In each case, the Administration provided the Council with appraisal information, include copies of the actual appraisal, and detailed explanations explaining the appraisal, the need for the land, and reasoning behind the price.  With this information, Council can ask questions, and raise concerns
BEFORE voting on the legislation.
 

The Broken Process

 



For the Alexander property purchase, the City Council received zero supporting documentation from the Administration.  No appraisal, no explanation, just the legislation.    Now mind you, we have the same Mayor and Law Director, the same team that did it correctly a few years ago.  They know full well that Council would have questions on the appraisal and the price.

When you are going to spend 900K of the public's money, more information should be provided, not less.  When asked why the appraisal was not provided to Council prior to the meeting, Law Director Frey blustered that "no one on Council asked for it."  This is a very poor excuse for  the unwillingness of the Cervenik Administration to provide basic information, information that was  given in the past. 

Instead, Law Director Frey read certain portions from the appraisal to Council.  Being read too on the floor of City Council prevents any real questioning, and, insight or penetrating. thought: this only leads to poor decision making.

Yet, instead of owning up to the mistake, Mayor Cervenik complained about the Council not communicating with the Administration.  Well, its not like the appraisal information just became available in August.   The appraisals were completed in January. In reviewing communication from the Administration I can find nothing updating the Council on the appraisal process, or, the negotiations to obtain the property.  This was far different, than, say, what occurred when we were looking at the St. Roberts purchase.

The City Council has no obligation to bail out the Administration's poor preparation.   But, perhaps they figured they had the votes and did not have to prepare.   The majority of Caviness, Gail, O'Hare, and Mclaughlin provided the approval based on their trust of the Administration. 

Trusting the Administration  is nice.  Verification of that trust is better for the public!

Notice that I have not mentioned if the price of 900K is a fair one.

Without any supporting documentation, the Council should not even have begun to consider if the purchase price was right, wrong, low, or high.  Given how poorly this process was, my "no" was easy to cast.

So, why the meeting on Monday?  Two days after the vote, Mr. Frey did provide the appraisal of the Alexander property.   That led to many of my colleagues having all sorts of questions.   Imagine that!
I felt that it is important, the the public at least hear the reasoning behind the purchase price:  all of which should have been discussed before any vote was ever taken.

While it is unlikely, there is still time to make your voice heard.  The purchase legislation does not go into effect until 30 days after its August 8th passage.

The meeting is Monday, 8/27, Euclid City Hall, at 7:00pm

Our Euclid Public Schools

Dr. Joffrey Jones has now officially retired as Superintendent of the Euclid Public Schools.  We thank him for his service.  A warm welcome to Keith M. Bell who began his duties as Superintendent August 1st.  He steps into a challenging environment. 

9-mill Levy on the November Ballot.   This tops the list of issues that Superintendent Bell is facing.

Cuts in the Schools budget are planned no matter what happens in November.  The question is the depth of the cuts.  If passed, the 9 mill levy would last ten years and generate 5.4 million dollars annually.   For the owner of a 100K home, the cost would be $275.00 per year.

Perhaps a different way to look at this levy request is to ask your self:  What are we "buying" for our levy money?  In other words, what kind of education philosophy, administration, teachers, are we getting for our money?  What are the results of our dollars spent?

I came across a couple of articles that maps out a way that our money SHOULD be spent to get better results

What is listed below comes from articles published throughout the country by Karin Chenoweth and Kathleen Porter-Magee.  Each takes a little different approach, but the core values are the same.

1)  Set High Standards:  Believe that no matter where children live, they can learn.

2)  Accountability:  Make school Administrators and teachers truly accountable for results in the

     classroom.  This is meaningless without the following:

3) Teacher Autonomy:  If we are to hold schools accountable then, they must have the true ability

    to create the lessons and use the tools to teach the children based the educational needs of the child.

4) Focus on what children need to know:  This means focus on the basics so that children are ready for

    college or vocational training.

5) Create Teaching Teams:  A child's education should not vary from year to year based on the

    quality of the teacher.  Teacher collaboration delivers a better product for children.

6) Asses Frequently:  To see who is learning, who needs extra help, and, to find patterns to improve

    the education product.

7) Build Relationships:  Children must trust the teachers enough to learn.  Therefor, good schools

    build that trust among the Administration and staff, among the staff, and, between the teachers and

    the children.

MS. Chenoweth illustrates the power of the factors above be describing George Hall Elementary School in Mobile, Alabama.  All the children there qualify for the federal student lunch program.   At one time it was one of the worst schools in Mobile.   After adopting the principals above, it is now one of the best schools in the state.

Adopting such changes are not easy, or quick.  I'm hoping Dr. Bell can bring to the Euclid Schools some of the principals above.   The principals above and the results they can produce are worth the investing in.  The very future of our children and City depends on it.

Resources

Karin Chenoweth:  "Tts Being Done: Academic Success in Unexpected Places"  "How Its Being Done: Urgent Lessons From Unexpected Schools"

The Education Trust.

Kathleen Porter-McGee -   Thomas R Fordham Institute