UPDATED: A few observations on city government

A few independent observations are in order following the Sept. 9 meeting of the Hillsboro City Council. (In fact, a lot of independent observations are in order.)

As a brief refresher, let's keep in mind that this was a city council meeting. It was not a mayor's meeting. It was not a safety and service director's meeting. And it was not an auditor's meeting.

While the council meetings are open to the public, the ownership and control of the meeting rest with council. Those brave citizens who speak at these meetings should remember that. And, by the way, of the myriad public meetings I have attended in the past quarter-century, the Hillsboro City Council meeting – in its present arrangement – is the least inviting to public participation that I've ever seen.

Citizens almost feel as if they're speaking before the tribunal at the Spanish Inquisition. These hearty souls, as they address council, are surrounded on three sides by public officials and must approach a bench normally reserved for Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David McKenna. That can be a bit intimidating for some. Just remember, address council when you speak. No one else. If council so desires, council may ask other administrators to comment. (Or refrain from commenting.)

Nonetheless, it's always encouraging when citizens do speak up, as a few did on Monday, Sept. 9.

One of those citizens who spoke up was former Hillsboro Mayor and former Council President Dick Zink. Mr. Zink reminded the city that a previously enacted earnings tax increase was passed in order to maintain a city fire department and life squad.

"The citizens of Hillsboro were told that if they increased the earnings tax that they would have a life squad and fire department. Now, I understand right now that the move is on to get rid of one, or both, and possibly the police department. I just want to remind you that when that last earnings tax was voted in, people were told that they would have a life squad in the city of Hillsboro."

Council, as well as the city administration, needed that reminder.

Local real estate professional Robyn Coomer addressed the city on behalf of a client who owns a vacant uptown building. Coomer objected to fees being placed on property owners with unoccupied buildings, as she said that she thinks it should mainly target "the people that are lax in upkeep" of their buildings.

To that, Mayor Drew Hastings replied: "It's like pornography, these buildings. You know it when you see it."

(Perhaps it's also like profanity. The people in the city building know it when they hear it.)

Hillsboro resident Richard Stiffler also addressed council. He asked about a federal grant that "could be obtained to pay for six firefighters for two years at no cost to Hillsboro. I wonder if that grant has been sent in, and if not, why not?"

The mayor responded:

"That's called a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant; A, that we could have applied for, we had a choice of applying or not applying; B, there was no assurances that had we applied for this grant we would have gotten this grant; and C, it is completely wrong that there were no costs attached to the city. Whoever it was … didn't know what they were talking about.

"Had you, instead of coming in here and calling us a liar, just called my office and asked about it, we would have been happy to explain the SAFER grant to you and why we elected not to choose it and why it was not in the best interest of the city, where we're headed and what we're doing."

Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin echoed the mayor's reply, saying: "We have been trying for months to get volunteers to come in. You accuse us of lying, and I'm going to be very honest with you. The reason why we don't have volunteers is because the fire department says that they're not trained properly."

Following the comments by Hastings and Wilkin, I received a number of emails and telephone calls questioning our report from the city council meeting. I was informed of a December 2012 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the firefighters and the city. Mayor Hastings signed the MOU as did outside legal counsel for the city.

After reading The Highland County Press' coverage of the council meeting, Jon D. Harvey, 4th District Vice President of the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters, emailed a copy of the December 2012 MOU to my office.

Mr. Harvey said he found some of the comments made at the council meeting to be "untruthful and/or deceiving." I agree.

Mr. Harvey asked: "If it was the local firefighters' stance that the volunteers were not qualified, why would the local firefighters sign an MOU agreeing to it? Why did the city make no attempt to implement the MOU they signed?"

Good questions. And questions to which taxpayers and city residents deserve answers. (Not that any of us should expect answers. Just more mayoral media spin.)

The December 2012 MOU is now posted on our website. In essence, the basic understanding boils down to these salient points:

The city of Hillsboro shall be permitted to utilize volunteers on a paid per-call basis, as long as (the) following transpires:

• The city applies for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant at the first application opportunity in 2013.

• The city shall work with the local and the IAFF to insure the greatest chance at success.

• The number of personnel applied for shall be sufficient enough to staff the department with 12 firefighters and/or fire officers.

This document was signed by Hastings on Dec. 17, 2012.

Given Mr. Stiffler's questions – and the city administration's reaction – it could be that this local resident has a legitimate point, especially in light of the signed understanding between the mayor and the firefighters.

While this Dec. 17, 2012 MOU predated the current safety/service director's employment with the city, it certainly did not predate the majority of city council's time in office.

• Was city council made aware of the Dec. 17, 2012 MOU?

• If not, why not?

• If so, why didn't a single member of city council speak up when Mr. Stiffler asked about bringing back volunteer firefighters?

• Moreover, why hasn't a single member of city council asked in open session about the possible issue of double taxation on city motels? Why not address the issue and clear it up, once and for all? If the city lodging tax is not a lodging tax, what is it and how did it come to exist? Anyone?

Now, back to the firefighters.

For the SSD to say that the current Hillsboro firefighters (all six of them) do not want volunteers because they are "not properly trained" almost defies logic.

Maybe there is some complicity among the few remaining firefighters to work 24-hour shifts (or whatever they're working), in order to rack up some more overtime. If that's the case (which I doubt), then the city administration and council ought to provide such evidence.

I'm told that many of the Hillsboro volunteer firefighters have training to a "volunteer or 36-hour level of service."

I'm also told there are other MOUs offered by the firefighters to the city administration.

If so, has council been informed of these MOUs?

Mr. Stiffler also said at the last council meeting: "I do believe your whole intention is to go with a fire district."

"I'm not sure we've ever made a secret of anything else," Hastings said. "You're saying that like you're accusing us."

Not so fast, here, mayor.

Let's recall that there was, indeed, some secrecy with your executive session attendance at a special meeting of the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District on a Saturday morning (June 2, 2012) last year.

The Highland County Press asked members of Hillsboro City Council if they were aware of your attendance prior to the special meeting and executive session. They told us they were not.

So, yes, as a point of clarification, there has been some secrecy related to the never-ending saga of local fire and EMS service.

And, of course, just three months after that Saturday morning special meeting and executive session, it was announced (on Sept. 5, 2012) that the mayor sold one of his Hillsboro buildings (i.e. the old city building) to the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire District Board for $260,000.

It would seem that Hillsboro has a determined mayor, but a much less determined council.

It would seem that the present council – with maybe a few exceptions – is content to just watch the show. That's too bad. Besides, like the rest of his act, it's not all that funny.

Recently, The Highland County Press was the first to report on Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's half-hearted investigation into the mayor's current residency. We reported on this without a word of opinion or sensationalism. Just the facts, as they were – and are.

Later, the mayor said: "We have a mammoth drug problem in this city, and what they are fixated on is my comings and goings."

Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin again echoed the drug problem, saying: "I'm not sure that this should be tops on our priority since we have a known drug epidemic."

Of course, according to a 2011 report by the Highland County Sheriff's Office, the present mayor admitted to his own drug problem, writing: "I am suddenly very aware that my life is not working. I have a drug problem. I have an escape problem. Video game, casino. It has come and gone in it's (sic) severity but is always just under the surface."

Whether his own stated problem with drugs is part of the city's "mammoth drug problem," or part of the county's drug problem may be contingent upon the residency issue. However, the Highland County Sheriff's Office has an interesting report from just two years ago related to recent statements.

Lastly, when the mayor makes whimsical comments about how the city might "attract prosperity," council too often nods in agreement and dances to the piper.

How, pray tell, does one "attract prosperity," anyway? If it's simply a matter of enticement, why work for it?

A generation or two ago, we talked about working toward or building on prosperity. Today, we just have to attract it.

At our present pace, how attractive are we? Surely, we aren't setting a new standard for excellence.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.