City officials hope keeping NOMBL is under the tree
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Dec. 8, 2004

It might just take a Christmas miracle.

"It's the holiday season," said Law Director Jim Dubelko. "We can hope for a miracle."

As the contract expiration date for the current contract between the North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line and the Regional Transit Authority nears, city officials are hoping the spirit of the season pervades the negotiations.

Dubelko, a member of the city negotiating team, said he still couldn't discuss exact details of the talks because of the ongoing nature of the negotiations, He said it's still tough going to try and hammer out a deal by the time the current five-year agreement expires on Dec. 31. Dubelko acknowledged there is a strong possibility of RTA exercising a contract clause and forcing NOMBL into a merger with the larger agency.

One time frame which has been discussed is March 18 as the last weekday operation of the 75 NOMBL line from the west shore suburbs to downtown Cleveland and back, the 19th as the last day of NOMBL operations and RTA taking over all the operations on March 20.

Dubelko said RTA is focused on money and how to save it. "RTA really isn't giving a whole lot in the talks," Dubelko said. "They seem to be in an extreme cost-cutting mode and the talks are showing that."

However, RTA General Manager Joe Calabrese said Monday no final decision has been made.

"If North Olmsted can find a way to keep going in a semi-autonomous manner, we would be fine with that; in fact, we would welcome that," Calabrese said.

Calabrese said the reason RTA is considering merging with both the North Olmsted and Maple Heights municipal bus lines is strictly financial.

"We have been subsidizing those bus lines over and above what it would cost for us to operate them at RTA as part of out system," Calabrese said. "If a way can be found to deal with that, we would welcome it. North Olmsted operates a fine system and the employees do an outstanding job."

Dubelko met with City Council and NOMBL officials Dec. 2 in an executive session lasting about an hour.

He said various possibilities were discussed by the group.

"We need to consider different possibilities and continuing to try and get the best deal possible for the citizens of North Olmsted and the NOMBL employees," Dubelko said.

Dubelko even noted that the city had tried legal remedies via lawsuits in previous contract difficulties with RTA in the last 30 years.

"We can't rule anything out," he said. "A home rule argument is always a possibility with a city run entity."

NOMBL was formed in 1931 and is the oldest municipal bus line in the area. It and Maple Heights are the only surviving independent municipal bus lines in the county.

Even though county and federal courts ultimately ruled against North Olmsted previously, Dubelko said because the matters took time, NOMBL was able to survive as a separate entity.

Since two scheduled negotiating sessions remain -- including one this week, Dubelko said the city will continue to try and get the best deal possible.

"There are time clauses involved which would have to be invoked, and people and agencies would have to be notified of changes in agreements," he said.

Calabrese said RTA officials remain flexible. He said the current proposed RTA budget includes figures based on RTA's operating the bus lines as part of its system. However, he said that could be altered if RTA and North Olmsted reach an agreement that would stop the merger.

North Olmsted Councilman-at-large Michael Gareau Jr. said he's concerned about potential city financial problems in the talks.

"You're talking about the jobs of close to 60-some people and a lot of money in our general fund," Gareau said. "We could take a $300,000 hit on this. That's not something North Olmsted or any city can do easily nowadays."

NOMBL General Manager Tom Terbrack said in addition to trying to find a solution to the potential merger, the city team is focused on maintaining the jobs of current employees.

"There will be a couple of retirements by the end of the year, but we will have 59 full-time and four part-time positions we need to take care of," Terbrack said.

Terbrack declined to discuss specific portions of the negotiating points being discussed, citing the ongoing nature of the talks.

Calabrese added that the NOMBL employees would not be terminated, saying all of them would be offered positions comparable in seniority to their current posts.

Gareau said he doesn't think the city can completely break away from RTA and run the line on its own.

"It's not something that can happen anymore; it's just not feasible," he said.

Gareau said he doesn't think legal action would be effective in this case. Nor does the city want to just fold up services, he said.

"We're talking about services the community needs and the jobs of the people involved," he said.

"If the best scenario is a merger, then we have to go after the best possible services for the community and the best jobs for those involved," Gareau said.

He also cited the possibility of some form of compensation or financial consideration for North Olmsted for having to deal with the loss of jobs and general fund income. Gareau said RTA doesn't seem too concerned about the possible effect on North Olmsted.

"It's supposed to be the greater Cleveland transit authority, but to me its all about Cleveland and not about North Olmsted or other communities," he said.

Gareau said he would like to know what other communities and officials involved or affected think.

"I wonder if they're considering how this affects North Olmsted and those communities?" he asked.

Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough, an RTA board member, said the possible merger of NOMBL and the Maple Heights system are being considered because under the current situation, it would be better financially for RTA.

"It's like when a city considers its budget and has to make the most financially responsible choice," Clough said. "The board is looking at its overall budget for RTA throughout the county, not just one or two cities. We're looking at what is the best financial option for the entire system."

Calabrese said RTA officials are making financial decisions in an effort to try and avoid fare hikes or cuts in services.

"Those are items which we want to avoid," Calabrese said.

Clough said most cities have to make tough budget decisions when problems arise and said RTA is trying to do the same thing.

Both Calabrese and Clough said there are no plans to cut services provided by NOMBL -- whether they're provided by NOMBL or RTA.

"Our west side routes are very important to us," Calabrese said. "Look at the 53 route in North Olmsted. We considered changes and decided to leave it as is."

Other organizations are also monitoring the situation.

John Ryan, executive director of the Cleveland AFL-CIO, said his organization is concerned about NOMBL.

"My understanding is that until this current session, the most recent contracts had gone smoothly," Ryan said. "If you run into a problem during a successful marriage, you talk, you don't go after a divorce right away. I hope that's what they do here."

Ryan said he's sent letters to the parties involved and that area union members are voting today on a resolution that would show support for NOMBL.

He said there is concern about a potential loss of services and jobs if NOMBL is merged into RTA.

"They go hand in hand together," Ryan said. "If jobs are cut, services usually go too."

GREATER CLEVELAND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY:
www.gcrta.org