Musial seeking help from others in NOMBL fight
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Jan. 19, 2005

Mayor Norman T. Musial has sent out an SOS to other municipal, state, federal and business officials in an effort to keep the North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line (NOMBL) from being absorbed into the Regional Transit Authority.

Musial last week sent a list of more than 20 officials and government groups information outlining why NOMBL should retain its independence and asking those officials to provide support to that effort.

"It's highly appropriate because NOMBL serves more than just North Olmsted," Musial said. "It serves Westshore communities and also provides transportation to downtown Cleveland. Most of these officials have constituents in those communities or work with or for entities which do."

Both RTA and North Olmsted have passed legislation extending negotiations on a new pact until March 1. The last five-year contract between the two expired Dec. 31, with RTA officials saying that North Olmsted and Maple Heights would have to find the funds necessary for the two to continue to operate their municipal bus lines without being absorbed by RTA this year. RTA officials have said they need to know in mid-February how to plan the agency budget, either with the two communities continuing to operate as they are or absorbing their services into RTA.

In his mailing, Musial encloses a letter to the editor that he sent to several Cleveland area publications (including West Life) saying why NOMBL should not be absorbed, as currently proposed by RTA officials.

"It is profoundly obvious that from any viewing angle that it is in the best interest of Cuyahoga County, RTA, along with North Olmsted and its surrounding suburbs for NOMBL to retain its independence," Musial said in the letter. "As a matter of fact, other items of pertinent information (not included) add significant weight to such a logical conclusion."

Musial said the other items include questioning whether RTA really could save more than $3 million annually by absorbing NOMBL and the Maple Heights municipal bus line, which are the last two independent lines in Cuyahoga County.

"Tom Terbrack (the NOMBL general manager) has been working numbers and he's come up with a figure more like a little over $1 million in North Olmsted, and Tom is outstanding with those type of numbers," Musial said. "Even considering that, you've got to consider the economic impact losing NOMBL would have on the North Olmsted and Maple Heights budget figures in salaries tax, pensions and medical plans. You have to consider the negative impact that would have on a city."

Musial said he's already gotten a couple of preliminary replies, although he declined to cite who from.

"They indicated that they weren't aware of some of the information or what was going on with the situation," Musial said. "That's interesting, too, because I think they need to hear both sides of an issue and not just what RTA might have told them."

He said officials also should consider the several million dollars in sales tax revenue North Olmsted pours into the RTA coffers annually.

"If we're putting in those type numbers, shouldn't we have some say in the services or where the funds might be utilized?" Musial said. "If it's a regional agency, then RTA should make sure it provides for people throughout the region and not just Cleveland and downtown services."

Musial said he's continuing to work with Rep. Dennis Kucinich and his staff on finding ways to keep NOMBL from being absorbed by RTA. Officials at Kucinich's office said the congressman is still seeking solutions to the situation.

George Nashar, chairman of city council's streets and transportation committee, said the city is working hard.

"I know the administration and the congressman's office has been working hard on the issue and we certainly appreciate that," Nashar said. "Council also wants NOMBL to continue, and we will do whatever we can as well to have it continue as a city operation and not just be taken over by RTA."