League forum gives residents
chance to question candidates
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Danielle Toth
Rocky River
WEB POSTED ON OCT. 30, 2009

The League of Women Voters hosted a candidates forum at the Don Umerley Civic Center, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Thursday night, giving candidates a chance to speak to voters and allowing residents to ask questions before Tuesday's election.

Mayor
Mayor Pam Bobst, who is running unopposed in the election, opened the forum by saying during the current economic climate, Rocky River has remained stable. Investment continues, and the city is working to continue an open, responsible form of government, she said.

“We continue to aim to enhance the quality of life for our residents,” Bobst said. “We promote and reinforce the things that make us succeed as a community. I respectfully ask for your continued support.”

When asked about the hot topic of sewers, Bobst replied that a complete sewer rehabilitation and maintenance program has been drafted and is underway, and the Elmwood Sewer project has recently begun with funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

She also highlighted the Storefront Rehabilitation Project, which Rocky River led the county in. The program, which ended Sept. 15, provides a 30 percent rebate up to $6,000 on a business' exterior improvement. The city is also working on recruiting and retaining businesses with Kory Koran, Director of Economic and Community Development, she said.

Law director
Law director Andy Bemer, who is running unopposed for his third term, said there is a sort of renaissance happening in Rocky River. The city has worked for about 18 months on a revamp of its Development Code, which it hopes will take the city into the future.

The city has also been working for transparency in government, Bemer said.

“We believe the essence of public service is open government,” he said.

Bemer was asked about the city's litigation with Lakewood over the Lakewood dog park, and Bemer said he believes the lawsuit is a legitimate expense for taxpayers, comparing the noise from the dog park to the noise from trains or the airport.

“The city has a responsibility to the residents to have a level of quietude,” he said.

Council-at-large
Rocky River has four candidates running for three council-at-large positions: Roberta Van Atta, Anjanette Arabian Whitman, Dave Furry and Jim Schieda.

Van Atta opened by citing her six years of experience on the Board of Building and Zoning Appeals and membership on the Rocky River Development Code Committee. She also spoke of her experience as an attorney specializing in municipal law and said her experience in that field will help her with issues that come before council. She hopes to help redevelop Rockport Shopping Plaza into a Crocker Park-style shopping center.

Arabian Whitman, who currently serves on City Council, spoke on her role as an active member of the community, saying she was born and raised in Rocky River. She works as an attorney and represents neglected and abused children. She's served on the Planning Commission working to make sure residents and businesses worked together so that everyone was happy, she said. She is also chairwoman of the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Dave Furry, who also currently serves on City Council, cited his role as chairman of the Environmental Committee and the foresight of the committee to utilize regionalism with the Wastewater Treatment Plant before regionalism was a buzzword. He and his wife created their own business, Northern Title Agency, Inc., and recently purchased the building the business resides in. He said he believes the council-at-large position is a checks and balances for the ward positions. For each piece of legislation that comes before council, Furry asks three questions: Why are we considering this? What is the benefit of this? and How does this make sense for the city? He keeps asking questions until he is satisfied with the answer, he said.

School board member Jim Schieda was unable to attend but in a letter read at the forum stated his achievements while on the board, including the high school and middle school earning National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence awards and projects being completed on time and at budget. He has been a member of the Charter Review Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission. He has attended 60 to 70 percent of City Council meetings since 1990, he said, and will serve on council with the same dedication and integrity as he has done on the school board.

The three present candidates were asked if they would consider passing the cost of the 5 percent decrease in property taxes onto the taxpayers, and all three responded no.

Arabian Whitman cited the 8 percent cut council has already made across the board and the lack of a need for layoffs of safety forces. Residents will be able to enjoy the services they are used to without having to feel the impact of the economy, she said.

Van Atta agreed, praising the current administration's handling of finances and effort to obtain outside funding and grants.

Furry also agreed, citing that there has not been an income tax increase in Rocky River since the 1970s. He said City Council has been proactive, not reactive, in terms of the budget and finances and will continue to be in the future.

Ward 1
Ward 1 Councilman Tom Hunt, who is running unopposed and serves as City Council president pro tem, expressed his gratitude to the residents of Ward 2 for placing their trust in him.

Hunt said he believes ward councilmen and women are a conduit between the residents and the administration.

“I feel we have done a great job, and I take great pride in responding to the comments and criticism I get,” Hunt said. “It's important to be open and honest, and I have the great opportunity to do that for two more years.”

Speaking on sewers, Hunt said he is looking forward to the Elmwood Sewer project, especially because it is close to his ward and he has heard many complaints from residents regarding flooding and backup in their basements.

He also said council is working diligently on filling empty storefronts, although the economy has prohibited it from allowing for a lot of expansion at this time.

Ward 2
Ward 2 Councilman Jim Moran, who is running unopposed and serves as City Council president, said Rocky River is known for its services and beauty, and he plans to help retain both.

He explained that the residents are the eyes and ears of the community and encourages them to come to council members with ideas, comments and criticisms.

Moran said the sewer rehabilitation will enhance the lifestyle of everyone in the city and improve the city's value. He credited the proactive thought of the mayor and administration to see the importance of the rehabilitation and said in five to 10 years other communities will probably be playing catchup to Rocky River.

“It will benefit everyone in the long run,” he said. “It will enhance Rocky River. We will be known as a community people want to move to.”

Ward 3
Ward 3 Councilman Michael Mylen, who is running unopposed, said it has been great serving his first term on council and looks forward to his second. He said he's met many people while working as a councilman and enjoys speaking with residents.

“Our job is to keep a pulse on what's going on,” Mylen said. “I appreciate when people call me. It's great to hear from them.”

Mylen also stated he doesn't see a need for a tax increase on residents. The administration is currently working on its 2010 budget, which will most likely be another balanced budget he said. The city has the right tools and there is no need to raise taxes, he said.

Ward 4
Ward 4 Councilman John Shepherd was unable to attend but provided a letter that was read at the forum. He thanked Ward 4 for its support during his first term and said in his second term he hopes to help make the city the best it can be.

Shepherd said he is honored to serve and pledged to do his best to meet residents' needs.

Board of Education
The Board of Education has four candidates running for three positions: Jay Milano, Kathy Goepfert, Jon Fancher and Chuck Bartsche.

Fancher opened by citing his 18 years of experience with the schools in different capacities, including watching his three sons pass through the school system. Due to their involvement with the schools, Fancher said he has a broad, varied knowledge of the schools.

Goepfert has served two terms on the school board and currently serves as the vice president. She said she will continue to achieve and maintain the high standard of quality the schools have. During her time on the board, Rocky River City Schools have continued to receive an excellent with distinction rating on the Ohio report card and ACT and SAT scores are well above the national average.

She said collaboration is vital in this economic climate and hopes to continue collaboration with the city and other entities if she continues to serve.

Bartsche said Rocky River is the best city to raise a family in. He is a certified public accountant. He said his experience with finances will help him guide the school district through these trying economic times. As a controller for a privately held corporation, Bartsche has managed finances and will be able to utilize that experience on the school board, he said. He said he is serious, passionate and confident he can keep the schools financially sound.

Milano was unable to attend but provided a letter that was read at the forum. Milano credited Superintendent Michael Shoaf's work with the district and said the next challenge for the schools is much-needed renovations to three of its four schools. The board has engaged in studies to determine the future of the renovations and hopes to find a balance of options that benefit everyone. His goal is the best possible education for students, he said.

Bartsche was asked if his decision to send his children to private school would inhibit his position on the board, to which he replied it makes him more objective. However, Fancher and Goepfert agreed that a good school board member needs to know the schools inside and out and having children who attended school in the district provides them with an intimate knowledge of the schools.

Fancher was asked if his wife's position as a teacher in the Rocky River School District would pose as a conflict of interest, to which he replied that he's checked with various authorities including the Ohio School Board Association and found no conflicts cited. His wife is already employed in the district and tenured, and the only thing he will be unable to vote on are contracts that could specifically benefit her. Bartsche and Goepfert both agreed Fancher could be free of conflict and have no problem with his position on the school board while his wife is employed with the schools.

Goepfert was asked if artificial turf at the middle school is as important now with the economy the way it is, to which she responded that the current field is in need of constant repair. The district is not the only one that hurts as well because many others use it, including the city and private schools. If there was money left over from a bond issue and if the board could utilize private donations, Goepfert said she would support the artificial turf. Bartsche said there may be more important things to spend money on, such as air conditioning and heating and that the board would need to be careful with what it does with bond issue funds. Fancher said the artificial turf is an important investment that would pay dividends in the long run but he would have to see if it fit in with the board's other priorities.