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To: Rocky River City School District, Rocky River City Government, Rocky River Business Community, Fellow Residents

 

Dear Fellow Resident,                                                       

 

I CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT’S “PORK BARREL PRACTICES’ TO SEE WHO WIELDS POWER, WHO GETS OUR TAXPAYER MONEY … AND WHY!

 

1. Rocky River Council Okays ‘no bid contracts’.  Who gets Rocky River’s ‘no bid contracts’?

 

2.      City ‘picks up garbage’ for some (businesses/private school’s) in Rocky River ‘AT NO ADDED CHARGE’ as taxpayers’ pay bill.  Why some businesses/ private schools and not everyone? 

 

3.      City built new financially wasteful indoor swimming pool while Rocky River High School already has indoor swimming pool.  Why another pool? 

 

4.      Did Rocky River city government upgrade a piece of ‘Rocky River private property’ where the Rocky River Post Office is now located, as ‘we the taxpayers’ pay the bill?  If that’s true why is the city government doing this? 

 

5.      City plans costly, senseless ‘makeover’ of Lake Road Corridor that will cost the taxpayers $millions of dollars.  Who will directly benefit from construction?     

 

6.      Seven Rocky River City Council Members for our city of an estimated population of 19,377 (U.S. Census July 1, 2006) is senseless, wasteful, bloated and inefficient in dealing with the concerns of residents and it’s a waste of taxpayers money to pay for the additional two (2) Rocky River council members that are not needed!   Is having seven (7) council members meant to be ‘a political power plum’ for some, or an attempt to benefit the public?

 

7.      An approximate ‘.66 billion dollars’ or ($661,496,781.99) has showed in the City of Rocky River’s ‘proposed spending budgets’ from 1990 through 2007 as broken down into three (3) separate categories they are: (1.) Proposed Total “Salary” @ $186,558,881.00 from 1990 through 2007  (2.) Proposed Total “Fringe Benefits” @ $58,900,326.00 from 1990 through 2007 (3.) and Proposed Total “Other” @ $416,037,574.99 from 1990 through 2007.  (Information from Rocky River City Council and Rocky River Finance Office)  The taxpayers’ deserve to know who got what and why?

  

FRED SOKOL’S PROPOSAL TO REFORM ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT’S ‘PORK BARREL STYLE’ OF DOING BUSINESS! 

 

1.      Limit Rocky River Government Spending, Surplus and Taxation: ROCKY RIVER TAXPAYERS CANNOT SUSTAIN THE EVER GROWING FINANCIAL SPENDING OF THE ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT!  (1) An approximate ‘.66 billion dollars’ or ($661,496,781.99) has showed in the City of Rocky River’s ‘proposed spending budgets’ from 1990 through 2007. (2)  I want Rocky River City Government 'limited' so they will spend less, and taxpayers keep more.  Give residents and businesses a reason to move into and stay in Rocky River.  You decide!  SEE MY 'ROCKY RIVER CHARTER PROPOSAL' THAT ONCE PASSED WILL PUT THE BRAKES ON ROCKY RIVER CITY GOVERNMENT SPENDING, SURPLUS AND TAXES.  - 'THE PETITION' TO PLACE THIS 'SAID CHARTER PROPOSAL' ON THE ROCKY RIVER BALLOT WILL BE CIRCULATED AMONGST ROCKY RIVER VOTERS SHORTLY. (read more)

 

2.      Mayor Vacancy - Special Election:  Since 1960 a Rocky River city charter granted ‘Strong Mayor City Government’ and a council that fills the vacancy of - our elected mayor - while keeping the folks out of the process.  That is NOT a ‘Rocky River city government’ connecting with the folks!  ‘The Folks’ should decide who represents us – not ‘elected city government officials’.  (read more)  

 

3.      Rocky River Campaign + Ethics Reform:  STOP GRAVY TRAIN IN ROCKY RIVER!  Elected Rocky River officials running for re-election in 2005 spent approximately $19,080 of Rocky River taxpayers’ money.  On a quarterly newsletter they appeared in – and mailed citywide – on the taxpayers’ dime!  I’ll bring a ‘charter addition’ to the Rocky River ballot.  Once passed will bring  “Tough Campaign and Ethics Reform” to Rocky River and bring an accountable, city government where - FAMILY MEMBERS OF ELECTED ROCKY RIVER OFFICIALS SHALL NOT WORK IN - Rocky River City Government, Rocky River Waste Water Treatment Plant, Rocky River Municipal Court and Rocky River Public Schools.  (read more)

 

4.      Rocky River Council - 5 Wards Only:  Mayor to cede power to 5 Rocky River ward council members to spend money on neighborhood projects as council members see fit.  Five (5) ward council members know their ward and neighborhoods better than Rocky River city hall.  Erase the three council-at-large members and save taxpayers' money.  Residents can get more representation from five (5) ward council members that represent approximately four (4) thousand residents per ward, than the present four (4) ward council members that represent approximately five (5) thousand residents per ward.  Than three (3) council-at-large members that represent approximately 21,000 residents.  (read more)

 

5.      Rocky River Mayor Term Limits:  I want a ‘level political playing field’ for all future Rocky River candidates.  So any candidate can run for and attain the office of mayor of Rocky River.  Inspire and make room for newcomers, both ‘skilled in management and everyday citizens’.  Encourage our fellow citizens to politically participate in ‘running for and becoming’ mayor.  A fresh Rocky River city government will serve the public and businesses in many new ways.  All this through ‘term limits’ constant change of the mayor.  It's time for 'Keep The Tradition' to get out of the way! (read more)

 

6.      Rocky River Open and Responsive City Government: Only a true 'Open and Responsive' Rocky River Government can successfully deal with Rocky River's economic/neighborhood stability and betterment that benefits citizens, schools and businesses.  (read more)

 

7.      Independent 'Citizen' Audit of Rocky River City Government: From 1990 to 2007 an approximate ‘.66 billion dollars’ or ($661,496,781.99) showed in the City of Rocky River’s ‘proposed (spending) budgets'.  I will find out where every penny, nickel and dime of the taxpayer’s actual money went. (Who got what?) - from 1990 to the present - and for every year after.  I want all 'Rocky River City Government' financial information 'fully disclosed' from 1990 through 2007 and then put on the City of Rocky River's Website.  WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO KNOW 'WHO GOT WHAT' OF YOUR TAX MONEY?  I WILL!  (read more)

 

8.      Rocky River Education assisted by Rocky River City Government:  There are three (3) things Rocky River City School District must do to be successful and financially solvent:  (1.) WIN SUPPORT OF ROCKY RIVER VOTERS.  (2.) CUT 10% OF SCHOOL EXPENSES ACROSS THE BOARD. (3.) IMPLEMENT ‘INDEPENDENT CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE’.  -Since July 8, 2006 when I first suggested the previous three (3) ideas to the Rocky River Public School District.  I further suggest that the Rocky River Public Schools and Rocky River city hall work closer together and support each other's efforts.  To not only better our children and Rocky River for the present, but to successfully prepare our children and Rocky River for the future.  This will take city and school leaders that are visionaries to come forward and publicly work together.  (read more)

 

9.      Rocky River Safety and Health Citizen Board: "Especially Now ... The Health, Welfare and Safety of All Rocky River Citizens Should Be Our City Government's Number #1 Concern"  - (1.) I want to find and remove - all safety and health hazards that threaten Rocky River residents.  (2.) Do 'gas lines and electric lines' run together in Rocky River's sewer lines?  If so, does the law allow this? (3.) Is there an 'old (not used) city dump' on Lake Road across from Bradstreet’s Landing since 1948?  If so, I want it removed!  (4.) PUT A 'NEW' ROCKY RIVER FIRE SUBSTATION - IN THE REMOVED WASTE SITE'S PLACE - FOR PROTECTION OF RESIDENT. (read more)

 

10. Town Hall Meetings in Rocky River:  I want to see citizens plan, decide and carry out our Rocky River future – not power elite!  WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR 'ROOTS' AS AMERICANS ON THIS ISSUE!  (read more)

 

IN CLOSING:

 

• I will be going to the Plain Dealer Editorial Board along with the other Rocky River Mayor Candidates on Thursday September 6th @10:30 A.M. and I will be talking to the Plain Dealer ‘Editorial Board’ about Rocky River ‘pork barrel practices’ and my plans to stop it. 

 

• I will tell the Plain Dealer ‘editorial board’ I have called for an investigation on Rocky River City Government’s ‘pork barrel style’ of doing business. 

 

• I will also share with the Plain Dealer ‘Editorial Board’ my proposals (shown above) on how to reform Rocky River City Government’s style of doing business!

 

FINALLY:

 

• Just because the ‘pork barrel style of doing business’ has been done at Rocky River City Government for all these years … tells me we need to put a ‘Citizens Against Pork CAP’ on Rocky River City Government!

 

Fred I. Sokol - Resident – Rocky River, Ohio - 440-521-5452 + scrdhrt2@cox.net  + www.votesokol.com

 

CC: Rocky River City School District, Rocky River City Government, Rocky River Chamber of Commerce, WestLife , West Shore Sun, Plain Dealer Newspaper. Westlaker Times, Fred Sokol’s Weekly E-Mail Recipients +  www.votesokol.com     

 

Paid by: Vote Sokol Committee - Thomas J. Spagnoletti, Treasurer - 1459 Prospect Avenue, Rocky River, Ohio 44116