Mayor halts rec center plan – for now
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published June 11, 2008

Mayor Thomas O’Grady has stopped work on the proposed new recreation center — for now.

O’Grady announced his change of plans at the June 3 City Council meeting, saying his administration won’t make any further attempts to place a proposal for a new $18 million rec center funded by a one-eighth of a percent income tax on the November ballot. Both during and after his announcement, the mayor left the door open for the North Olmsted City School District to work with the city on future recreation proposals.

“In my eyes we’ve always had a partnership with the city schools when it comes to the well-being of the city and its residents,” said O’Grady later. “We’ve had a strong partnership for years and I would expect that to continue.”

His announcement came the same day he met with school district superintendent Cheryl Dubsky and other district officials. Both O’Grady and Dubsky said that meeting went well.

“We both serve the same citizens, and we want to continue our strong working relationship with the city in many areas,” said Dubsky.

“I will be discussing this and other matters with the schools in the future,” O’Grady said.

The move comes shortly after O’Grady asked the YMCA to drop out of his proposal for partnering with the city and Fairview Hospital/ Cleveland Clinic in the new recreation center – with the YMCA running it and the hospital/clinic providing equipment and program expertise.

In discussing the change in plans both during the meeting and later, O’Grady cited reasons similar to the ones he brought up when he asked the YMCA to drop out. O’Grady cited feedback against the partnership plans, as well as ‘damage to the process’  made from comments by other public officials. In discussing his plans to withdraw the plan completely this year, O’Grady also cited tight economic times.

“Our numbers just don’t add up to do it this way this year,” said O’Grady later. “We’ve been crunching them all weekend and it just doesn’t make sense to do it alone this year. So, I decided not to go forward this year. We’re still planning on trying to do something in the future.”

He cited hearing and understanding residents’ concerns about having the YMCA as part of the process.

“We always welcome residents’ input as part of the process,” O’Grady said. “What I still can’t condone is other elected officials’ comments which damage the process while negotiations are still going on. You can’t have that and expect to have a successful process.”

Both during the announcement and later, O’Grady cited other officials’ ‘damage’ by speaking out. In his remarks later, he did cite School Board member John Lasko, who also is chairman of the city’s Planning and Design Commission and a member of the Recreation Commission as well. He has noted members of council did not help, but has declined to cite specifics.

“Mr. Lasko knows the process and should know better,” O’Grady said.

During a school board meeting last Thursday and later, Lasko said his intention has never been to harm the process.

“We work with the city in a number of areas and I have always supported that,” Lasko said. “By raising legitimate questions as part of the process, I am not trying to sabotage it. In fact, I am doing the job I was elected to do by members of the community by trying to make the process and any plan the best one possible.”

Council Finance Committee Chairman Michael Gareau Jr. strongly disagreed with O’Grady’s contention that questions and comments from other officials damaged the process.

“They are in fact part of the process,” he said later. “We are raising questions and seeking input to try make this better.”

Gareau said he felt compelled to respond to O’Grady because of his remarks about other officials and council.

“Those aren’t fair to people trying to do their job,” Gareau said.

Building, Zoning and Development Chairman Paul Barker said it’s time for city officials to all try and work together.

“We’ll review it all together and try and reach the best conclusions,” Barker said. “I’m glad the mayor listened to what other people are saying, and I hope we can all find the best path for us.”

During the school board meeting and later, all the school officials expressed interest in working with the city.

“We have always been interested,” said Dubsky. “We’ve posed questions during the process and we will continue to do so.”

School Board President Mike Raig said he’s happy to talk with city officials.

“We just need to determine what we want and what we can all bring to the process together,” Raig said.

“We need to proceed cautiously and determine the best course for all of us,” said Don Frazier, the senior member of the board.

Lasko said O’Grady’s move should be welcomed by the community.

“Initially we must establish our priorities, especially in light of the current and foreseeable economic environment in which we live,” Lasko said later.

He said the public services and infrastructure provided by the city such as safety, roads, water and others are fundamental to supporting the residential and business community.

“Given the stagnant economic conditions in Northeastern Ohio, I believe that the city must determine its ability to maintain its current level and quality of those essential public services before income taxes are raised to fund the new construction of a new recreation complex,” Lasko said.

Quality schools, such as those provided by the district, help maintain or increase property values in the city, he said, adding that quality schools is one of the most influential factors in a person’s decision to buy a home.

“We must continue to improve and upgrade our district’s facilities to handle modern curriculum and technology in order to sustain our rated excellent schools,” Lasko said. “Accordingly, I believe that our first priorities should be to guarantee that essential city services are maintained and to construct a new North Olmsted Middle School – replacing an outdated facility almost 90 years old – on the site of the existing building. Such an investment is a long overdue improvement will attract and keep families and sustain and enhance both economic activity and property values in our community, keeping it vibrant for years to come.”

During board discussion at its meeting, Lasko said perhaps a new middle school could have fitness facilities attached to it which the community could use.

“It’s something Avon Lake has done,” Lasko said. “Right now, it’s just a thought during brainstorming, but it’s the type of the thing we need to do to reach a good solution.”

O’Grady said later Lasko does not participate in a timely manner.

“Like he did with the discussion about alcohol at the Labor Day parade last year, he comes in at the end with other thoughts,” O’Grady said. “That’s just not helpful.”

Lasko said at different times, he’s trying to do the job people want him to do.

“It’s all part of the process,” he said.