(VIDEOS) WILL CANTON PARKS LEVY ISSUE BE "VICTIMIZED" BY HEALY/NORDMAN FEUD OVER CANTON POLICE & FIRE FUNDING?

UPDATED:  11:30 AM

VIDEO

BRUCE NORDMAN

GROUP 175

ON

GROUP 175 POSITION

ON

CANTON PARKS LEVY
======================
NORDMAN
(FULL VIDEO)
SETTNG FORTH
HISTORY & CURRENT STATUS
OF 
GROUP 175 FIGHT WITH HEALY

One of Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II's goals for his entire nearly six years in office has been and continues be to restructure Canton's parks and recreation over a three-year period so as to make it more efficient and responsive to the needs of Cantonians and, I might add, to many outside-of-Canton Stark Countians who use Canton's parks.

There appears to be no organized opposition to the 4 mill levy to be voted upon by Canton voters next Tuesday.  It is designed to raise about $2.9 million per year and, if passed, would free up about $1.2 million for other general fund applications.

Currently, the Canton park system is run by an independent (of the mayor and city administration) by a Board of Commissioners, to wit:

On the Canton Parks "levy committee" website there is a thorough discussion of what park officials plan to do with the $2.9 million if it becomes available.

And, undoubtedly, there are a number of interests both in and out of Canton government who will be pressuring the Healy administration and Canton City Council to use "the new found money," if it materializes for pet projects.

One interest that has already surfaced is one named Group 175 formed by Vassar Park (located in Ward 9 - Councilman Frank Morris, III) residents Bruce Nordman and Bruce Brewer (president of the Vassar Park Neighborhood Association).



Earlier this year, this collection of Cantonians prevailed on Councilman Morris to sponsor an "informal resolution" wherein council goes on record as putting the Healy administration on notice that should the park levy pass, the resulting new infusion of $1.2 into the general fund is to go towards beefing up Canton's safety forces (police and fire) numbers.

The measure passed unanimously.

The goal of Group 175 is to get the police force up to 175 strong (now about 150) and the fire department to 175 strong (now about 140).

Because the mayor is proceeding cautiously (acceding only to step increases of 12 new hires for the police and fire departments; likely over the next year)  and not committing to Group 175's goals within the foreseeable future, Group 175 is taking a "hands off" approach in terms of supporting the levy.

Parks director Derek Gordon has tried to get Group 175's endorsement but has failed to corral it due to Healy's refusal to commit to the 175 with a timetable certain satisfactory to Norman, Brewer, et al.

For a full presentation on the history and the current status of Group 175's ongoing fight with Mayor Healy, the SCPR presents the following videotaped October 30, 2013 interview with Nordman that provides all the details:



To the SCPR, should the park issue fail, in terms of cobbling the available financing together to fund Group 175's goals; it seems that the loss of the $1.2 million would severely damage the prospect that the Healy administration would have the financial wherewithal to get to the 175 policemen and firemen level.

However, The Report suspects that in the mind of the Group 175 folks, there is this plan to seize the day should the parks levy fail and generate a citizen initiative for an income tax increase specifically designated as being for police and fire operations only.

Such a levy (if for a reasonable amount) probably will be relatively easy to pass.

County officials were surprised when in November, 2011 they were able to pass a 0.5% countywide sales tax increase on the promise that the $22 million, more or less, that it generates would be dedicated to spending for "law enforcement purposes 'only.'"

It passed by a surprisingly comfortable margin.

Nordman will not admit to the SCPR that a "for police and fire manpower only" tax issue is in Group 175's future and therefore the group sits on their collective hands on the parks issue.

A dedicated "for police and fire ONLY" levy would be the surest past for Group 175 to ensure that Canton achieves and maintains the 175 police and fire staffing level, no?

Reading between the lines, it seems to the SCPR that Group 175 does not trust Mayor Healy to energetically and with purpose to work with them to find funds (including the $1.2 million) from various sources to get Canton's police and fire to 175 in force each.

While the SCPR above all understands the "lack of trust of Healy," it does appear that his plan for restructuring makes sense and should be supported by Canton voters.

Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Cirelli opposed the plan when the levy issue was up for a council vote because 4 mills, she says, generates too much money.  She would support it at 2 mills or $1.45 million.

Councilman Edmond Mack (Ward 9) also voted "no" because, he says, that the 4 mills is too expensive for what Ward 9 residents will get out of it.

Nearly all city officials (including 11 of the 13 councilpersons) are supporting the parks levy.

Impressive is the list that promoters of the levy have come up with in terms of contributors to the levy campaign, to wit:

In the pre-general report filed on October 24th, the levy committee shows that it has raised some $23,000.

But in the end, the levy's passage or failure could boil down to the "silence" of Group 175.

But have they thought of this possible consequence should the parks levy fail?

Given this is a "pet project" of Mayor Healy and if he is convinced that the failure came at the hands of Groups 175's "silence," won't he prove to be much more resistant to their achieving their goal any time soon?

(VIDEOS) WILL MAYOR HEALY EXERCISING HIS "PREROGATIVES OF OFFICE" RESULT IN CITIZEN-STAKEHOLDERS BEING CUT OUT OF MEETINGS IMPORTANT TO THEM?

IS HEALY SOWING THE SEEDS OF HIS OWN POLITICAL DESTRUCTION

VIDEOS

HEALY TALKS ABOUT HIS "PREROGATIVES AS MAYOR"

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CITIZEN REQUEST FOR INCLUSION

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WILL THE EXCLUSION CONTINUE?

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As the SCPR has frequently written: Canton mayor William J. Healy, II has an ego as large as the ill-fated ship: the Titanic.

And such is not unusual for politicians.

However, some of them get "so big for their britches" that their self-importance end up doing them in.

It is a little over a year and one half (May, 2015) before Healy has to face Canton's voters for a third time.

The question for the mayor is whether or not he will prove to be "his own worst enemy" (the ego factor) in his quest to seek a third term.

The Report has learned that there is activity underway to find a candidate to take the mayor on come 2015.  Those who want the mayor replaced understand that a Bill Smuckler will not do.  The candidate will have to be of the younger set and a person who is not open to the charge of being part of Canton government over the last 20 years or so which has seen the dramatic decline of the Hall of Fame city.

Moreover, his Democratic challenger (forget the Republicans putting up a viable candidate in November's general election) will have to have some personality.

While Healy is not Dale Carnegie, he is more accomplished - personality wise - than a number of the names being bandied about as possible opponents.

We have now come full circle to Healy's arrogance as being a critical factor (given that the criteria set forth above in finding a Democratic opponent), perhaps, in sinking him just as the Titantic was sent to the bottom of the Atlantic at the unwise hand of those navigating the behemoth ship.

While the mayor may be politically slick, such does not equate into being politically wise.

The SCPR picked up on the mayor's comments at this past Monday's Canton City Council meeting which might offer a clue as to whether or not the mayor is getting a handle on his ego.

The occasion was Group 175 spokesperson Bruce Nordman of Vassar Park appearing once again at the Public Speaks portion of Monday's City Council meeting.

Nordman's request was simple.  To paraphrase:  "Mister Mayor, please include us (Group 175/Vassar Park residents) in any meetings regarding solving of crime problems in our neighborhood."



The mayor's response?
In essence, (again a paraphrase) "it is a prerogative of the mayor to meet with whomever, wherever and for whatever reason "without including anyone from the public or the council."



As he nearly always does, the mayor tried - post council meeting - to convince his questioner (on whatever issue) that he is on top of the matter and will get it resolved BUT - his way.

Nordman spoke with Healy after Monday's meeting and so the SCPR was interested to find out from him whether or not the mayor had conceded to him, that is to say Group 175 and Vassar Park residents, that he would no longer out on his own conducting meetings which touch on their interests but exclude them and their councilperson (Frank Morris, Ward 9).

Answer:  "no such luck."

All the mayor would commit to was that he would include Cantonians/council members or whomever, where he deemed it appropriate to include them.



The "where he deemed it appropriate language" means that the mayor is sticking to exercising his prerogatives of office.

Healy has been doing so for nearly six years now and where has it gotten Canton?

Answer:  into a steeper and steeper decline.

While he may resemble William Jefferson Clinton for those who see the former president as "Slick Willie," Healy clearly does not have the communication skills of Clinton.

And that may be his undoing come the next election.

All that Healy's seeming arrogance has gained him is a growing list of those who want to put him on the political sidelines.

Nobody thought the biggest and baddest ship of its time would sink.  However, the "undetected," "unseen" iceberg made believers of everybody.

It is looking more and more to the SCPR that Healy's ignoring of "the little people" may prove to be his political iceberg.

After all, one must maintain the prerogatives of office, no?

(VIDEOS) HEALY & NORDMAN CONTINUE TO "DUKE IT OUT" OVER CANTON SAFETY FORCES: A TEST OF WILLS?

VIDEOS

HEALY/NORDMAN "BLOW-OUT"

JUNE 17, 2013

(AN ENCORE PRESENTATION)

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NORDMAN (PUBLIC SPEAKS)

AUGUST 26, 2013

SAYS CITY RANKS 62 OF 100 WORSE CRIME CITIES

NORDMAN (SCPR INTERVIEW)

AUGUST 26, 2013

REVIEWS PROGRESS TOWARDS GETTING TO 175"

REACTS TO COUNCILMAN WEST 

ON 

"STAY OUT OF WARD 2"

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ADDRESSES SHERIFF MAIER'S

FAILURE TO GET

STARK COUNTY JAIL TO

501 BEDS

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Canton mayor William J. Healy, II "may have met his match" in his face-off with Canton citizen extraordinaire Bruce Nordman of the Vassar Park area of Canton.

Face-off?

Indeed!

For those who haven't seen it, it is an absolute must to see the SCPR video on Nordman and Healy screaming at one another over the issue.



Months ago in an appearance at Canton City Council (Council) and using the Public Speaks forum provided for on Council's agenda, Nordman started demanding that Canton officials beef up police force strength to 175 officers.

He came armed with data he collected from Canton records showing a correlation between the number of arrests and the number of police officers on the CPD staff.

Nordman pointed out that the "Zero Tolerance" mayor of Canton had let police strength slip since his taking office on January 1, 2008 and strongly implied that rather than solve the crime problem in Canton, the mayor's inattention to the slippage of law enforcers on the streets of Canton is part of the rampant crime problem that currently besieges the Hall of Fame city.

After an absence of a couple of Council meetings, perhaps, some thought that Nordman had given up his fight with William J. Healy, II.

Nordman had, "after all was said and done," gotten Council to agree to pass a non-binding resolution committing the city to apply current general fund monies (a little over $1 million) spent on Canton's parks to beefing up Canton's safety forces (mainly police) if Canton voters pass a proposed four mill levy dedicated to the parks on November's ballot.

It might be reasonable to think that for what can be done right now, Nordman is at "Mission Accomplished," no?

To think that Nordman would go away on such a modest achievement is not to know Bruce Nordman.

He was "back with a vengeance" at Council this past Monday.

Here he addresses Council (at the Public Speaks portion of the meeting) with his primary point being that Canton ranks #62 of the top 100 crime ridden city in all of America.  Of course, he attributes the ranking to the dropoff in numbers of police officers patrolling Canton's streets.



A major, major point that Nordman makes that the Healy administration has never debunked (in the SCPR's assessment) is that because of the Canton Police Department's (CPD) staffing problems, a large part of the Canton crime goes unreported simply due to the fact that the department cannot physically deal with the volume of actual crime.

The "unreported factor" makes official reports (emanating from the FBI or wherever) suspect.

One such report probably is closer to the truth than claimed either by the city administration or its critics.  It shows that the crime rate - overall - has not changed much.  This report shows a "slight" tick downwards, but which is likely not statistically signifcant.

By any measure, Canton's crime rate is way above the Ohio average and the U.S. level and therefore by definition is totally unacceptable.

The question becomes:  What is Canton doing wrong in controlling crime?

The answer, according to Nordman and his Group 175 :  Too few police officers staffing the CPD.

Group 175 under Nordman's leadership is determined to get Canton police force up from its 150 officers to 175.

Healy apparently feels Canton crime is at "tolerable" levels (undoubtedly, he wishes that Canton was crime free) and therefore does not want to put more money into safety force personnel increases.

Nordman did do somewhat of a shift at Monday's meeting in his bring the staffing of the Canton Fire Department into the equation for remedying the total deficiency in safety force involvement in Canton which means not only police but also the fire department and EMS operations.

Some Cantonians believe that the Healy administration was to force Canton out of the ambulance business and compel those in need to use private ambulance service.

Still others believe that Healy has made a political football out of the Canton Fire Department because the union which represents firefighters (IAFF [249]) endorsed his opponent (Republican Chip Conde) in 2011 and did not endorse Healy political favorites Kim Perez (certain to be Canton's next treasurer) and Councilman Joe Cole (who lost in a record breaking, in terms of campaign monies spent, effort to unseat fellow Democrat Frank Morris in Ward 9.

A number of Healy detractors insist that Healy plays political games with the safety of Cantonians in the staffing of Canton's fire stations.

Healy, of course, outright denies that such is the case.

The question of staffing Canton's law enforcement and emergency forces, the SCPR thinks, comes down to which as among Mayor William J. Healy, II and citizen Bruce Nordman has the greater will power.

While The Report believes that Healy has an ego that surpasses most politicians, it may well be that in "simply a citizen" Bruce Nordman, Healy has "met his match" and more.

The Report did an interview with Nordman after Monday night's Council meeting.

Readers should watch this video in order to get an full and unfettered appreciation of Nordman's determination to force the mayor to do his group's will in beefing up Canton's police and fire departments.



There are not too many Stark Countians (mostly public officials) that engage Mayor Healy that The Report thinks can out-maneuver, out-finesse, and out-power Canton's Master of Manipulation.

While Nordman is not a finesser, he is quite skilled in political maneuvering and certainly demonstrates (see the Healy/Nordman confrontation of June 17, 2013 above) that he has a personal power side to him that is very much the equal of Healy.

The SCPR's experience with Healy is that:

• He first tries to sweet talk one to accepting his spin. 
• If that doesn't work he gives the cold shoulder. 
• His final approach is to start yelling and screaming and getting downright ugly.

Nordman is a "what you see is what you get" type of guy.

If yours truly were a betting man, the bet would be on Bruce Nordman on whether or not Canton gets to the 175 CPD force level.

Undoubtedly, in the eyes of the polished New York University Stern School of Business MBA guy, to get bested by the brusque Bruce Nordman will be taken as the ultimate in humiliation.

It should quite apparent to anyone who has any sort of handle on him, that William J. Healy, II:

• Really does think that he is smarter that the rest of the world.
• Thinks he can stay one step ahead of the rest of us (by whatever means).
• Is supremely confident that In the end the result is always going to be:  William J. Healy, II: "thy will be done."

It is impressive to the SCPR that Bruce Nordman and his compatriot Group 175ers are persisting in putting "the test of wills" question in doubt.

A "test of wills" that the SCPR believes Nordman et al will eventually prevail on.

WARREN PRICE OUT AS CANTON'S SAFETY DIRECTOR?

UPDATED:  11:45 AM - 07/17/2013

A source tells the SCPR that Price has agreed to stay on as safety director through the end of 2013 at Healy's insistence.

However, The Report has learned that Healy is already sending out administration emissaries contacting possible possible replacement candidates.

As the mayor seems to be a highly whimsical person, who knows when Price will actually move on.

A reader has written yours truly to say that Price is not likely to run against Healy in 2015.  The reader says that Commissioner Tom Bernabei is being targeted to run.

It is hard for The Report to believe that Bernabei would entertain entreaties that he run for mayor of Canton.

ORIGINAL BLOG

It may be stunning news to some Cantonians/Stark Countians, but not to the Stark County Political Report.

The Report is getting indication from multiple sources that Mayor William J. Healy, II's "Jack of All Trades" - Warren Price plans on leaving the beleaguered mayor's administration within 90 days.

Price was not present at last night's council meeting.

And the SCPR is told that "the straw that broke the camel's back" is Healy's playing policeman at Trinity Place on July 2nd.

In a blog of July 8th (LINK), The Report opinionated that the incident was one more example in a string of incidents in his 5-1/2 years in office that the mayor is a "Mister Do-It-All," who, when it suits his political needs, does what he has to for what he perceives as being in his personal political interests.

In the July 8 SCPR blog, yours truly revealed a highly reliable source had shared that Price had been looking for new personal opportunities even before the Trinity Place incident.

While the likes of Ream, Price, Williams and others who serve (or have served) at the pleasure of the mayor may think they are in charge of the particular bailiwicks of their offices, the reality is that to think so is to engage in an illusion.

In time "the light comes on" and disaffection for the mayor sets in.

Consequently, a number of city officials have had their fill of Healy and his intermeddling and undermining and have moved on.

If Price carries through with his reported planned departure, his leaving will leave a gap that may prove to be the proverbial "nail in the coffin" which ends Healy as a viable Stark County politician.

Price's plan, the SCPR, is told is to go into the private practice of law reportedly either with Canton City Council President Allen Schulman (Schulman and Associates, a well known and highly regarded personal injury oriented law firm) or former Alliance city government ally Steve Okey.

Last evening yours truly asked Schulman whether or not Price was going to join Schulman and Associates.

His response?

Predictably:  "no comment."

Beyond Price's speculated leaving of the Healy administration, there is the prospect that Price may be a candidate to unseat the mayor in the Democratic primary that will be coming up in May, 2015 - less than two years away.

We do know that Price has a political side to him. That is, "interested" in running for office.  In 2007, the ran a very respectable race against Republican Toni Middleton (the-then incumbent mayor of The Carnation City), to wit:

Last night Bruce Nordman told The Report that he and his Group 175 are "all-in" in putting together an effort to have Price take on Healy.

Nordman and his Vassar Park centered allies are engaged in a protracted battle with Healy on their insistence that the monies are in city coffers to beef up the city's police force to 175 officers strong.

The SCPR has been impressed with Price and has written (LINK) that Canton would be far better off with a Warren Price-esque person as mayor.

From all yours truly can determine in the many conversations with local political figures about the state of political affairs in Canton city government, Price is viewed as a steady, stable, listening, receptive, get-the-job done type that may not have the political pizzaz of a Healy but who would likely be "what the doctor orders" in terms of bringing Canton out of his economic and social (i.e. the crime problem) despair.

The first of the "parting of the ways" was the firing of the then Canton service director/chief-of-staff but now Stark County commissioner Tom Bernabei (D - Canton) on January 26, 2009.  A little over a year after Healy took office on having defeated Republican Janet Crieghton (also a current sitting Stark County commissioner) in the November, 2007 elections.

At the time preceding the Bernabei firing, the SCPR was hearing story after story after story about how the mayor would do some bizarre things that prompted Bernabei to sit him down and lecture him as if Hizzhonor was a six year old needing correction and redirection.

Bernabei's firing was a stunner but it should not have been.

If nothing else, Healy has a ton of ego and over the longer term he does not brook tongue lashings from anybody.  So while it may have appeared to Bernabei that he could redeem the mayor from "the error of his ways," such is an illusion.  It may take awhile, but Healy will "do whatever it takes" to satisfy his ego needs.  Such is especially the case when he has the actual political power to do so.

Not all that long after Bernabei's firing, seeing the handwriting on the wall; Healy's first safety director Tom Nesbitt (whom Healy recruited from Nebraska where he held an important position with the Nebraska Highway Patrol) quit.

Nesbitt, like Bernabei, was viewed by locals as a highly competent director whom Healy could ill-afford to lose if his administration was to have any chance whatsoever to dig itself out of the economic and "crime rate out-of-control" doldrums.

He, like Bernabei, was a strong leader which this headstrong mayor could not abide.

The SCPR is prone to believe that Warren Price is at the end of the day pretty much his own person in the mold of Bernabei and Nesbitt.

Hence the talk he is leaving.

Reportedly, he wanted to leave within two weeks of the the Trinity Place story breaking.  But the mayor is said to have begged him to stay on for longer and hence the 90 days.

Since his hiring on January 27, 2009, he seems to have been much more patient with the mayor than either Bernabei or Nesbitt.

And he has filled multiple needs (annexation director, chief of staff [March, 2010] and - his last stop - safety director [mere days ago]).

While his salary has climbed from $70,000 to over $100,000 in his multiple roles as service director and chief-of-staff (his initial hire), annexation director and finally as safety director (Healy having thrown Ream "under the bus" in the Canton-Stark County Crime Lab flap (LINK), it appears to the SCPR that the 30% increase over less that five years service is justified.

With Price's conjectured departure, the political parade of William J. Healy, II is definitely being rained upon.

And the rainmaker - with his incident, after incident, after incident on ad infinitum - is?

Hizzonor William J. Healy, II.

Healy for the sake of his personal political survival probably ought to be spending the next 90 days trying to get Warren Price to change his mind, no?

(VIDEO) WILL CANTON COUNCIL BOW TO DEMANDS OF GROUP 175 ON WAY TO FUND ADDITION OF 25 CANTON POLICE OFFICERS?

It is appearing more and more that Canton Mayor William J. Healy, II's plan to reorganize the city parks and recreation operation (with a November ballot 4 mill levy being a key ingredient) might well fall victim to his ongoing battle with Bruce Nordman of Group 175.

Some local political observers think the levy will fail with no formal opposition.

So it stands to reason that if there is organized opposition in the form of a competing levy for beefing up Canton's police force, then its failure appears to be a certainty.

Witness this video from yesterday's Stark County commissioners' regular meeting and the appearance of Nordman during the Public Speaks portion of the meeting.



As stated above, a key to Healy's plan is to get Cantonians to agree via the ballot on November 5th to add 4 mills to their property tax bills to take funding of Canton's parks and recreation out of the city's general fund and replace it with the approximately $1 million generated by a dedicated levy.

Nordman, who lives in Vassar Park, told Stark County commissioners yesterday that he plans on asking Canton City Council President Allen Schulman to place on council's agenda for Monday an informal resolution committing council - contingent on the parks and recreation issue passing - promising some $1.3 million in general fund monies needed in order to upgrade Canton's police force to 175 strong which means that some 25 officers will need to be added to the force.

The thinking is that if the Canton general fund is relieved of financing parks and recreation, then it will have the money to meet Group 175's demand.

If the resolution is not placed before council or if council votes it down, Nordman says Group 175 plans to submit an legislative initiative to Canton voters by the filing deadline (August 7th) in the form of a "police specific" levy to pay for the Group 175 demanded upgrade in numbers of Canton police officers.

While Canton's parks and recreation department will continue to operate if the levy fails, it will not operate at a robust and adequately capitalized rate that the proposed 4 mill levy would provide for.  So in that sense, the SCPR believes the facilities, programs and operations are at risk in the tug-o-war between Group 175 and Healy.

Healy was so concerned about Group 175 opposition that he sent Parks and Recreation Director Derek Gordon to meet with Nordman et al in order to finesse the activist group into supporting the levy.

But the effort failed.

Witness the following video which the SCPR captured on June 17th.  The Report captured about 45 minutes of a total 1 hour 10 minute post-council-meeting "argumentive brawl" between Nordman and Healy.



So why is Nordman taking this matter to the Stark County commissioners?

• REASON #1 - He says to keep the commissioners informed about his effort to make Stark County and its "crown jewel city" (which also happens to be the county seat) a safe community which is attractive for business and families to locate in.
• Nordman first appeared before commissioners on March 6, 2013 (LINK to SCPR blog on his appearance) and presented a challenge to them to find a way to expedite the increased use of the available beds (501) at the Stark County jail.
• Group 175 sees the jail's bed utilization factor as one of a number to help lessen Stark County's and Canton's crime problem.
• One of the historical reasons that Mayor Healy has given for not doing better in alleviating crime in Canton was the reduction of county jail bed utilization to some 300 beds during the county's recent financial crisis.
• Nordman cited the passage of a countywide "law enforcement specific" levy that Stark Countians passed in November, 2011 but still not fully implemented in March, 2013,
• The commissioners' initial reaction was lukewarm at best but perforce of Nordman's insistence, they rallied to his cause and brought interim Sheriff George T. Maier into a commissioners' meeting to explain how and on what timetable he would get the jail up to 501 inmates.
• In fact, Maier found a way to add 50 beds immediately in response to Group 175's persistence.
• Maier has said that one reason he has not brought the jail up to its full 501 bed capability is because he cannot find qualified corrections officers.
• Group 175 stepped up to the plate and put together a "job fair," designed to draw in military veterans, which was held in late April of this year and which provided a number of potential new hires.  Maier then decided to strike out on his own in setting up additional such events in a "thanks, but no thanks" to Nordman's offer to help organize future hiring events.

• REASON #2 - (A SCPR conjecture).  Nordman knows the negative personal history between Commissioner Janet Creighton (whom Healy defeated for reelection as mayor of Canton in November, 2007) and Commissioner Tom Bernabei (whom Healy fired as his service director/chief of staff on January 26, 2009).
• Creighton and Bernabei may be the most highly respected public officials in all of Stark County.
• Being the savvy guy he is, he knows that he will get a sympathetic ear from the commissioners in his overall drive to make Stark County and Canton a safer community.
• Undoubtedly, Healy bristles at Nordman's taking what appears to be a Canton situation to the county commissioners.
• And if the political "bad blood" helps Nordman and Group 175 push the mayor into hiring 25 new police officers, he has to be thinking "good for Canton and good for Stark County."

The question now becomes:  Will Nordman's game plan work?

The SCPR is skeptical.

It is likely to be a close call as to whether or not Canton City Council will agree to pass an informal resolution if Schulman engineers having it put before council.  And The Report believes even getting the matter before council is problematical.

Presumably we will know by the end of council's meeting of July 15th whether or not the demanded resolution is in the offing.

This matter of adding 25 police officers has now come down to being a matter of who has the stronger political will and strength (vis-a-vis council) between Healy and Nordman and his Group 175.

The Report believes that the mayor has the heft (Babcock, Cole, Dougherty, Griffin, Smith and West) with council to get to a 6 to 6 tie.  Such a scenario would leave it in tie-breaker Schulman's hands.

Which way will Schulman go, if it comes down to his exercising his tie-breaker role?

It is anybody's guess. 

If the resolution track does not work, then the only alternative is via an "initiative petition" as spelled out by Ohio Revised Code Section 731.28 (LINK).

The SCPR wonders whether or not there is enough time (to meet the August 7 deadline) for Group 175 to collect nearly 2,000 valid voter signatures, present the petitions to the Canton auditor (presumably on or about July 16) which after 10 days of the submission is to transmit them to the Stark County Board of Elections which has up to 10 days to certify the required number of valid signatures (10% of Cantonians voting in the Kasich/Strickland race of 2010).

The Report believes that failing the informal council resolution route, a successful effort to get a "for police only" levy on the ballot would be the death knell for the parks and recreation levy.

Canton officials have tried to talk Group 175 into waiting until the Spring, 2014 to push for a police levy.

But to no avail.

Healy and Nordman are very determined individuals and it appears that their differences may doom the parks and recreation levy.

Add to the Healy/Nordman (Group 175) rift:

• the fact that the Ohio Legislature has taken away the 12.5% rollback on property taxes, and 
• has disqualified future homestead exemptions for those with $30,000 and over in income from qualifying for the exemption.

It is hard to see how a parks and recreation levy passes even if for some reason the Group 175 folks cannot meet the petition filing deadline.

Remember, some folks think that the levy will not pass even with no formal opposition.

Monday's council meeting could be full of drama.

Of course, there is nothing unusual about that, no?

(VIDEOS) CANTON MAYOR HEALY & GROUP 175 VASSAR PARK RESIDENT BRUCE NORDMAN "DUKE IT OUT" AFTER LAST NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING

VIDEOS

HEALY/NORDMAN FACE OFF 03/25/2013

NORDMAN BLASTS MAYOR 06/17/2013

HEALY/NORDMAN BARE KNUCKLE BRAWL

06/17/2013

Updated at 03:45 PM.

Since March of this year, Bruce Nordman, a resident of Councilman Frank Morris, III's Ward 9, (an area of Canton known as Vassar Park), has been pressing the city to bring the Canton Police Department (CPD) up to 175 officers.

Here is a video of a March 25 exchange between Nordman and Healy.



And here is a LINK to a SCPR blog of April 1, 2013 which provides much of the background to the "bare knuckle brawl" (figuratively speaking, of course) which erupted between Nordman and the mayor after Canton City Council meeting last night.

One supplement to the information contained in that link, though.

Whereas at the time Nordman was claiming the beef-up could cost Canton some $825,000 in March; it turns out (and Nordman uses the higher number in current presentations) is really about $1.3 million.

The heart of the fight between Nordman and Healy has always been about whether or not Canton has the money to get up to the Nordman "demanded" 175 Canton Police Officers.

Nordman's main argument has been that the mayor seems to find money for his pet projects, he can't seem to come up with the dollars needed to bring up the CPD.

Mayor Healy counters with "everything but the kitchen sink" (in classic Healy fashion) in rebutting Nordman.

As readers of the SCPR know, yours truly has been particularly hard on Healy because The Report believes (a la former president Bill Clinton) that one never gets the best of Hizzhonor as long as he gets air to breathe and his vocal cords vibrate.

Remember Clinton's "Well, that depends on what is is?" caper in his deposition in the Monica Lewinsky case.  And there were others before that.  But Clinton slipped out of each and every one of them to become what?  Yes, "the comeback kid."

The SCPR's take on Healy is that he is every bit as accomplished as the former president as slipping the noose before it strikes it fatal blow. The only seeming difference is the level of government involved.

If he can make his frantic political ambition work for him, Healy may yet achieve a very high level in American political/government circles.

We all need to remember that Clinton was once counted among "the political dead, " only to wiggle out of his self-inflicted bind to move on to bigger and better things.

The Report thinks - in terms of political eeliness - Healy has Clinton-esque talent.

Nobody should underestimate William J. Healy, II.

Stark County has never seen the likes of this consummate political being.

So such is what Nordman is up against.

The SCPR has a lot of admiration for Nordman and his civic activism.  But The Report believes that he and his Group 175 is no match for the mayor.

Last night Nordman appeared at council on what seems to have been triggered by Parks and Recreation Director Derek Gordon's request to Group 175, through Nordman, that Group 175 come out in support of November's Parks and Recreation levy.

Here is Nordman's response given during the Public Speaks portion of the council meeting.



Looking at Healy during Nordman's presentation, one could easily see that Healy was "pi_ _ ed."

Some of the best Canton City Council meetings have not be the meetings themselves, but rather the fireworks that sometimes take place after the meetings.

On December 21, 2009 council president Alan Schulman got into it with Mayor Healy (post-council-meeting) (LINK) over Healy's insistence on retaining Adam Herman as his communications director.

While Herman eventually did leave Canton's employ, it does appear that Healy has mollified Schulman who pretty much anymore support Administration positions on various controversies between council and the mayor.

Last night was somewhat an exception in that Schulman (in a tie-breaker role) voted with the anti-administration position (i.e. no retroactive pay) as to whether or not currently enrolled police cadets will be paid retroactively to January 1, 2013 at the increased pay rate (from $26,000 per annum to $31,000) for cadets.

Moreover, last night was a classic post-council-meeting confrontation between the mayor and Nordman.

The Report was busy videotaping Ward 8 Councilman Edmond Mack and Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Cirelli (on their having voted "no" in support of a resolution of councilmanic support of the upcoming November vote on Canton's Parks and Recreation levy), when, during the Cirelli interview, a citizen tapped yours truly on the arm to alert that something noteworthy was going on elsewhere.

It took a nanosecond to figure out that Healy and Nordman were involved in a seeming "bare knuckle brawl" near the lectern position in council chambers.

So the SCPR hustled over to the site to catch the action.

What follows below is most of the face off.

Yours truly was a little late in arriving to catch the actual beginning and as the 9:30 p.m. hour arrived (council meeting probably ended about 8:30 p.m.) the SCPR video camera ran out of recording space.

This video runs 45 minutes.



While the SCPR normally does not put this much video up in a blog, for those of readers who take it in will get a direct and frank view of Healy at his oily finest.

In the end, the SCPR expects Healy to pull his political magic and talk Group 175 into supporting the Parks and Recreation levy.

While Nordman may think he has a commitment from Healy to bring the CPD up to 175 within the next year or so, the SCPR thinks that the only think Mayor William J. Healy, II is truly committed to is his own political aggrandizement.

The Report will not be surprised to learn in coming weeks that Nordman et al have succumbed to Healy's mesmerizing political charms.

We shall see!

NOW THIS IS REAL SMART POLITICS, CANDIDATE COLE (9TH WARD) GETS IN TIFF WITH VASSAR PARK RESIDENT?

UPDATE:  11:10 AM


In the original blog today, Councilman Cole challenges Vassar Park resident Bruce Brewer:  I would ask you to contact other councilmembers as to why they have voted against legislation that would have brought over a million dollars in police funding?

What?

Really?

The SCPR asked four of Canton's council members:  What is Cole talking about?

Responses from them:
--------------------------------------------------------
From Councilman John Mariol, (Ward 7)

I believe he is referring to traffic cameras. 

From Councilman Kevin Fisher (Ward 5)

Redflex...he is stuck on repeat the mayor mode with the the Redflex is about cops & safety song and dance... I would think a better question is, is he claiming that the mayor intends to enter into an illegal negotiation by negotiating with CPPA for cadet pay, as cadets are not CPPA members?

From Councilman Edmond Mack (Ward 8)

Not sure.  Maybe red light cameras? ...

From Councilman Frank Morris (Ward 9)


LOL sure I do, he's referring to us voting no on the [R]edflex deal. Mr. Cole was one of the council members who felt that these cameras would have made the city over a million dollars.  ... .
-----------------------------------------------------------

Mariol, Fisher, Mack, Morris along with Cirelli (Democrat - at large), Hawk (Democrat - Ward 1) and Griffin (Democrat - Ward 3) voted "no" in a 7 to 5 no vote on Redflex on September 17, 2012.

ORIGINAL BLOG

 SUBTOPIC

Chronic Crime in Canton

Is Not Just a Canton Problem and

a Ward 9 Problem.

It is a Problem for Any Stark Countian

Who has Reason to Go To Canton!

If one wants to be the councilman to represent Canton's Ward 9, then one wouldn't think it is wise to get into a tiff with a Ward 9 resident, no?

Especially if that resident is Bruce Brewer who just happens to be president of the Vassar Park Neighborhood Association.

Apparently, Brewer is ticked off big time with Councilman Joe Cole (a Democrat - currently councilman-at-large) who got hoodwinked by Canton city treasurer candidate Mary Cirelli (a Democrat) into running for Ward 9 councilman (against incumbent Democrat Frank Morris) because he thought Cirelli was running for reelection as a councilman at large and therefore he could not win one of the three seats open on November's ballot (the other two being Democrats Bill Smuckler and Jimmy Babcock).

Ticked off about what?

Cole's having, as finance committee chairman, pulled January legislation to increase the starting salary Canton policemen (now at $26,000 versus Akron's which ranges from $42,000 to $49,000).

In a series of back and forth emails shared by Brewer with the SCPR it is clear that Brewer and presumably his Vassar Park friends are miffed at what Cole did and are not buying his explanation.

Sitting Ward 9 councilman Frank Morris has to loving every minute of Cole trying to do political damage control over Canton's policing policy which Cole had a direct hand in.

For anyone who has been at a Canton City Council meeting of late has to know that dealing with the crime problem is far and away the number one issue in the Hall of Fame city these days.

Here is the back and forth (reconstructed by The Report for readability) between Brewer and Cole.

-------------------------------------------------------

BREWER

Mr. Cole.

I will now redirect my previous question to you, as I was unaware of how your actions to stop the legislation from coming to a vote by removing it from the agenda.

But in my opinion this was worse than a no vote, I now understand that the starting salary was for a cadet was at one time $32,000 but was reduced to $26,000 so the mayor could hire more officers for Canton.

Where are all the Officers?

Crime is running rampant in the city and yet we sit [idly] by and do nothing.
           
I did not take the time to see what section of our fair city that you live in and I hope it's safe for you. - But ours is not!

So maybe you will be able to respond to the question now that we have our facts are correct.

COLE

From: joseph.cole@cantonohio.gov
    
Subject: Re: police protection

To: "Brewer Bruce" ... .

Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2013, 8:48 AM

Mr. Brewer,
        
Just received your emails, was having some email tech. difficulties. Would love to sit down with you or talk over the phone to discuss the matter.
        
Thanks,
        
Joe

BREWER

Joe       

I think just explaining in an e- mail would do the trick, because I have a pretty good idea why a person pulls a item from an agenda mostly so it can't be voted on by all parties concerned.

But WHY??   no ones voice can be heard. I work with My Neighborhood Association [as] President and no one has ever asked me to pull any voting materials from a agenda. nor would I.

COLE

From: joseph.cole@cantonohio.gov

Subject: Re: police protection

To: "Brewer Bruce" ... .

Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 11:31 AM

Mr. Brewer
     
Very well.  But it seems like you already have made upyour mind.  However, the explanation is as follows:
     
The Mayor killed that bill, because regardless of the outcome he was going to veto it. The Police Union and the Mayor had already agreed to discuss this issue when the wage negotiations reopened.
     
I would ask you to contact other [councilmembers] as to why they have voted against legislation that would have brought over a million dollars in police funding?
     
I don't make promises I cannot keep and I don't make promises for endorsements. Sorry.
     
Also, for future reference, I live in Ward 9, 1402 27th St. NE 44714.  I am also [a]ffected by the crime rates.

I have a daughter that is a year and a half old and I am very concerned for her safety along with that of every other resident as well.
     
Good Day,
     
Joe

BREWER

From: Brewer Bruce ...

Subject: Re: police protection

To: joseph.cole@cantonohio.gov

Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2013, 1:54 PM

Joe

Well then the Mayor should have been able just to veto it. [A]nd then you and I would NOT be having this conversation now would we?

Another Question, [I] received your flier today and it [lets] one think you have been a ward councilman all along, or am [I] just reading it wrong[?]

-----------------------------------------------------

Vassar Park residents are taking the lead in forcing Canton's Mayor Healy administration to beef up the capability of Canton policing.

The participating residents who have dubbed themselves "Group 175" (which is their goal for CPD strength [up from the present 150) have published a report showing that for the four day period of March 29th (2013) through this past Monday (April 1st, but these numbers are not April Fools numbers) there have been 39 very serious crimes committed in Canton with ONLY four arrests.

Group 175 is also handing out to every Cantonian they come in contact with the following chart showing that when Canton (in 2007) was at 175 police officers, there were nearly 1,000 more arrests than there are at the present 144 officers (soon-to-be 150).

 

Indications are that Group 175 will only get the Canton PD to 175 officers is if THEY COME UP WITH THE $ to finance the increase.

So city officials have been saying publicly and privately.

But increasing the numbers of policemen is not the only quest of Group 175 and a group of councilmen, including Cole's opponent Frank Morris.

They see police officers being paid a competitive salary to nearby analogous (in terms of working high crime districts) cities like Akron ($42,000 to $49,000) as being key to obtaining and retaining the very best in police professionalism.

Accordingly, the Vassar Park folks have joined Councilpersons Cirelli, Fisher, Hawk, Mack, Mariol and Morris in pushing for a pay increase for police cadets (who are not union members until they get certified which is usually a year of so after being hired) and, as a follow on, when they become certified officers.

For Councilman Cole to have deep sixed the proposed legislation (or blaming his withdrawing the legislation from the agenda back in January on his political ally, the mayor) is not helping his effort to unseat Morris.

The fact of the matter is likely that if Cole had any chance to unseat Morris, his January act and his trying to justify it to Brewer "is not going to play in Peoria err Vassar Park and, indeed, the entire 9th Ward.

So on top of his planting of campaign signs suggesting (in the opinion of some Cantonians) to the unawares that he is the sitting 9th Ward councilman rather than the actual councilman who is Frank Morris, you now have the above-described email exchange (re:  getting cadet police salaries to a competitive level) with Brewer in which he:

1. seemingly blames Mayor Healy, and
2. suggests that the money is not available from city finances (reference:  "I don't make promises I cannot keep and I don't make promises for endorsements. Sorry.")

Lest the readers of the SCPR think the matter of adequate and effective policing is just a matter for 9th Ward members or residents of Canton at large, think again.

Canton is the county seat of Stark County.

Many of us who living in Stark County's outlying villages, cities, unincorporated areas (townships) have reason to go to Canton for various and sundry reasons:

• some of us to work (as in "being gainfully employed"),
• some of us for government service matters/issues/meetings,
• some of us for shopping,
• some of us for entertainment (e.g. the Canton Charge, Arts In Stark, high school sporting events, the Canton Art Museum, et cetera),
• some of us to visit places like the McKinley Museum, the Professional Football Hall of Fame, the National First Ladies Libriary and other touristy attractions which also draw Stark Countians, or
• some of us simply go to Canton to visit our relatives and friends who live there

In many ways Canton getting a grip on its rampant crime problem is a Stark County issue.

Accordingly, 9th Ward contest between Cole and Morris has ramifications far greater than just affecting only the nine wards of the city.

All Stark Countians have a stake in the outcome of this race and in a sense the participating Vassar Park residents (Group 175) are speaking for all of us who travel to Canton and whose very personal safety may be at stake.

Moreover, this blog has not up to this point addressed the likely reality that all the Canton officialdom (i.e. the Healy administration and Healy's councilmantic friends: Babcock, Dougherty, Griffin, Smith and West) hoopla about economic development is pretty much a non-starter unless and until the administration and council solve Canton's crime problem.

Right now, who in their right mind, would move to the apartments being developed at the old Hercules Engine Plant with the aid of $3 million (as a loan) in Canton taxpayer money?

Rather than making excuses, Councilman Cole (for 3-1/2 years now) needs to be offering solutions.

Morris is acting with independent minded cohorts on council to come up with solutions.