"...Don't pay your citation, if your Citation is for under 11 MPH over the speed limit.."

(Actually, upon reviewing statements made by Mayor Collova and Prosecutor Riley the numbers are 10mph over is allowed in MOST areas except school zones it is 6mph allowed over 7 mpn over the posted limit will get you a ticket to pay. -ed)

Apparently, the agreement with redflex was to issue citations for 11mph over the limit or more.

So exactly how many of the citations that were issued were for under 10mph over the limit.

I am just curious how little over the limit the lowest citation speed was.

If you think you have that citation please send me an email with the details. to: petition.ghts@gmail.com

(i admit the headline was just to get your attention and not exactly a full quotation- that's called framing an idea)

Thanks to all of you that came out and signed the petitions.

For those of the city that don't know MANY people were angry about having recieved their first TRASH TAX bill and/or at having recieved a citation from the RED LIGHT/SPEED CAMERA ENFORCEMENT MOBILE UNIT. it was reported in the plain dealer that over 4,000 were issued in a month. that's much higher than the ld mayors projections...i apologize i didn't realize i lived in such a city of lawlessness and the police were missing such an opportunity for revenue.

IF you don't know what the mobile unit looks like some pictures were sent to me to help you .

I don't advocate damaging these vehicles nor breaking any laws, but i believe you have a right to know where your tax dollars are being spent.

July 10, 2010 Saturday Petition signing drive

Cleveland Photo Enforcement sign at border to Garfield Heights on warner road northbound. Notice proximity to city border.

Garfield Heights Photo enforcement sign on route 17 top of granger road hill eastbound. City border is greater than the required within 300 feet Ohio Revised Code 4511.094 B (1)(-in my opinion-ed)

Well the city is fighting back !

The other day places used by petitioners had the owners of the property issued a citation by the city for Invalid occupancy and were warned about "IMPEDDING TRAFFIC FLOW"

The citations are graciously going to be defended by the COAST group attorneys.

It has also been raised as an issue a city ordinance restricting signs displayed on the property of residents for issues.

The city ordinance states signs can only be displayed within 30 days of a election. There is much support for this being unconstitutional and if raised by the city against some of the supporters COAST attorneys have offered to defend this Constitutional right.

LAST PUSH TO BRING IT HOME !!!

Where: Horton rd and Garfield Blvd

Time: 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm.

Come out sign a petition, meet with your neighbors, tell your neighbors.

July 9, 2010

FIRST GARBAGE TAX BILL HAS ARRIVED IN WARD 3

At my house.

Thank you mayor and city council, I love to pay twice for a city service !

And thanks for raising my property taxes $180.00 a year too.

Lets see census says the average household income in Garfield Heights is about $42,000 so that amounts to just under 1/2 a cent per every dollar you make.

Another way to look at this is after tax dollars you net about $13.12 per hour,

and the trash tax costs you 8-1/2 cents per hour every working hour of every day you work.

June 25, 2010

Last Weekend saw the third petition signing drive and it has been a very successful process so far.

We still need to gather more signatures and are seeking any help you can offer to either circulate petitions, work on the day of another signature drive or help out financially to cover expenses of printing flyers and renting space to hold the signature drives.

We are considering holding a fund raising dinner and if you would be interested in helping out with that or in planning other activities please contact Frank Wagner or Paul Long for additional information.

***PRESS RELEASE***

Petition Drive to Stop the Traffic Cameras and Rubbish Collection Tax in Garfield Heights will Host a Second Petition Signing Event

A SECOND  public gathering will be held to gather signatures from registered voters from Garfield Hts to stop the traffic cameras and the rubbish collection Tax.

When: Saturday, June 19, 2010
Time: 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: 5637 Turney Rd (The Polish National Alliance Hall)

We will have a drive-thru for you to conveniently sign the petitions - or you can come in and get the latest information and sign the petitions – and you may take around petitions to be signed by friends and neighbors.
for more information contact:

Paul Long (216) 406-3075 or Frank Wagner (216) 799-2909.

****PRESS RELEASE****

Saturday June 5th, 2010
Time: Noon - 3:00 pm
Location: 5637 Turney Rd., Garfield Heights, Ohio (Between Woodward and Shady Oak)

The Petition Signing drive to STOP the TRAFFIC CAMERAS and Rubbish Collection Fee is well underway in Garfield Heights.
The organizers need your help.
They are hosting a public gathering to continue the public support and to raise public attention and gather more signatures for the petition drive.

The event will take place this Saturday, june 5th 2010.

Please come by and sign the petition(s) or bring your walking shoes and help circulate a petition.

If you could volunteer a half hour it would be greatly help the cause and effort to get these two very important items on the November ballot for public approval to end the traffic cameras and the rubbish collection fee.

When: Saturday, June 5th, 2010
Time: Noon - 3:00 pm
Location: 5637 Turney Rd (between Woodward and Shady Oak) in Garfield Heights, Ohio.

We will have an area where you can simply drive through and sign the petitions - or you can come in and get the latest information and sign the petitions.
So if you want to sign the petitions or help out by taking around petitions to be signed on a targeted street please show up or contact:

Paul Long (216) 406-3075 or Frank Wagner (216) 799-2909.

We are in the midst of a Petition Signing Drive to stop Garfield Heights City Government from putting undue burdens upon it's residents by Tax increases and Fees for services and worse yet RED LIGHT/ SPEED CAMERAS.

WE NEED YOUR HELP - THE COMMUNITY MUST GET INVOLVED.

May 24, 2010

The city has decided its' new Financial Director (Interim) and his newly staffed department of one person (i believe-ed) can handle the collection of the trash fees themselves and "Save" the city the $18,000.00 they would have paid to outsource this fee/tax collection.

In my opinion, this shows how much they believe the residents won't be paying the bills that they recieve and the plan is to just toss the entire bill with penalties onto your property taxes come January 2011. It will show as a Garfield Heights City Special Assessment. I would guess the amount to be $135.00 plus whatever penalties they impose for the 2010 9 months of the fee at $15.00 per month. Then every 6 months a Special assessment of $90.00 on your future Property taxes.

Now I hope you noticed that the TRASH "FEE" is being collected in your PROPERTY "TAXES". Yes it's a tax. no matter what they called it.

My personal fear, and not that of all involved in the petition drives is that if we repeal the Trash TAX the city will vote to change the municipal tax credit and personnally that will cost my household much more and drive us from this city. As that would equate to about 1% of your income per person who works outside Garfield Heights and for EVERY $10,000.00 of income, of everyone who earns money in your household, you would pay $100.00 so while I don't like the Trash TAX I really don't like my wife and I paying multiple times it's cost. So if your family together...Husband, Wife, Children.. earn $50,000.00 annually you would pay an additional $500.00 in this tax change instead of the $180 for the TRASH TAX.

Now I don't say the city won't do the Tax Credit Reduction change anyway, even if they get the TRASH TAX. They may come to us for both.<br />

I don't want you to act on my fears. I want you to have the right to vote on how you feel.
That is is purpose of the petitions, no matter how they are worded.
One may say ban RED LIGHT CAMERAS, one may say REPEAL the TRASH TAX...that doesn't matter.
What matters is when you sign the petitions you say I want the right to vote how I and my neighbors feel about these issues and TAXES ect.
YOU can vote to keep things the way council has them or to change them.
I personnally don't care how you personnally vote.
I care that THE RESIDENTS OF GARFIELD HEIGHTS DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WHAT THEY WANT.
if garfield heights decides they want to be taxed to the poor house that's fine THAT WOULD BE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
I would inturn put my house up for sale aand take that loss and move. That is my right.
BUT I WANT YOU GARFIELD HEIGHTS RESIDENTS TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOU.

This is why this site was started, YOU as residents NEED to be involved and voice your opinions.
Don't just vote in the same people because you know their names.
If you don't like they way they look after your interests by voting the way you would like ...vote someone else into their council or mayoral position!

Monday May 10, 2010

The Petitions to Ban the camera use in Garfield Heights are ready and the Petition Signing drive has been underway since before the May primary elections.

If you are a registered garfield heights voter and want to sign please contact us and we will get a petition in front of you for signing.

The most surprising canvaser for petition signing is a 76 year old garfield heights grandmother who we think has taken to going door to door for signatures...now that's conviction!

So if you want to Sign or take around petitions to be signed contact either Paul Long (216) 406-3075 or Frank Wagner (216) 799-2909.

Garfield Heights Mayor Vic Collova announced the Mobile traffic cameras will be on the road and issueing tickets.

Yes, The Mobile Van is parked at the police station and will begin going out on the road of garfield heights issueing tickets to SPEEDERS.

First target areas are school zones the mayor said and they are set to take a picture of anyone going OVER 10 mph over the limit for that area.
I wonder if Councilwoman Nancy Marincic feels ashamed and duped as she had voted:

"Yes to the cameras- ONLY if I am guaranteed they will only be used for RED LIGHTS and NOT for Speed!...My people (in my ward) have been very clear they don't want them used for speed." - Council woman Nancy Marincic

IT has been reported to me that when asked about the Ohio State Law requiring signs to warn anyone that Garfield Heights is using Camera enforcement the Mayor may have said... Judge Wiler and Assistant Prosecutor Riley both agree that we ONLY need signs on State routes.

( I will be honest with you, I think it was said, I can't find documentation from meeting minutes to back up that it was said BUT it was reported to me by two very trustworthy citizens and each said essentially the same thing so I am sharing that with you here. As for signs I have heard there are only 5 (five) signs withing the city. someone please go count them I personnally saw only 2-ed.)

I may not be an attorney but I believe this is a mis-interpretation of the letter and intent of the Ohio Revised Code

Certainly the intent is not that a municipalities responsibily to inform the public is limited to signs at the extreme edges of the the city for a state route and not for informing the public that enters the state route via alternate routes.

The only state routes in Garfield Heights are Route 14 Broadway ave., Route 17 Grainger Road. and let us not forget Interstate 480.

Strict interpretation implies signage at Broadway ave North of Sladden and Garfield park, Broadway ave. Just North of McCracken road., Grainger Road mid-hill East of Canal Road, Grainger Road west of the MapleHeight bridge AND ALL ramps exiting into Garfield Heights from I-480 (E.98st exits east and west bound, Grainger exits east and west bound, Broadway Ave. exits east and west bound) [ I count 10 signs minimum-ed]

If you recieve a "ticket" during the first 30 days of operation it is supposed to be a "warning", If you recieve a "ticket" after the 30 day period you will be "REQUESTED" to pay the FEE.

We here request you notify us of any tickets you recieve as we are considering a "class action suit" to stop their distribution. It is your decision to pay or not pay the "ticket" we can not advise you on what action to take as we are not attorneys and cannot supply those services to you individually. [ if I personally get one, I will fight it on every means I can think of -ed.]

If these minimum locations for

Tuesday March 23, 2010.

Last night was the final vote on the Trash fee.

The Council passed the tax, albeit in a slightly modified form. ......So I will share the final version and how it will work.

The trash fee will be $15.00 per month ($180.00 per year) per household.
What this means is duplex and triplex, side by side, up/down apartments, ect. will be charged for each residential unit. There was a modification after many elderly complained about being on a fixed income to the amount they will pay...the passed version will charge the elderly $7.50 per month. ($90.00/year).

So how will the city collect this money?

The important thing to know is the OWNER of the property will be responsible for paying these fees- NOT THE RESIDENT !

Eventually, beginning in January 2011 the $180 annual fee will be added to the property tax bill you currently pay. But that's next year and Property owners will be paying in it six month chunks.

This year the city has hired a collection firm (for $18,000.00) to handle getting the trash fee from property owners. I don't know the logistics of how they will actually get you to pay this but it is presumed to go something like this.....

The company that Garfield Heights hired to collect the trash fee will send the first bill late june for the first three months of April, May June 2010 of $45.00. They will send bills in September for July, August, September and in December for October, November, December. In January the fee will be included in property taxes.

So I envision this happening through-out the city...The renter or the homeowner recieves this new bill from a company they never heard of saying "Pay this $45 for Trash Collection". I bet most of these will be thrown away. Certainly the renter will not pay them nor forward them to the homeowner. So the next bill comes and says "Pay this $45.00 for Trash Collection AND the $45.00 you didn't pay last time and a Late fee on the first billing" so about $90 to $100.00. This will also get thrown into the trash. Well the last billing is sent out and now it Says "This is an attempt to collect a valid bill for trash collection service passed by Garfiled Heights Ordinance 13-2010 and you have not paid for this service please pay $135.00 for trash collection and $25.00 in late fees (i am guessing on the amount of the late fee), failure to pay this will result in legal action against you" So again this bill is thrown in the trash, ironically.

So now the Collection firm the city hired has collected no money for the trash, they file a suit for collection against who? Not the renter that has thrown away the notices but the property owner. Nice system.

GET READY FOR THE LAW SUIT SEASON OF 2011 IN GARFIELD HEIGHTS.!

On a separate note: A rumour has surfaced that the city is considering selling the land they purchased on Hathaway road for a future state of the art recreation center. The suggested price they will sell at is unbelievably $1,500,000.00. Is it just me or do all the numbers floated by garfield heights seem to be the same? The trash fee is to cover a ...yep $1,500,000.00 budget shortfall. If that's not strange enough...the ordinance passed by the city to collect the trash fee was promised by city council to be removed "as soon as the city no longer needs it." Well if they sell the property there will no longer be a shortfall so will they never take the fee? Wanna guess what i think? Good luck ever seeing the city not "need" the trash fee money.

Sorry, two other votes by council of interest, they passed a Ordinance limiting how many CATS a homeowner can have INDOORS to 3 and an Ordinance allowing "Internet Cafe" sweepstakes (some says gambling-ed.) at two locations in the city.

My understanding is the cat ordinance is to give the animal warden the ability to "enforce" better conditions for indoor cats but does NOTHING about the Ferrel (wild) cat population growth in garfield heights. So be careful how many of your cats are Indoor cats and how many are outdoor cats. Silliness, this is what we waste our time on in council. By-the-way you can only have Two dogs in garfield heights by Ordinance also, better watch the Gerbil and Hamster and Indoor Bird population is next.(Parakeets, Finches, Mckaws, Parrots BEWARE!)

Old news now....

Thursday February 12, 2010

Mayor Vic Collova spoke at the Ward 3 Block Watch meeting this evening and requests the resident to attend the next three city council meetingsFebruary 22, March 8 and March 22, 2010 6:30 for Caucus and 7:00pm for Council Meeting because as he put it "we have some very important and difficult decisions to make."

What he wants residents to participate in is legislation will be introduced for the options mentioned on this site and others.

These are "Tax Credit Reduction", "Trash Collection Fee", and new is "Tax Increase". (I know I don't need to talk about a tax increase -editor)

The Mayor will introduce discussion on these issue via legislation before council.

Mayor Collova is to be commended for breaking with some long standing policies of the previous Mayor Longo. Under Tom Longo legislation was voted on the night it was introduced and became effective immediately after the meeting when signed. many believed this didn't allow residents to be informed and included in the discussion or the legislation. He didn't stop the news from broadcasting council meeting but didn't encourage open access via camera documentation either.

Our new Mayor Vic Collova announced

"These [legislations] will have three readings- no more read it and pass it! I want the residents to have the opportunity to be heard! If you want to throw tomatoes- come on and throw them. ... These meetingsFebruary 22, March 8 and March 22, 2010 6:30 for Caucus and 7:00pm for Council Meeting will be televised. Not right away or live, but I want every resident the chance to see what we are doing....The city is in bad trouble and we need to do some things we don't really want to but have to. So I am encouraging residents to attend these three meeting, I want to see a packed house that is overflowing-These are important issues and times for the residents and the citys' future."

Mayor Collova also said

"..if we don't do something the state commission meeting is the wednesday after the last of these three meetings and they will take over the city and cut 35% out of the budget starting with lay-offs. I won't let that happen, I will send out lay-off notices first on tuesday before that meeting so the state can't take over."

So everyone needs to be at these meetings.February 22, March 8 and March 22, 2010 6:30 for Caucus and 7:00pm for Council Meeting We all agree something needs to be done.

But let's look at all the things going on here that you may be unaware.

The Mayor reported that "... the Trash pickup would be $15/month per house... bringing in about $1.6 Million the current cost of Trash pickup by J & J Refuse is about $1.61 Million -so it is a break even." (except we already pay for it and now will pay twice-editor).

"...The cameras Redflex says this year could bring in $750 thousand , I believe more like $300 to $400 thousand we will have to make up the difference somehow."

"...no one wants lay-offs. We finished last year with a little under a 1-1/2 million deficit and we are short about a million in this years budget."

If all these are true, and I believe they are then why did the mayor HIRE two costly employees and move one to a position that was eliminated. One Director had taken the buy-out the city offered now returns at $69,900 annual plus benefits displacing the employee who advanced to a salary position and had to choose to give up his seniority he had accumulated as a service department worker manager. The service department manager position was then eliminated from the budget and the state commission approved the buyout and elimination as a budgetary fiscal adjustment. The displaced worker, under Vic was put back into the service garage; pay. status and benefits unknown. We would assume not less than his previous rates, even though the contract said he would come back as a new hire. The other Eliminated position was the Assistant Law Director, the state approved its' elimination but the Mayor hired the husband of one of the Judges to fill this no-longer existent position. His pay and benefits are also unknown.

What is known is the combination of these positions will cost the city somewhere between $200,000 and $300,000 for pay plus benefits. So where is that good fiscal planning? Spend our money then come to us to increase our burden. $300,000 is the projected revenue from the red light cameras, One fifth the fees from Trash Collection.

Previous Mayor Longo did some tricky moves but even he eliminated these positions before leaving, why when we realize we are in worse fiscal shape does Mayor Vic Collova put their burden back into the city and residents budgets.

I say that for a reason You have to think this through clearly, when the city has a financial burden and must deal with it in its' budget and handles it that is good budgeting. When they instead goto the residents to get more to pay for bad decisions then the budgeting is transferred from the city to the residents' personal household budgets.

My company cut our wages and hours when the economy got tough, my house budget got cut immediately. I did not have the option to goto the guy walking down the street and say..."I want to keep my budget the same and add some spending, my house is worth 1/3 to 1/4 what I owe on it... so you need to give me some money and then some more money"

That wouldn't happen. We are all hard hit by this economy and have to make some tough decisions. We laid-off and eliminated positions at my company as many companies had to.

The city under Longo did the same. None of us like it. No one wants to lose a job. But as the gruesome old saying goes

"you cut off a finger to save the hand, a hand to save the arm, the arm to save the body."

Here are some options: $1,000,000 budget short fall for 2010

• RE-eliminate the positions just re-staffed that's $300,000.
• Combine Departments and Director positions. There is no need both Service and Recreation department have Directors- combine this is into one. $100,000 savings(pay+benefits). and since the charter says we have to have a recreation department title it Parks, Recreation and Services Department
• combine the work forces of these departments and close unneeded buildings.
• combine city department workers make them multi-department workers. eliminate UNNEEDED coverage. I say uneeded because everyone eschews their need for that person, we are not speaking of does it make us less comfortable or slower to do things ..of course it does but we are downsizing to survive right now.
• more actively promote the use of city facilities to individuals and groups and rent it to them.
• there are many more ideas yet to be investigated..if you have one send it i may add it right here.
• we are already called "garbage heights" lets take advantage of this and do a joint venture with the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District and build a huge recycling center conplex...lets bring green home in may ways. Jobs, Environment, Taxes from these businesses.

Ok that's not $1,000,000 but you have to admit the $400,000 off the top is quick easy and almost painless. The others start to hurt a little, but can save lots of money.

ALL I can say at this point is why this site is here...THE Residents should have the right to vote for the changes that effect OUR personal budgets. We need a Charter Amendment to require the city to do that. Vote for what we agree with and against what we don't. That's called democracy...wanna see my purple thumb?

But until that happens... RESIDENTS NEED TO ATTEND AND COMMENT AT THE NEXT THREE COUNCIL MEETINGS !!!February 22, March 8 and March 22, 2010 6:30 for Caucus and 7:00pm for Council Meeting

If you observe the process and feel you really didn't get a chance to be heard on these issues come back here and send us an email saying you want to sign a petition to get it on the ballot. That's the best we can do right now.

Be ready they are reaching for YOUR wallets right now. GOTO THE MEETINGS.February 22, March 8 and March 22, 2010 6:30 for Caucus and 7:00pm for Council Meeting Let's do as the mayor asked and pack the room so much they have to move the meeting upstairs to the big hall.

Council Meetings:
February 22, March 8 and March 22, 2010 6:30 for Caucus and 7:00pm for Council Meeting
2nd and 4th Monday every month at 7pm at City Hall

Send Us an email to petitions.ghts@gmail.com to send comments or ideas and to request to help or sign a petition.
Please include your contact information (email address and home address and/or phone number) so we may get in touch with you when these are ready.

Again Thank you for your interest and Support