Did City Officials Abridge Tiffin Citizen's Constitutional Right to free speech?

I like Tiffin as four (4) generations of my family, and some of our neighbors, continue to benefit, at least in part, from the Tiffin University's growing presence in our neighborhood. As much as I like the idea of Tiffin University's growth, can't the TU Officials carry out their business WITHOUT abusing their neighbors...or by using Tiffin City Officials to carry out the resulting punishment to normal citizens?

I believe our Mayor Boroff to be an honorable man, but did our honorable Mayor and another Tiffin City Official violate Tiffin Citizen's constitutionally protected right of free speech?

[Click the Title, above, and read the Advertiser-Tribune's account of a recent Tiffin City Council meeting.] You decide. Here is what I decided and why:

A referendum petitioner, a small business proprietor, was following all the rules when asking people to sign the petition to put Tiffin University's Miami Street Project on the November 4th ballot. The petition signature page was attached to explanatory documents, so each voter would know what they were signing. Although he didn't have the Miami Street Project plan document in his possession, he informed voters of Tiffin University's 2005 plan to close Wall Street at the railroad crossing. This document is on file at the municipal building, or at: http://groups.google.com/group/rctohio/files

As I heard it, from a mutual friend, he was quickly and privately admonished for his petitioning activity by a Tiffin City Official. Again, as I heard it, this small business proprietor was told to stop telling voting citizens about Tiffin University's published Miami Street Plan that documents, complete with artist's rendering, their goals including closing of the Wall Street Railroad intersection.

I count our Mayor and most Tiffin City Officials as honorable. However, did TU Officials prompt attempts to thwart a referendum petitioner's First Amendment Constitutional right to freedom of speech? If it was TU's normally pervasive and powerful influence on our Tiffin City Officials, I can easily forgive City Officials their transgression. Do they at least owe an apology to the small business proprietor? To the petitioners opposing the closing of Jackson Street and other neighborhood citizen abuses? To all Tiffin Citizens?

The Advertiser-Tribune recounted Mayor Boroff 's action:

"Mayor Jim Boroff in his report also addressed rumors he has heard
that the project involves closing the Wall Street railroad intersection.
He said that intersection is not involved in the plans.

Mayor Boroff also said anyone with questions on the project can call his office."

So, I called Mr. Boroff with my questions. When asked if the Tiffin University has revised their Miami Street Project Plan (on file at the municipal building) to exclude the Wall Street Intersection closing, he admitted that Tiffin University has NOT revised their plan to close it.

Mr. Boroff told me that they (meaning the Tiffin City Council and Himself) agreed with Tiffin University Officials in a deal that Tiffin City Officials would vote to pass ordinance 07-70, if TU would remove the Wall Street Railroad Intersection Closing as part of this current referendum issue. Mr. Boroff was deliberate and clear when he also said that this consideration of Tiffin University plans is only good on this particular referendum issue. It does NOT preclude Tiffin University from initiating an ordinance to close the Wall Street Railroad Intersection at a future date of their choosing.

I believe that Mayor Boroff and another Tiffin City Official simply made a mistake that unfortunately resulted in abusing the First Amendment right of Tiffin Citizens who have a right and duty to disclose the documented fact that TU still plans to close the Wall Street Railroad Intersection. If our Mayor had succumbed to the influence of a politically connected and powerful Tiffin University Official, I can easily forgive him, because I believe him to be an honorable man. It is the Tiffin University Officials to whom I will accord the same honor when they take the "high road", do right by their neighbor Citizens, and never again refer to Tiffin Citizen concerns as "irrelevant" (More on Dr. Marion's "irrelevant" comment, later)

So that you can view the Tiffin City Council file on TU Official's Wall Street Closing Plan, go to: http://groups.google.com/group/rctohio/files.

This kind of "abuse of power" in our City needs to stop, don't you think? Please join the growing number of Tiffin Citizens who have already pledged to vote "NO" on November 4th regarding the Miami Street Project Referendum - Ordinance 07-70 that includes closing Jackson Street WITHOUT neighborhood property owner permission.

Thank you,

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter