Mayor Divides City by Supporting TAX Abuses

In his recent Letter-to-the-Editor, Mayor Boroff joined Tiffin University president, Paul Marion to advance TU's Miami Street BUSINESS interests while again disregarding the “abusive” aspects of it.

Knowing that Tiffin Citizens are divided on TU's Miami Street issue, his letter is improper in the least. It fuels the very division of Citizens he attributes to others. At worst, he is redefining the term "local political corruption". And I used to like Mayor Boroff . Most regular Tiffin Citizens are so used to absorbing abuses of some civic leaders, they quietly endure most incidences of "corruption" when it shows it's smiling face. Below are the concerns of Responsible Citizens for Tiffin as they address each numbered point of Mayor Boroff 's letter.

Referring to facts he does NOT agree with as "mis-information and rumor", Mayor Boroff 's writing is adding public insult to injury. Yet, now it is clear that Mayor Boroff needs to serve the power brokers in Tiffin, or he will soon enough be “power brokered” out of his job. I really don’t want that to happen. I do expect our Mayor to be a model of leadership to protect elderly people, such as my elderly mother, your parents, and other regular Citizens who have few resources to oppose those Tiffin business interests that will harm them. Mayor Boroff ’s Letter-To-The-Editor in the Advertiser-Tribune does NOT protect us, but takes a firm hold of the flogging stick. His writing attempts to render "irrelevant" the facts underlying Tiffin Citizen opposition to the unnecessary abuses of Tiffin University's Miami Street Project!

The matter is simple: Remove the abuses to Tiffin Citizen rights, and there will be no need to vote 'NO' on Referendum Ordinance 07-70. Even the formerly aggrieved would vote for the Miami Street Project, because EVERYONE would get their interests satisfied. Our Mayor is not working for us when he publicly chooses sides on this issue.

Each of Mayor Boroff's numbered points in his letter requires a response. So the record can be set straight from the vantage point of the regular Tiffin Citizens, I am compelled to provide information our Mayor conveniently left out of his letter. In this way, I hope we voting Citizens will use our voice in the face of Mayor Boroff 's obvious contempt for our concerns. Plan to vote 'NO' accordingly on the Referendum 07-70 issue. Please read on.

[For the complete text of Mayor Boroff’s letter see the Advertiser-Tribune link at: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/510089.html?nav=5008]

Here is each numbered point the Mayor writes with my commentary immediately following.

1). This project will be paid entirely from federal highway funds. The city has made it clear not one dime of local taxpayer money will be used. If the funds are scaled back, the project will be scaled back accordingly.

Everyone knows very well that TIFFIN TAXPAYERS pay local, state and FEDERAL TAXES. This was emphasized as "public input" at the April 21st Tiffin City Public Hearing.

Remember, one of our regular Tiffin Citizens, Tim Shock, said he did “NOT want” any of his FEDERAL TAX dollars used for closing Jackson Street without property owner permission. My 35 minute statement and that of others gave similar “public input” in support of Mr. Shock’s clear objection. Yet Mayor Boroff suggests that we, the “local taxpayers”, are somehow not paying for a Tiffin University Project with our TAXES. What part of the "public input" that said ‘NO’ does our Mayor NOT recognize as the "public input" he is obligated to regard?

Further, suggesting “If the (Miami Street) funds are scaled back, the project will be scaled back accordingly” must be taken from some secret Mayoral code book because this idea was NEVER discussed with ANYONE I know in Tiffin. Mayor Boroff is trying to “spin” us with this “left field" comment. I’m starting to feel the abuse coming on, again. To me it is simple. A ‘NO’ vote means we do NOT want to see TAXPAYERS flogged out of their homes and streets on Jackson and Miami, when there are alternatives.

2). No private property will be taken under eminent domain. This was never a part of the plan, nor would I, as mayor, support in any way, shape or form the adverse acquisition of any private property for such a project.

This is very “crafty” of our Mayor as he attempts to master the art of empty political rhetoric. Need I remind Citizens that while Mayor Boroff was a Councilman, Tiffin University was permitted to take an EMINENT DOMAIN action and successfully forced the sale of the privately owned Rosenblatt Property (scrapyard) on Miami Street? Again, Tiffin University Officials have now taken preliminary EMINENT DOMAIN action against the Monaco property on Jackson Street. At least one local and prominent Tiffin Ohio banker told me, “Tiffin University wants the Monaco property real bad”. Yes, he used the word “bad”. It says a lot. Tiffin University has used Eminent Domain once. They have NO qualms about capturing property in any way they can; just NOT associated with “such a project” as our Mayor is very careful to specify in writing.

How many Tiffin Citizens would want to know that they will be forced out of their Family Home because our so-called civic leaders don’t have the decency to use their political power for good-faith community action? This is harming my family and others, any way Mayor Boroff spins it.

3). If this project is completed, the cost of any subsequent sewer separation in the Miami Street area will not cost the citizens any additional money. Sewer separation in that area is not scheduled in the foreseeable future at least 12-15 years from now. If we were to halt any current project that might affect another project a dozen years down the road, nothing would get accomplished in the city.

How many more projects does Mayor Boroff plan to administer under such highly controversial, divisive, and abusive conditions near Tiffin University? If nothing is getting accomplished at city hall, then I don't think it is because our Mayor is paying much attention to his most important civic duties.

Mayor Boroff would have us believe that he did NOT hear Councilman Steve Lepard who, during every public meeting on Ordinance 07-70, explained the “additional money” TIFFIN TAXPAYERS would have to pay! Additional TAX money would be needed because the special and expensive features of the Miami and Jackson street project would have to be destroyed and re-constructed a second time because of sewer separation.

Mr. Lepard, who SPONSORED Ordinance 07-70 Miami Street Project, is the Chair of the Street, Sidewalks & Sewers Committee. Tiffin University introduced Ordinance 07-70 through Mr. Lepard in 2007. Mr. Lepard has since discovered the abuses to regular citizens such as the additional tax money and the closing of Jackson Street without private property owner permission. Since before the April 21^st public hearing, COUNCILMAN LEPARD HAS BEEN ACTIVELY OPPOSING THE VERY ORDINANCE THAT HE SPONSORED FOR TIFFIN UNIVERSITY! Mr Lepard is acting on good, community-minded principles. Our Mayor is NOT.

Further, Mayor Boroff is "spinning" at full speed when he says, “If we were to halt any current project that might affect another project a dozen years down the road, nothing would get accomplished in the city.” P-l-e-a-s-e !

The extremely controversial Miami Street Project is vigorously opposed by Responsible Citizens for Tiffin ONLY because it contains civic abuses that can be easily remedied by Tiffin University Officials…who have publicly refused to consider ANY alternatives to closing Jackson Street. Not getting anything accomplished may be because Tiffin University has "pushed the envelope" on acceptable public actions way to far.

Mayor Boroff is now abrogating his DUTY to hold up this ONE project that would UNNECESSARILY ABUSE SOME TIFFIN CITIZENS OF THEIR RIGHTS. Notice that Heidelberg College has no intentions of abusing anyone and the money for their project is coming from the same TAX appropriation. Our Mayor’s duty is not to pick sides as he did based upon personal, political and financial expediency. His job is to help arrange for a good-faith, negotiated solution that can bring our community together in the best interests of all concerned. If Mayor Boroff is not going to serve the regular citizens of Tiffin on community principles of fairness and those of our democratic republic, we need to make his actions irrelevant by voting ‘NO’ on the Miami Street Project Referendum 07-70.

4). No house will lose convenient access to city streets. Yes, the intersection of Jackson and Miami streets will no longer be in existence, but residents will have full access to Jackson and the new cul-de-sac from Clay Street.

Mayor Boroff is presumptuous to decide for the Monaco Family what is or is NOT convenient.

The “public input” from at least four Citizens at the April 21^st public hearing clearly opposed closing Jackson Street. The Monaco’s are quite satisfied with the current arrangement of through traffic, as it helps the elderly Mrs. Monaco supplement her income by annually merchandising her apartments to people who “drive through” Jackson Street. If you close Jackson Street, you prevent her from the very economic advantages you say you want to provide for Tiffin Ohio. In this regard, the elderly Mrs. Monaco IS Tiffin Ohio.

Further, if the Tiffin University does not alter its plan to close Jackson Street, the Monaco Family Home would be land-locked into identifying with the Tiffin University’s Campus. This would clearly be a CONSTRUCTIVE EMINENT DOMAIN action that our Mayor said he would not support, as follows: “This was never a part of the plan, nor would I, as mayor, support in any way, shape or form the adverse acquisition of any private property for such a project.”

Constructive Eminent Domain would be an extreme inconvenience to the Monaco Family. To maintain the integrity of his written word, Mayor Boroff needs to publicly reverse his support for Tiffin University's Miami Street Project abuses and encourage all Tiffin Citizens to vote ‘NO’.

5). The Wall Street railroad crossing will not be closed. Again, this is something the city of Tiffin would not support in any eventuality. That crossing is critical to traffic in that area.

I trust Mayor Boroff’s intentions in what he has said in #5. However, let’s look at the facts.

Although Tiffin University removed the closing of the Wall Street railroad crossing from Referendum Ordinance 07-70, TU did so ONLY after the Monaco Family objected at two Tiffin City Council Readings of Ordinance 07-70, and then made a deal with City Council and the Mayor. Fact is: Closing Wall is off the Miami Street Project Referendum 07-70 FOR NOW. The written plan for closing of the Wall Street railroad crossing still exists in its original form in City Council’s files. Tiffin University has reserved their right to initiate another Tiffin City Ordinance, at a time of their choosing, to close the Wall Street railroad crossing. Although our Mayor is well intentioned on this matter, Tiffin University’s political and financial power goes all the way to Washington. Tiffin Citizens are wise to "question" the unfettered political and economic power of Tiffin University Officials.

6). Truck traffic will be maintained on Miami Street. In fact, the street will be designed to greater facilitate truck traffic and make the area more pedestrian-safe.

Once again, our Mayor is well intentioned on this one. He hasn’t talked to any of the truck drivers I know. Their concerns are all those planned trees lining Miami Street that will surely, when grown, obstruct a clear view of pedestrians. They are also questioning whether the street will be wide enough to forgive any steering mistakes, and whether the curbs would be sturdy enough to keep from crumbling when hit by a heavy, loaded rig. With a tree-lined median splitting Miami Street, this engineering would certainly create TWO opportunities for students to possibly get slammed by a truck or car.

As far as “Pedestrian-safe” goes, this is again empty political rhetoric and “spin”. I will keep saying this as long as Dr. Marion and Dr. Grandillo continue to assert misinformation that does NOT stand up to facts in evidence.

A compelling argument was made at the April 21, 2008 City Council Hearing that demonstrated clearly that there was NEVER A PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PROBLEM, except as fabricated by Dr. Grandillo and Dr. Marion. “Pedestrian Safety" on Miami and Jackson Streets is well-known around downtown Tiffin to be a ruse. See the public hearing video for particulars of the hearing and how Grandillo and Marion are in so deep with their misinformation on pedestrian safety that they would NOT be able to save face if they came clean.

This too, defines "local political corruption". Just ask one question to decide the authenticity of their "Pedestrian Safety" assertions: "If closing Jackson and altering Miami Streets will "improve pedestrian safety", then, by how much?"

This is NOT a trick question. It does NOT require any understanding of mathematics beyond simple addition and subtraction. It does NOT require anything accept a "raised eyebrow". Given the facts, the ONLY correct answer is "Zero". If it was more than ZERO, don't you think the Tiffin University Officials would emphasize the actual number that might justify the great fun they would have spending $800,000 in TAX Subsidies?

If he was working for ALL Tiffin Citizens, Mayor Boroff would NOT call facts and conclusions that he does NOT agree with as "misinformation", "rumor" and "half-truths. This is preposterous.

So, when you are alone in the voting booth, please use the above facts and conclusions to inform your decision to vote 'NO on Tiffin University's Miami Street Project Referendum Ordinance 07-70. It is the right thing to do for this small town community we call Tiffin Ohio.

Thank you for your consideration,

Joe Monaco

Registered Tiffin Ohio Voter

Referendum Disclosed by Mayor: Vote 'NO'

I'm delighted to see that Mayor Boroff has offered us a preview of the referendum language that is expected to see the Tiffin University's Miami Street Project defeated on November 4th.

As you know, the Tiffin University is so financially and politically powerful, it does NOT need TAX SUBSIDIES from financially struggling Citizens. Our 'NO' vote on the referendum will send a strong message to University Officials that the Citizens of Tiffin are responsible TAX PAYERS; we do-NOT want to see Jackson Street or Wall Street closed without permission of neighborhood property owners; and Tiffin Citizen concerns are NOT "irrelevant", as the President of Tiffin University declared at the public City Council hearing.

So, in the A-T ( http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/509703.html?nav=5004)
Mayor Boroff says the following is the "referendum language" we will see on the ballot...for which Responsible Citizens for Tiffin will vote 'NO':

"Ordinance Authorizing city administrator to prepare specifications, advertise for and receive bids, and recommend and execute contracts for the Miami Street near Tiffin University improvement project that includes converting the portion of Jackson Street between Clay and Miami Streets into a cul-de-sac closing access to Jackson Street from Miami Street. Shall Ordinance No. 07-70 be approved: Yes / No".

You can make an immediate and decisive impact on our Tiffin City government by casting your 'NO' vote. 'NO' is a good thing for Tiffin Citizens. 'NO' is a responsible use of our tax dollars.

When you are alone in the voting booth, please choose to vote 'NO' on 07-70.

Thank you,

Joe Monaco
Tiffin Ohio Voter

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

Large Crowd of Tiffin, Ohio Citizens Overwhelm City Council Hearing

Click on the title, above to see Advertiser-Tribune's report on the Public Hearing and 3rd reading of Tiffin City Ordinance 07-70: Miami Street Improvement Project that includes closing Jackson Street to neighborhood private property owners. Why did City Council decide to NOT vote that night?

Here is my take:

Wow! I think an important event in Tiffin's history is being made, starting with last night's Tiffin City Council Public Hearing that was supposed to conclude with a vote of City Council...but didn't.

Never before in the history of our local government did so many Tiffin Citizens unite in opposition to a Tiffin University initiated ordinance that would normally get "rubber-stamp" treatment by City Council and the Mayor. In fact the Tiffin Citizens are so angry that they converged on city hall, where some turned away or left early because of the crowded, uncomfortable court room pews. It was so crowded that people were standing ten-deep in the hallway. Terminally ill and elderly people, one of which was using an oxygen canister, came early. Young people who would speak out in opposition came with their families. Normal Citizens came from every Tiffin City Ward and beyond.

This was Tiffin Ohio Citizenship at its finest! Starting now, Tiffin Citizens can claim to be different from others in the United States where citizens often complain of their lack of influence on their government. But, they never act to perform their civic and constitutional duty to set their government straight..."or to remove it".

With their action, and I'm sure more will follow, Tiffin Citizens are setting a fine example for what other American citizens can do to influence their local government...if they just focus on one issue at a time.

Even the grandson of the founder of Tiffin University, Dr. Thomas Keen, came with his wife to make an articulate and compelling argument for why City Council should defeat the ordinance. Mrs. Keen publicly chastised the President of Tiffin University, Dr. Paul Marion, for his lack of "integrity" for misleading information, attempts to mislead the public, and using his standing as a high-profile community leader to get Tiffin City Council and the Mayor to ignore our own citizen/neighbors. Dr. Marion is NOT even a Citizen of Tiffin.

For nearly 2 and a half hours, about 35 of the people each got up and spoke. Person after person gave one or more reasons for City Council to defeat the ordinance. After all were finished, I presented a Power Point litany that gave documented fact-after-fact that pointed to Dr. Marion, and Dr, Grandillo's lack of regard for the individual Citizens of Tiffin who were now opposing their Miami Miami Street Project Plan. Their Plan includes closing Jackson Street without the approval of the neighborhood property owners, and to have the private property owners suffer other indignities.

The hearing was covered on Tiffin's Cable Television network and viewed by about two-thousand people at home. My presentation disclosed misrepresentation-after-misrepresentation for which I believe these TU Officials should be held accountable. Yet, it seems that some Council members were getting bored as they pretended to listen. When Dr. Paul Marion was allowed, by Council President, to make the concluding statement, the Tiffin University President took the podium, turned to address the Tiffin City Council and said,

" Well, I heard a lot of emotion tonight.

As far as I'm concerned, it is all irrelevant."

I could NOT believe my ears! With his declaration to City Council that Tiffin Citizen concerns were all "irrelevant", Dr. Marion announced his dark political view and contempt for local governance. He might as well have said:

"The Citizens of Tiffin are irrelevant, should
quietly pay their taxes and accept that they
have NO say in how they are governed."

or

"The Citizens of Tiffin are too stupid to know
what is relevant to their own governance.
Government needs to be firmly in the hands
of those who command power."

or

"How dare these people assume that anything they said at this public hearing will be given any consideration by those of us who really govern Tiffin, Ohio. Do they think this to be a Democratic Republic?"

It is now clear and public knowledge that Drs. Marion and Grandillo, have acted arrogantly, and hurt the trust of Tiffin Citizens. They have publicly embarrassed the institution we call Tiffin City Council. It is hard enough for individual council members to do their often thankless job of governing our City. Our honorable council members do not need to be again flumoxed to provide their official votes to favor the tax-financed plans of Tiffin University Officials...because such plans are...wink...wink..."for the good of Tiffin"; any justification of which will never come. These Tiffin University Officials have thus acted dis-honorably.

Tiffin Citizens are people who can govern themselves in the true spirit of being an American...even if they are from this small Ohio town called Tiffin. City Council Members and the Mayor are elected from the ranks of Citizens, but they are human and not immune to powerful and beautifully crafted attempts to persuade their votes. They are under a lot of pressure, so before you judge them, please first understand their quandary in the face of raw political power.

Why did Dr. Marion think it appropriate to ask our Tiffin City Council President to come to his campus office at Tiffin University for a "Damage Control" meeting?

Is someone confusing the governance mission of Tiffin University with the governance mission of Tiffin City?

I think we need to take account of what has happened. The unusually large crowd of Citizens at Council's Public Hearing have delivered their certain message. Our normally quiet Tiffin Citizens have found their voice and have now taken an important step in learning how to use it.

The abuses of Tiffin, Ohio political power against those Citizens who can't protect themselves, needs to stop.

Now, it is up to Council Members and the Mayor to take the next step that will either embolden Citizens to participate more in their government, or embolden Tiffin University Officials to continue abusing the sick, elderly, and hopeful among us. Maybe both.

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter

Did Tiffin City Council Members Ignore Citizens at Meeting?

On March 24th after politely listening to the many Citizen objections on the Tiffin University's Ordinance 07-70, Tiffin City Council concluded the meeting by again allowing Paul Marion, President of Tiffin University to have the last say. By saying "You can't please everyone", Dr. Marion dismissed the concerns that neighborhood property owners expressed:

• Neighborhood property owners lose the use of Jackson Street and parking will be eliminated.
  

• There are NO safety issues on file at city hall, and even the Tiffin City Engineer agrees that his observations conclude "NO SAFETY ISSUES", but TU keeps saying "Safety of pedestrians is the primary reason for the ordinance".

• The Private Monaco Family Home will be land-locked into the Tiffin University Campus, thus encouraging Tiffin University to force another Eminent Domain Action in the future.

• Eleven (11) large, mature, shade trees will be destroyed.

• Tiffin University's Miami Street Improvement Plan (2005) still includes closing the Wall Street Railroad Crossing Intersection.

• Council Members (such as Arron Montz) assert publicly that TU's project should take precedence over the few individual citizen rights because it "benefits" Tiffin as a whole. If this is true, why won't City Council or the Mayor say publicly the EXACT "benefits" Tiffin Citizens would receive?
  

So, as the meeting broke up, I asked council "How does a normal citizen have any influence with City Council?" Both Paul Elchert, President of Council and Lori Ritzler, 3rd Ward Council Member, chided me. They both asserted that Tiffin "Citizens are not interested enough to show up at Council meetings, so why should we listen to people who are not bothering to come?" They said that the turn-out for council meetings is seldom more than one or two normal citizens. Mr. Elchert said he would be over-joyed to see so many citizens that he'd "have to rent the Columbian high school auditorium." So, using my cell-phone, within 30 minutes of the meeting's close, I already had a pledge from 10 people to show up at the next meeting and speak-out. My prediction is that having even one or two dozen people speak out will have NO affect on council voting. If I can get a lot more people, will Council be influenced by them? Or, did Paul Elchert and Lori Ritzler spout empty rhetoric? Will Elchert, Ritzler, Cline and Montz be approving of Paul Marion's intent to ignore the neighborhood citizens? Who benefits from such actions such as Tiffin University's Miami Street Project? I'm interested in an answer.

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter