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

An important Question on the Miami Street Project

Normally, I support Tiffin University's socially responsible efforts and encourage others to do so, too. This time, though, Tiffin University Officials have become so aggressive, they are abusing those of us in the neighborhood who would otherwise support them.

Their Miami Street Project Plan , if allowed to go through by our City Government's Ordinance will abuse more than just a few of the private property owners on and near the TU campus. Because of this prospect for abuse (such as closing a through street without resident taxpayer permission, cutting down eleven large 75-100 year old shade trees, encouraging future eminent domain action, etc.) I have to place the Miami Street Project Plan and their corresponding Tiffin City Ordinance into the category of " Clear Abuse of Power". Why? Why do I keep using that word, "abuse"?

Why, indeed! Because there are too many unanswered questions about the integrity, need for, and high price that Tiffin Citizens will pay for Tiffin University Officials to landscape their campus...under the auspices of "pedestrian safety".

When I called him to comment on the accuracy of the safety issue, our Tiffin City Engineer said he "observed the pedestrian interaction with traffic". There was NO safety issue. He "did NOT approve any TU Plan designs and specifications"...as Tiffin University President, Dr. Paul Marion has publicly asserted in the Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune.

Further, although it is common practice in other communities, to prevent lawsuits of mayors and individual council members, our Tiffin City Engineer has NO plan to conduct a professional traffic SAFETY STUDY to determine whether the costs of pedestrian/traffic crashes or personal injury would justify closing a public street. Maybe he has NOT been ordered to do so by the City Administrator. Performing the Professional Safety Study, by a Licensed Professional Engineer, would quickly resolve the issue. I would agree to "go away" and stop pestering Tiffin University Officials, the Mayor, and the Tiffin City Council to do the right thing.

So, here is the first question that needs to be answered regarding the ill-conceived and abusive Miami Street Improvement Project that includes closing Jackson Street to neighborhood traffic.

Why should our Tiffin City Council and Mayor approve of spending $800,000 worth of tax-funded contracts to close Jackson Street so the TU can improve a "pedestrian safety" problem that does NOT really exist?

Except for empty rhetoric offered by several local politicians in the past, I don't expect any good answers. On November 4th, please add yourself to the thousands of other Responsible Citizens for Tiffin and vote "NO" on the Miami Street Project Referendum.

Thank you,

Joe Monaco
Tiffin. Ohio Voter

On-Fire Citizenship Shows Itself throughout Tiffin

Well, its been a couple of days since the public hearing on Ordinance 07-70 which has the Tiffin University seeking permission to spend $800,000 worth of our tax dollars to make Miami street prettier, close Wall Street at the railroad crossing and to close Jackson Street, too...without the permission of bordering property owners. TU officials Paul Marion and Mike Grandillo know that neighboring property owners resent the suggestion that they should loose some of their frontage, have eleven 75-100 year old shade trees destroyed, give-up free access to their homes via the Jackson/Miami Street intersection, and suffer other indignities.

So, why doesn't Tiffin University just quietly get the Tiffin City Council and the Mayor to approve of it? Didn't Mike Grandillo run City Council since about 1990? Doesn't he curiously appear to still order some Council members to do his bidding for him? He knows how to make things work at City Hall.

If I was a devious Tiffin University official, I'd simply start a campaign to misrepresent the facts, repeat them over-and-over again, and declare with absolute authority that it is for the good of Tiffin, Ohio. (Don't bother justifying the project on any particular principle) If they say it repeatedly, certainly enough city council members will learn the correct wording and thus have compelling reasons to vote for the Ordinance. This strategy would silence all Citizen opposition...who Dr. Marion believes to be "irrelevant", anyway.

This strategy has worked in the past, so it will work now, as long as we can keep those loud-mouthed, pesky, voting citizens out of it.

Or...Tiffin University officials Marion and Grandillo could STOP the destructive aspects of the Miami Street Project, and let us forgive them, so we can ALL live and work here in Tiffin, Ohio.

If they don't do so, they may create so much acrimony among more people of Tiffin who will count themselves among the abused. Remember, a record-setting number of Citizens came to the hearing to voice their opposition to the Miami Street Project Plan. Thousands more saw the hearing on cable television. It will soon be clear whether Council will vote with the voices of the citizens, or ignore those voices.

What do you think is going to happen? Will Drs. Marion and Grandillo use their high standing in our community to take the high road and prove themselves to be responsible and welcome Leaders of the Tiffin Citizenry? Will they see that forgoing the abusive aspects of the Miami Street Project will benefit them many times over in the future?

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter