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

Did Paul Marion Dis-Honor the Late Congressman Gilmore?

If you heard or read the accounts of the public hearing (Click title, above), where record-setting numbers of Tiffin Citizens opposed the Miami Street Project Ordinance 07-70, you gotta ask at least one question. "Is the President of TU, Paul Marion, trying to dis-honor himself and those who supported him in the past?"

At the end of the public hearing, Dr. Marion declared the many participant's concerns "irrelevant". In an obvious cable-televised attempt to intimidate the citizens and remind our City Officials of his politically powerful associates. He continued his closing remarks by invoking the memory of the late Paul Gilmore, who represented Tiffin, Ohio as a US Congressman. The Gilmore Family Name is on several important buildings in Tiffin. The respected Gilmore Family is indeed one of the most generous influential public benefactors in Seneca County, Ohio, and beyond.

I believe Paul Marion should apologize to the Gilmore family. Why? He has caused their unwitting participation in a project that clearly harms those families who live in the Tiffin University Neighborhood .

We had no idea until March of this year (2008) that TU Officials were trying to use the power of Tiffin City Council to abuse us. Certainly the Gilmores didn't intend their legacy to include a growing number of Tiffin Citizens who scoff at the misuse of power their name might now represent. The Gilmore's do not deserve to have their name soiled in public by certain Tiffin Community Leaders.

The project may well benefit some Citizens. But, the Tiffin University's project and our City government's approval of it is misguided as it disregards the wishes and welfare of neighborhood property owners. (I have written of this earlier, and presented detailed facts at the Public Hearing, that was televised on local cable).

Remember, Congressman Gilmore took Tiffin University's application to Washington D.C where he successfully secured an appropriation of $800,000 for the Miami Street Project. The application (see copy on file at City Council) has misrepresentations embedded in beautifully crafted "word smithing". So, Congressman Gilmore could have no way of discerning for himself that even he was being used to advance the financial interests of Tiffin University Officials while abusing Tiffin Citizens of their right to use Jackson Street. I assume that the late Congressman Gilmore counted as honorable the President of Tiffin University and his Director of Development, Mike Grandillo. Did the betrayal of Tiffin Citizens start with the betrayal of Congressman Gilmore's trust? Why don't I just let it go? Well, I'm trying to make the situation "right", for myself, my family, and my many neighbors in Tiffin. Many, many respond with contemptuous disapproval when I simply mention Tiffin University's Miami Street Improvement Plan.

So, what was so deceitful and misrepresented on the Application that US Congressman Gilmore took to Washington, DC? [So that you don't think that I'm making this stuff up, read a copy I got from our Mayor at this location: http://groups.google.com/group/rctohio/files]

Note 1: In the Congressional Application, Tiffin University's Mike Grandillo clearly documented that the purpose of the Miami Street Improvement Project was "Pedestrian Safety". He made eleven (11) references to "Safety" throughout the formal application. In that 2004 application, the manipulation of public opinion, of our City Council, and that of Congressman Gilmore, started with each "Safety" reference. Why was this manipulative and deceitful? Mr. Grandillo knew fully that there was NO SAFETY ISSUE that would justify spending upwards of the requested one(1) million tax dollars to close neighborhood streets. If there WAS a safety issue that justified such an expensive re-engineering of the neighborhood around TU, the Tiffin City Engineer, the Tiffin Police Department, and the Ohio Department of Transportation would have files describing so many crash incidents, personal injury, and other costs that would make this a real issue. If that was the case, I would concede, and stop thinking up ways to irritate those who I would then have to honor with my sincerest best wishes.

But, NO SUCH FILES EXIST! Our Tiffin City Engineer has said to me in a recent telephone interview that during a walk-by, with ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation), and a Tiffin University Official, he observed NO safety issues on Miami or Jackson Streets. Our Police Chief also was unable to recall any reports of injuries or crashes when asked during a recent Public Tiffin City Council Meeting.

Further, if our Tiffin City Government was to spend $800,000 of taxpayer funds to improve the safety of neighborhood streets in any other part of Tiffin, they would justify the tax-spending based on something other than a "wink-and-a-nod" from each other. To be responsible with our tax dollars, and to avoid unnecessary abuse of any individual citizen's rights, A PE (Professional Engineer) such as our own Tiffin City Engineer would be told by the Mayor to commission a formal Traffic SAFETY Study, including the fully-loaded cost of pedestrian injury, auto crash costs, and property damage. But, why isn't our City Government interested in such a traffic SAFETY study? In other communities (but not likely in Tiffin) such obvious pandering and un-justified, abusive decisions on the part of local government, would get a whole bunch of City officials sued by the more assertive and righteous Citizens among them.

Finally, if you talk to ANY of the more honorable members of Tiffin City Government, or those who know Tiffin University best, they will recount to you that at least one Tiffin University Official has, in private, gleefully admitted that "...of course there is NO safety issue. How else were we to get the public and City Council to approve of our plan?" ...wink...wink...wink.

Note 2: If you read the 2004 Application to Congress, at a certain question it asks whether TU Officials expect "...any opposition..." to the proposed plan. They marked this "NO". If they marked it "Yes", they would have had to explain in the space provided. So, they marked it "NO".

Well, who could have known they might want to oppose anything? How could I know my family home, and the neighborhood streets were about to be "captured" in a grab for real estate? That Jackson Street would be closed to through traffic? Except for only a few of the privileged, the Miami Street Project Plan, that was quietly funded through confidential efforts of TU Officials, wasn't seen by anyone until March 2008. I went to the City Engineer's Office and asked to see "the designs and specifications" that Dr. Marion referred to in the Advertiser-Tribune as "Approved...by the City Engineer...". It took a half hour to find the documents that the Assistant Engineer said were only preliminary plans and would NOT yet be in the "approval" stage. Should someone be held accountable for hiding and misleading everyone from the US Congress to the Tiffin Citizens the project is to benefit?

Did Tiffin University soil the good name of the late Congressman Gilmore, who certainly would NOT have approved of the abusive parts of TU Official's Miami Street Project Plan?

What happened to the concept of "Honor"? Who among us, with local political power, and a belief in decency, will step forth to do the right thing, only because it is the right thing to do?

You can help set the record straight by joining us on November 4th to vote 'NO' on Ordinance 07-70 Miami Street Project Referendum.

Joe Monaco
Tiffin, Ohio Voter