London: Layoffs, cuts approved
By Jane Beathard
Staff Writer
Members of London City Council approved a 2013 budget on Thursday that cuts most departments by 15 percent.
A last-ditch amendment sponsored by member Pat Closser reduced recreation director Ryan Ladd’s job to part-time and saved one full-time position in the police department. Layoffs are slated for four other full-time patrol officers.
It was standing room only in council chambers for the vote as about 25 members of the city’s police and fire forces – as well as Ladd – awaited their financial fates.
Closser’s amendment passed, despite opposition by council members Stan Kavy and Dick Minner. The vote reflected a division among members on how to address the city’s projected financial crunch. That divide was amplified as Kavy and Minner failed in efforts to stall overall budget approval until December.
“We are ram-roding this through,” Kavy said. “I am 100 percent against it.”
Closser insisted a prompt decision would provide adequate time for pink slips to go out.
“We need to decide tonight,” he said.
Closser noted the budget is open to amendments and employees can be re-hired next year if city finances improve.
Earlier in the evening, safety-services director Steve Hume told council London cannot attract new businesses and residents without adequate safety forces and recreational programs.
Betty Scott, a member of the city’s parks and recreation commission, said a shuttered municipal pool and loss of recreational opportunities weighs heaviest on children of poor families.
“They have few outlets for recreation,” Scott said.
She praised Ladd’s efforts, saying he works long hours.
Closser admitted recreation is important to quality of life in London.
“I don’t want to see quality of life go down in London and I don’t think it would,” he said.
As a former resident of London it saddens me to see the city in such financial hardship that they have to cut police jobs as well as Mr. Ladd’s.
I grew up in London, playing sports, going to the pool, ect. The parks and rec department is very important in any city….but…to compare Mr. Ladd’s position to that of a police officer’s position is not comparable, especially after they had to cut 4 other police positions.
I went to school and still keep in touch with both Mr. Closser and Mr. Ladd and know that they are both passionate about making London a better place to live.
The people that are making the posts that bash either Closser or Ladd should be ashamed of themselves. Being in the financial business world for the past 12 years I have seen many cuts. Tough decisions like this happen all the time, at least they were able to keep Mr. Ladd part time. Where is all the support for the 4 police officers that got cut?
Please quit making this tough decision seem like part of a political agenda, and realize that a tough decision needed to be made, and in my opinion the correct decision was made.
Thanks to both Mr. Closser and Mr. Ladd for their continued efforts to make London a better place to live.
Good points for the most part. But there is one fact that many people do not realize, which I learned by asking for some information from the City. In the last 12-15 months, the police department hired three FT officers. These three are among the four that will be eliminated with the budget reductions. While I feel badly for the four officers and their families, if any, I must wonder how different the 2013 budget would look if those three officers had not been hired. Would the cuts being made at this time be as far reaching and result in the same adverse impact on the services the City provides its residents? Did the PD hire these officers knowing that cuts would be coming at some future point, thereby making it appear that the PD is making a sacrifice at this time, when in reality it is simply being restored to 2011 staffing levels? I was surprised and disappointed when I learned of these hires. Had the City not hired those three officers, would the parks and recreation department budget have experienced the contraction it now has? We may never know the answer to these questions, but they are valid and fair questions to ask of our City government.
folks, all of you out there saying, “well if you think you can do better why don’t you run for an office” need to realize that if you are not a native born London resident, and if you are not a good old buddy of someone in the city government, you could run a million times over and you’ll never get elected for anything. Cronyism at its finest is what this town is.
Interesting bantering back and forth. I do not support Ladd at all for numerous reasons. Fact is sports will survive no matter what happens with department of recreations. Parents will either take up the tasks or take the kids to other places and pay the cost. Most kids drop off of sports by middle school unless they are elite. Now for those of you saying well sports teach values yes I agree. However based on what I see out of coaches and parents I must question what values we are teaching. I witness tantrums, screaming at refs etc at these activities. Police and fire must be taken care if first and that is all there is to it. Just like all government spending should be kept in check and people must be accountable for that spending.
London needs the streets cleaned up as well as the government. Time for change.
For Ladds supporters there is two sides to every coin and you have a right to align that support. However, you must entertain the negative and wonder why some are so negative and what truths lie beneath that. Other opinions in various articles from the Press have made reference to his performance , lack of organization, speaking to the chosen ones only , lack of answering emails or phone calls unless he wants to and his friendliness with certain athletes. When you hear the same things by multiple people you must decide if they are all liars or there is truth in those statements.
Sir Robert Peele once said A community receives the police service it deserves….. Last one out turn out the lights!
Please stop the character assassinations on both sides. I know both Pat Closser and Ryan Ladd and you cannot find two people who are better more passionate advocates for London. Ryan advocates for recreation and keeping kids active. Pat, as a Councilman, is charged with overseeing the finances of the city as a whole. They both have positions in this community for which they give back to London. Are those of you saying negative things about the character of these two also giving back to the community and willing to take a stand.
Has the fact that four police officers will be laid off escaped the attention of all you espousing your personal views and opinions? Stop the cat fights and consider the facts. The city is spending more money than it brings in each year. As a result, budget cuts are needed. Be productive and offer solutions. Without a levy to increase the city’s revenue, which was recently defeated, the city has no choice but to reduce spending. This community needs to speak up and offer solutions. Stop your negative comments and be proactive! Tell your mayor and councilman what is most important and become an advocate for change.
Its no secret Mr.Closser has a personal agenda against Ryan. 5-6 years ago he sent a 2 page letter to the Mayor trying to get him FIRED!!! Seems kinda fishy now that he’s on council he spearheaded the move to cut his pay. If the best interest is to save money, then why didnt Mr. Closser and the rest of council offer to give up there salary????? I think Mr.Closser and the rest of council should be required to take a drug test like the rest of city employees
Ladies and Gentlemen of London in favor of Ryan Ladd.
As Councilman Closser has repeadtly demonstrated a bias towards the Directror or Parks and Recreaction, and a majority of those (except Mary) approve and support Mr. Ladd then I submit to you Ohio Revised Code
705.92 Procedure for removal of elective officer by recall. It is time to silence Councilman Closser permanently and send notice to the entire City Council it is time to get to work for the good of community as a whole, instead of using your positons to settle personal disputes.
“Any elective officer of a municipal corporation may be removed from office by the qualified voters of such municipal corporation. The procedure to effect such removal shall be:
(A) A petition signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least fifteen per cent of the total votes cast at the most recent regular municipal election, and demanding the election of a successor to the person sought to be removed, shall be filed with the board of elections. Such petition shall contain a general statement in not more than two hundred words of the grounds upon which the removal of such person is sought. The form, sufficiency, and regularity of any such petition shall be determined as provided in the general election laws.
(B) If the petition is sufficient, and if the person whose removal is sought does not resign within five days after the sufficiency of the petition has been determined, the legislative authority shall thereupon order and fix a day for holding an election to determine the question of the removal of the elective officer, and for the selection of a successor to each officer named in said petition. Such election shall be held not less than thirty nor more than forty days from the time of the finding of the sufficiency of such petition. The election authorities shall publish notice and make all arrangements for holding such election, which shall be conducted and the result thereof returned and declared in all respects as are the results of regular municipal elections.
(C) The nomination of candidates to succeed each officer sought to be removed shall be made, without the intervention of a primary election, by filing with the election authorities, at least twenty days prior to such special election, a petition proposing a person for each such office, signed by electors equal in number to ten per cent of the total votes cast at the most recent regular municipal election for the head of the ticket.
(D) The ballots at such recall election shall, with respect to each person whose removal is sought, submit the question: “Shall (name of person) be removed from the office of (name of office) by recall?”
Immediately following each such question, there shall be printed on the ballots, the two propositions in the order set forth:
“For the recall of (name of person).”
“Against the recall of (name of person).”
Immediately to the left of the proposition shall be placed a square in which the electors may vote for either of such propositions.
Under each of such questions shall be placed the names of candidates to fill the vacancy. The name of the officer whose removal is sought shall not appear on the ballot as a candidate to succeed the officer’s self.
In any such election, if a majority of the votes cast on the question of removal are affirmative, the person whose removal is sought shall be removed from office upon the announcement of the official canvass of that election, and the candidate receiving the plurality of the votes cast for candidates for that office shall be declared elected. The successor of any person so removed shall hold office during the unexpired term of the successor’s predecessor. The question of the removal of any officer shall not be submitted to the electors until such officer has served for at least one year of the term during which he is sought to be recalled. The method of removal provided in this section, is in addition to such other methods as are provided by law. If, at any such recall election, the incumbent whose removal is sought is not recalled, the incumbent shall be repaid the incumbent’s actual and legitimate expenses for such election from the treasury of the municipal corporation, but such sum shall not exceed fifty per cent of the sum that the incumbent is by law permitted to expend as a candidate at any regular municipal election.”
How absurd Forladd!! Your comment actually makes me chuckle and shake my head in disbelief. You and the ignorant “ladd supporters” wish to remove Mr. Closser from his elected position for actually taking the initiative to try to reduce the amount of wasted hours he is paid by the city. It’s not just Ladd, don’t you get it? Closser simply saw who was the least necessary position and reduced it, he didn’t propose to cut it all together, which is truly what should happen. That position should be combined with another and allow one person to perform his duties. Your comment is simply pathetic and perhaps made by ladd himself. Ridiculous…..
I like where you are going with this but I don’t think it would pass. Residents of London wont’ even pass a school levy let alone fighting for something else that helps the kids.
We should organize a community rally in support of striking down the resolution. We could draw support from residents that see the value in our Parks and Rec department as well as the saftey of our town with more police on the street. At the rally we would urge people to talk to their co-workers/neighbors to spread the word of what Closser has done and how it affects them.
It’s clear that Minner and Kavy thought this resolution was being “ram-rodded” through. More discussion needs to be had on the topic. It makes no sense they didn’t debate ways to make up the money in Ladd’s pay…ie charging more for sports. It would also be key that we offer up other solutions where the city can save money. It appears cuts are coming one way or another. We just need to stop them from being at the expense of our kids and our police. For example looking into these administrative positions that the city could live without…ie Safety Director.
Just my two-cents.
I am not concerning if anyone is tired my “constant bashing” of London things. You, Actions Speak Louder, may consider it just that, however, I am simply speaking the truth and apparently you do not like it. As the old saying goes: ‘Truth hurts doesn’t it?” And to tell me to move somewhere else, please….. if you don’t like my comments, simply pass them by and do not read them. I will live where I choose. This once was a decent community and it saddens me to see what it has become. People like you who think recreation is more important than safety are purely ignorant. Yes, I have volunteered many hours at the soup kitchen and donated numerous items to the HELP House. My community volunteer time is not of concern to anyone but me and the organization involved. It has nothing to do with my fact speaking. My children have graduated and no longer need to volunteer at the school, I did when MY children attended. It is time for the parents of current students to step up and do their part. I most certainly believe recreation is important for our youth and childhood development. My point is that Ladd’s or any other person in that position does not need to be employed full time. It is a part-time position and I am thankful Pat Closser realized that and took action. It’ s not just Ladd’s position, there are MANY others that can be combined or reduced to part-time. It is clear those who are sticking up for Ladd is a friend of his or someone he has done favors for. This is a position only people. If Ladd is such a wonder and is so qualified, he can find employment elsewhere. For LDown, I do not personally know Pat Closser but do appreciate we have someone with common sense and new ideas in our council. I am positive Closser is more professional than what you are stating and would not allow personal feelings to dictate what is best for our community. He reduced a position, not a person. For all of you Ladd supporters, how about focusing your energy and support on make the entire community better instead of supporting one person?
I apologize Mary. I didn’t realize that you did your “required” time when your kids were in high school. I am sure that time was given with the appropriate good hearted intention. I just think it is interesting you think that one only volunteers and gives to the community when you have kids in school. (I don’t have kids, period)
Also, I want to apologize, as well, for saying your complaining was tiring. I wasn’t clear enough in my statement . I tire of you bashing without offering any solutions. You come across as petty, in addition to the aforementioned, shortsighted.
Regards,
ASL
Mary, like I said it was tongue in cheek. Judging by your lack of paragraphs you may not know what that means. “Tongue in cheek” is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously or otherwise not seriously intended and it should not be taken at face value.
Mary Quote “I do not personally know Pat Closser but do appreciate we have someone with common sense and new ideas in our council. I am positive Closser is more professional than what you are stating and would not allow personal feelings to dictate what is best for our community”
Mary you can’t have it both ways. Either you don’t know him or you are positive enough to know what he is up to. Do you follow politics at all? Personal agenda’s is what drives our congress.
Cutting the police and kicking a guy down to part time is not a new idea. It happens everyday in towns everywhere. A new idea would be figuring out how to keep them both and save money. Closser didn’t even have the common courtesy for new ideas to be presented when they “ram-roded” the item through. His excuse was making sure there was time for pink slips to go out. Seriously? For over a year now everyone in town has know cuts were coming if the levy failed.
Common sense tells me this whole thing stinks and politics or maybe even payback had something to do with what happened the other night. If you can’t see that you are either an Internet troll trying to further someone’s agenda under the guise of a simpleton named “Mary” or you are just a simpleton.
An internet troll and simpleton? Lack of paragraphs? Really?? This discussion has become petty, immature and completely off subject. Thank you again Pat Closser for actually doing something good for our community and ta-ta to our full-time Parks and Rec Director. Perhaps now he will have more time to run with teenage girls without the community members paying him to do so.
I SAY AGAIN VOTE CLOSSER OUT!
For Jeff, you obviously do not know very much about the pool. Numerous parents simply drop their children off and go on about their daily life. The pool has been know as a free babysitter for years, not sure where you have been. Just because Ladd has not been unfair to your children does not mean he has not been to others, mine being one of them. Ladd is definitely not an asset to our community, what a joke. He may care about this community because we are the ones putting money in his bank. This has been a long time coming and can’t wait to see what other unnecessary jobs are eliminated or cut back. For CBR, there are many many parents who would love to volunteer and do what Ladd does and would do more this community. You are the one being naive in thinking Ladd does “so much” for this community. HA!
Everyone knows Pat Closser has a personal problem with Ryan Ladd. This was political payback at its finest at the expense of our kids and police. I think its clear you have a personal connection to Closser. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you are him posting at “Mary”
Since people are so stupid I probably should of mentioned that post was tongue in cheek.
Mary,
The reason that the Rec dept handles T-ball, basketball, and other sports is becuase the parent groups folded, or failed to run the leagues. I believe that if the rec position stays part time, you and the other parents that want to step up will get the opportunity to prove yourselves.
Mary ad hominem attacks are not “facts.” Strawman arguments are equally absurd. Calling people ignorant and stating that -
“It is clear those who are sticking up for Ladd is a friend of his or someone he has done favors for.” just makes you a troll.
What is clear by your posts however is that you have a personal problem with Ryan.
Mary-
The Mayor and Safety Service Director would like to speak with you about volunteer parents to oversee the recreation programs. Since you indicated there are “many many parents who would love to volunteer,” it would be very helpful for you to help the City contact those parents. Please contact the Mayor and/or Safety Service Director at 740.852.3243.
Thank you,
Zahid H. Siddiqi
Law Director
City of London
Take some of the trash bag tax, and help the police dept. Somebody is getting rich off of this…
But then again, I think that the police dept. Could lay off a few. Since when can a police officer go to wal-mart in the police cruiser and shop? While on duty??? Can’t even park the cruser in the lot, has to park it right by the door… If I or anybody else would do that guess what….maybe we don’t need them…..Mayor????
There are so many other positions and ways to cut expenses for the city. To take away recreation is just asking for more problems with kids. When kids have nothing to do they cause trouble. When they cause trouble, the PD is needed but now we won’t have one. The city “secretaries” are the ones who should have been cut to part time. MANY MANY city employees are paid FAR TOO MUCH to sit on their collective asses and be rude. Cut their hours or let them go. I am sure there are MANY people willing to do the same job for MUCH MUCH less. I also think it is time for the city council to be replaced with people who actually understand how to keep a business afloat. That’s what ANY city is, its a business. I don’t believe the city council even tries to find ways to help the city, I think they are watching it go down the drain because they are too lazy to put forth ANY effort to help the situation. Why hasn’t the prison been annexed into the city? There is a ton of “new” money that would come in from the prison! Guess people are too lazy to put forth the effort. I personally have voted AGAINST EVERY tax increase in the last 2 years. I refuse to give the city or any of its entities more money when they waste/ have wasted the money the residents have already given them. They spent ENTIRELY too much money building the new schools only to turn around and take away bus services for the children. Then wasted more money somewhere, lord knows where, now the kids at all 3 schools don’t even have ADEQUATE BOOKS! Why cut the PD? Who is going to patrol the school zones and keep the children of this town from getting run over by the mom who is too busy txting to slow down or the not paying attention dad that’s in a hurry to get to work? Who is going to keep the addicts, theives and dealers off the streets? The county cant do it. They cant keep up with what they have now! God forbid you have to call them! Why not do away with the Mayors position and use that salary money elsewhere? The mayor does nothing for the city anyhow. What about the water department? They don’t need more than ONE person there answering the phone and taking payments. I think its HIGH TIME that the city council actually tries to make this city a better place, not only for the kids that are here but for the people who have lived here all their lives. Our city has the potential to be a GREAT place, but in order to have a great city you have to have a great foundation which this city doesnt have. This city is run by a bunch of self-centered, egotistical, greedy people who couldn’t care less about not only the city but the peopel who live here because they have more money in the bank than 95% of the residents, so they don’t care.
Coming from a parent who’s children have participated in numerous sports provided by London Parks and Rec, it has never been a “babysitting” service. Most of the parents involved volunteer, show up at the games and events to cheer on their children, and Ryan (Martin) has never been unfair once to my children or any others that I’ve heard about. Ryan is an asset to London, who deserves better. It’s time for all of the incumbent city government to be replaced with people who care about the community. People are already leaving the community because of the terrible administration of the schools, this is just another nail in London’s coffin.
About time for citizens to take back the community. Greed and cronyism in local politics is killing us! This sounds very rushed and not well thought out. Everyone in local politics needs to be replaced from ground up!
Thank you Pat Closser! Cutting Ladd’s job was long overdue! He is unorganized, unfair, and overpaid. And so the pool will be closed?? Oh well…. looks like parents will have to find another free babysitter. Parks and Recreation is not a babysitter people. I hope Closser finds another amendment to save the other four police officer jobs. The safety of our community should be first!
Mary, frankly, I tire of your constant bashing of all things London. You clearly hate it here, so move somewhere else. You are short-sighted and vitriolic. You cite the safety of the city comes first but isn’t it reasonable to contend that a more enriching childhood environment that has more opportunities for supervised recreation will, in the short and long run, reduce criminal activity in a city. I contend that focusing on the needs of our youth today reduces problems in the future. Is this 100% fool-proof? Of course not but I believe it’s a step in the right direction
Secondly, I would like to know if you would be so kind as to list the ways that you have enhanced our community. Do you volunteer at the H.E.L.P House or elementary school? Do you participate, or help organize any fundraisers for worthwhile local charities? Or do you just complain and whine and say “I pay my taxes, that should be enough”? Just wondering…
How much money has the city put into the “old” school buildings? How much money did the city pay to purchase the land, floodplain, between Cowling Park and Walnut St. ? Did the Parks and Rec Director authorize these purchases? NO!!! Now we have a union official saying the city’s financial situation is not as bad as reflected, but layoffs will take place. Next up, school levy, and to torpedo the levy, the City of London will place a tax increase on the ballot at the same time, thus ensuring that they both go down in flames. Wake Up People!!! It’s not all Ryan’s fault!!
It’s too bad all those national politicians that spent a year in your state and cities telling you they loved you, cared about you and would do anything they could to help you have all abandoned you now that you’ve cast your ballots.
Just imagine if they’d spent .5% of their campaign ad money to help the cities in Ohio recover and grow.
Your last point is in defense of Ladd’s job. How do you expect a part-time person to run the pool, do activities at the Parks, and make sure admin stuff is done? I don’t think we should be posting things we think we have heard, you need facts. Here is one, Ladd makes less than many secretaries in the city. It is easy to find out how much he made. He makes as much as an entry level teacher would make in Columbus not and experienced one. And don’t forget he had to get a degree to do what he is doing. You can’t just let anyone do it. But I guess having a degree isn’t experienced? And unorganized? I am pretty sure it is pretty simple, you pay for the uniform and you keep it. Ladd has done everything he could for his hometown. Now with him going to part time expect less activities because you need someone there to run it. And Ladd’s full time to part time status was amended 48 hrs before they met. No matter what they say it wasn’t to save a police officers job, they already cut 4 they easily could have made it 5. Don’t you think they would have spent more than 48 hrs to save someones job? It is too bad about the police officers and Ladd. They all have done great things for the community.
It is so sad to see the republicans run the city and the county into the ground all for an agenda.
Ryan Ladd and his salary are not the problem. London has had a full Time Rec director for a Long time now. In Ladd’s defense, he has a LOT more responsibilities now than he did when he started. The biggest drain on the Rec department is something Council created….They took possession of the old School, not realizing that they would lose $80,000 in the first year of operation.
That being said, I was in favor of the .5% just so roads, sewers, etc can be repaired.
From what I have heard the local government tax that comes down from the state is about $200,000. I’m not sure how the City projected a deficit of $800,000. Of course, the Auditor has only been on the job for a year, and has issues with the Tax director from what I’ve heard….
Sounds like a lot of agenda’s are coming into play now, this should be interesting as things move along.
It’s sad that the safety of our city is at such high risk. However I do believe Ladd’s job being part time is a good idea…I am sure he does a lot but what is do he is so unorganized parents would rather handle it themselves (I.e., uniform orders for youth sports, etc.). I have heard I. Several occasions the city pays Ladd’s insurance 100% and he makes more than an experienced teacher! If this is the case how about those benefits are reduced! I have lived in this city my entire life and feel for those children growing up here now with the lack of pool, limited activities at the Cowling Park and the sheer loss of community support.
If you think parents in this community are going to volunteer to do what Ladd does for the recreational sports leagues in this City, you are extremely naive. Ladd may not be the model of efficiency and organization, but I challenge you to find someone that loves this City and its youth more than him, and is willing to dedicate the amount of time, energy and passion towards promoting recreation in the City.