Transparency, heat and roads were among the issues that surfaced at a Corry City Council Planning Session Monday night at the Community Center.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, former Mayor Dave Mitchell approached Council asking for answers to three specific questions from the current Mayor, Michael Baker. Mitchell also provided the media with a copy of the questions:
- Why would Mayor Baker send a letter to a funding agency to undermine a grant delivery that would benefit the community? Who gave the Mayor the authority to submit such a letter and will he make it public?
- Why does the Mayor want to send $500,000 back to the state and kill needed improvements in the Fire and Police facilities?
- What is the detail on the $250,000 funding earmarked to better quality and more affordable internet service to the citizens of Corry. Why is the funding being moved by the Erie County Executive and how id it going to be used to improve services to our citizens?
Baker did not respond to any of Mitchell’s questions.
Photo by Makenna Moore.
Another citizen, Sheri Taylor, questioned a lack of transparency by the city for eliminating the bill list and other meeting documents from the City’s website prior to council meetings.
“It’s a nice feature that allows the public to browse the documents ahead of the meeting and ponder questions,” said Taylor. “I’ve communicated with some folks at the city that said it is no problem to put the documents on the site. It’s my understanding it was a request from you (Baker) that they no longer be put on there.”
Baker replied, “We changed the format of the meetings and it’s legal.”
Later in the meeting the subject came up again. Councilman Buzz Hammond asked City Administrator Joanne Smith to clarify the distribution process for the documents and agendas.
“Prior to a month ago when it was decided we are changing the format of the meetings, the packet was sent to Council on Friday and all of those documents were placed on the website,” said Smith. “I’ve now been instructed not to put them on the website.”
Baker then changed his position and instructed Smith to put the bill list and other documents back on the website the day before Regular Council meetings.
Former Mayor Charlie Campbell sought to clarify some of the historical information discussed at a special meeting on Jan. 27 where Council agreed to the use of unclassified general restricted funds to be reclassified to purchase two sets of professional tools for the city garage in the amount of $100,000. (Read More)
In other business, Public Works Manager Mark Leofsky advised Council that the boiler at the Community Center is on it’s last leg and a new heating and cooling system is needed. The situation was described as an emergency.
Leofsky also requested some direction from Council on a plan for roads. Councilman Buzz Hammond requested that he provide a priority list for street repairs at the Feb. 17th meeting. Leofsky said due to the weather this winter record amount of salt has already been used on Corry streets so far this season.
