Village Of Valleyview

REDUCED POLICE PROTECTION

Jan 05, 2003

On Tuesday December 3rd Valleyview Police Officers were taken off the work schedule because Fiscal Officer Linda Stoner informed Chief Consolo that the Village did not have the money to meet the payroll for the rest of the year. There was no guarantee that the officers would be paid for working or if they would be paid for the time they have all ready worked.

The Chief contacted his officers and told them that they were off the schedule. The officers could continue to work, but it would be in a reserve status only. Reserve status means the officers are not paid and they only have to work 16 hours a month and they would decide when they wanted to work.

What happened to the money that a little over a month before the Fiscal Officer said was there? There is a financial crisis in the Village. Money is tight, but there has to be a way to maintain the police protection that we are paying for with our tax money. This Village started the year off with almost $195,000 in the bank. Along with that bank account the Village received over $100,000 in property tax disbursements. The Current bank account sits at $60,000. What have the residents received for their $235,000 spent by this council and mayor?

The decisions by the council and mayor have placed Valleyview in a dangerous financial situation. Police protection for the residents has suffered under the current administration. The past administration helped this Village incur large debts that needed to be paid. The decisions made on how the debt would be paid have placed the Village in its current financial crisis. The current administration also helped the Village incur debt that was unnecessary or should have never been incurred. The hearing on Chief Consolo cost the Village over $10,000. If that $10,000 were available now the Village would have the money necessary to meet to the payroll of the officers and financial situation would not be as dire.

The blame for the current situation in the Village rests on the shoulders of many present and past members of the Village Administration. The current Village Administration had the obligation to fix the problems in the Village. Instead they chose to help the Village incur more bills and spend their time blaming others. Where is the ACCOUNTABILITY? The mayor, council members, and fiscal officer have placed the safety of the residents in jeopardy because of their actions. What will the Village Administration do to fix the problem? It would appear that the Graves are accomplishing what they set out to do at the beginning of the year. In February 2002 before Bob Graves had a chance to warm up the seat that he had just taken on council he wanted to talk about the future employment of the Police Chief. From that statement it is obvious that there were prior discussions on removing the Police Chief and the Department. The council and mayor attempted it once before in April and now in December they made another attempt eliminate the police department. The Police Department protects everyone in this Village. The Police Department protects our families, property and way of life. Why would this Village Administration place that in jeopardy for everyone? When will the Village Administration be accountable to the residents of this Village? When will the current administration step down? The Village needs individuals that can get the job done and will place the needs of the residents and the Village ahead of their own agenda.